The High Cost of Building in Africa | Issue 138

The High Cost of Building in Africa | Issue 138, explores one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders across the continent: the high cost of building and operating a company in Africa.

The cover story features Gagan Gupta, founder and CEO of ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, and examines how Africa’s manufacturing potential is being weakened by unreliable electricity, inefficient ports, poor transport networks, limited storage facilities, expensive financing and slow administrative processes. The edition explains why African businesses often begin paying heavy operating costs before producing or selling their first product.

Beyond the cover feature, this edition investigates why many African small and medium-sized businesses struggle to access affordable funding. It explains how high interest rates, short repayment periods, strict collateral requirements and loan structures that do not match business cash cycles can turn credit into another financial burden.

Readers will also discover why a profitable business can still run out of money. The magazine breaks down the difference between revenue, profit and cash flow, showing how unpaid invoices, delayed customer payments, slow-moving inventory and rapid expansion can leave a growing company unable to meet its daily obligations.

The issue also includes an insightful conversation with Moniepoint founder Tosin Eniolorunda on offline payments, data-driven lending, financial infrastructure and the small merchants powering Nigeria’s everyday economy.

Designed for entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and professionals, this edition offers practical insights into the systems, financial pressures and infrastructure gaps shaping the future of African business.