#6: Safaricom - How Kenya’s largest telco drove M-Pesa to become the most successful mobile financial platform in Africa

Overview: Today we’re going to talk about Safaricom - The largest telecom carrier in Kenya. We’ll discuss its early history, M-Pesa launch, M-Pesa success, attempted M-Pesa global expansion & Safaricom's future outlook

 

Companies discussed: Safaricom, Vodacom, Vodafone, Telkom, MTN & M-Kopa

 

Business concepts discussed: Unbanked population, Financial inclusion, Mobile money, Payment platforms, government regulation, global expansion, telco competition, state-owned companies & product launch timing

 

Conversation highlights:

• (00:36) - Kenya context and contrast with other major African countries
• (01:10) - Safaricom history and ownership structure
• (03:53) - Safaricom financials and market share
• (06:58) - M-Pesa background
• (08:27) - How M-Pesa works
• (09:45) - M-Pesa ownership - Safaricom, Vodafone and Vodacom
• (10:15) - How M-Pesa become successful in Kenya
• (13:50) - M-Pesa’s international expansion
• (21:20) - M-Pesa in India
• (24:50) - Safaricom’s other products (Home Internet, M-Kopa solar, Ridesharing, etc)
• (34:05) - Bankole’s thoughts and overall outlook
• (37:02) - Olumide’s thoughts and overall outlook
• (41:17) - Bankole’s recommendations and small wins
• (45:42) - Olumide’s recommendations and small wins

 

Olumide’s recommendations & small wins:

• Recommendation: Angel (by Jason Calacanis)
• Recommendation: Angel Investing (by David Rose)
• Small win: Link to Text Fragment (Chrome extension)

 

Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:

• Recommendation: Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution
• Small win: Roam Research

 

We’d love to hear from you. If you have feedback, topics you’d like to hear, or just want to say hello, please email info@afrobility.com

 

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