I won young CEO of the year award 2025 — Just won startup of the year award in Pakistan 26’
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Caleb Jephunneh retweeted
A foreign startup launches: “Take my money!”
A Kenyan startup launches: “Let me see if someone has built this already.”
Sometimes, our biggest competitor isn't another company. It's our own mindset.
We celebrate African startups when they raise millions, expand globally, and make headlines.
But how many of us supported them when they were charging KSh 500 for their first product?
Don't wait for a company to become global before believing in it.
One of the hardest things about building a tech company in Kenya is convincing people that software is worth paying for.
Let me explain.
You can build a product that solves a real problem. Spend months developing it, pay for servers, AI APIs, SMS integrations, domains, and all the other things nobody sees.
Then you launch.
The first person to try it says, “Wow, this is actually very good!”
You're excited. Finally, someone understands the vision.
Then you mention that the subscription is KSh 500 per month.
“Ati kulipa? 😂”
And just like that, the conversation changes.
“Can't you make it free?”
“Just add me to the premium plan.”
“Let me use it for a few months first.”
“Once my business grows, I'll pay.”
Meanwhile, this same person pays for Netflix, Spotify, cloud storage, and several other foreign services without having a family meeting about it.
Now, don't get me wrong. People have different financial priorities, and not every product deserves their money. As founders, we have to build something genuinely valuable.
But sometimes I wonder whether we give local products the same chance we give foreign ones.
When a foreign company launches, we assume it's sophisticated.
When a Kenyan company launches, we look for reasons why it might not work.
When a local founder charges for their product, we question the price.
When the same product gets international recognition, suddenly we're proud that it's African.
And there's another interesting part of this.
People often assume that because you used AI to build a product, it must have cost you almost nothing.
AI has made software development faster, yes. But it hasn't made cloud hosting free. It hasn't eliminated API costs, maintenance, security, customer support, or the need to pay a team.
You can use AI to build a product in weeks and still spend years trying to turn it into a sustainable business.
The truth is, we cannot keep asking why Africa doesn't have more globally competitive technology companies while ignoring the importance of the customers who help those companies survive.
Founders need to build better products. Investors need to take more risks. Governments need to create better conditions for innovation.
But customers also matter.
The next great African technology company might already exist. It might be built by someone working from Nairobi, Lagos, Kigali, or Kampala.
It might not need another motivational speech or a congratulatory comment.
It might need its first 1,000 paying customers.
And perhaps supporting African innovation starts with something as simple as being willing to pay for a local product when it genuinely delivers value.
Because at the end of the day, you cannot build a world-class technology ecosystem on free trials, compliments, and promises to pay next month.
What do you think? Is this a real challenge for African tech founders, or do our products still have a lot to prove?
Boss so i should look for you?
i even sent you my number on dms
why didnt you follow up?
Just wait ill get back to you.