{"id":871993,"date":"2025-09-10T21:12:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T02:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/10\/building-in-web3-through-the-eyes-of-african-founders-ethsafari-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T21:12:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T02:12:58","slug":"building-in-web3-through-the-eyes-of-african-founders-ethsafari-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/10\/building-in-web3-through-the-eyes-of-african-founders-ethsafari-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Building in Web3 Through the Eyes of African Founders: ETHSafari 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h2>Building in Web3 Through the Eyes of African Founders: ETHSafari 2025<\/h2>\n<p>Editorial note: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you take action, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations remain independent and unbiased.<br \/>\n???? Learn more in our Advertiser Disclosure<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>African founders at ETHSafari 2025 shared how they are building sustainable Web3 startups despite scarce funding and limited institutional support.<\/li>\n<li>Panels highlighted the power of peer accountability, incubation programs, and ingenuity in solving deeply local problems with blockchain.<\/li>\n<li>The event showcased Africa not as \u201ccatching up,\u201d but as shaping its own Web3 culture driven by necessity and creativity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Lisk hosted ETHSafari 2025 in Nairobi, where the story of Web3 in Africa was told not through charts or whitepapers, but through lived experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BeInCrypto attended the panels, where African founders and builders spoke candidly about their struggles and breakthroughs. More importantly, they revealed the vision driving them to create products in one of the world\u2019s most challenging environments for startups.<\/p>\n<p>What emerged was a portrait of grit! Entrepreneurs are building businesses on lean budgets and forging accountability networks when institutional support is lacking.<\/p>\n<p>The motivation? Applying blockchain not as hype but as a tool to solve deeply local problems. <\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p>Lisk executives Dominic Schwenter and Gideon Greaves had <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/africa-web3-lisk-ethsafari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pointed to this effect<\/a>, but BeInCrypto wanted an up close and personal with the builders themselves. \u00a0<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.beincrypto.com\/img\/php2mcwJyuJDbMm-5lz9Jo6FVwQ=\/smart\/9437c9a907124e129bcaeca39209cc96\" alt=\"BeInCrypto ETHSafari 2025 Lisk\"><figcaption>BeInCrypto Attends Media vs Founders and Builders Panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"h-the-funding-tightrope\">The Funding Tightrope<\/h3>\n<p>For many founders, the hardest challenge is not ideas or talent, it\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n<p>Local venture funding remains scarce, forcing entrepreneurs to balance the allure of grants against the need to stay customer-focused.<\/p>\n<p>One founder warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/learn\/web3-grants-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grants<\/a> can easily become a distraction.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cGrants can shift your eyes away from improving the product. You start chasing milestones that please donors but don\u2019t solve customer needs,\u201d the conversation started.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/gate-ventures-pledges-20m-to-support-the-bnb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">incubation programs<\/a> that blend modest funding with practical training are proving more impactful.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe didn\u2019t want just cash thrown at us. We wanted to be trained, pushed, and held accountable. That\u2019s what actually makes a business survive,\u201d another founder shared.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This framing highlights a distinctly African dilemma: build for sustainability, not vanity metrics.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-accountability-as-a-currency\">Accountability as a Currency<\/h3>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p>Without deep-pocketed VCs, founders are designing their own systems of discipline. One startup leader recalled how a simple peer accountability ritual transformed his cohort.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cEvery Friday, we got on a call and reported progress, even if it was small. It wasn\u2019t investors chasing us. We were chasing each other,\u201d said Ikenna Orizu, founder and CEO of Jamit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>That structure, peers holding peers accountable, replaced the typical investor pressure seen elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>It created networks of mutual trust, which one participant described as \u201ca currency just as important as capital.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.beincrypto.com\/img\/ePI3hbeDZ3uHx9dREccJ8ysJXDs=\/smart\/70a9a730aa68461b92c890bcf973dbfa\" alt=\"Founders tell their journeys to BeInCrypto\"><figcaption>Founders tell their journeys to BeInCrypto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"h-from-scarcity-to-ingenuity\">From Scarcity to Ingenuity<\/h3>\n<p>Constraints have forced creativity. One founder recalled facing $600 monthly costs to host podcasts on US platforms. The math did not work for local creators. His solution: decentralize.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI realized Africans can\u2019t pay $20 a month to host a podcast. I built something for cents, and suddenly, people who never thought they could publish weekly now could. Once I saw that, I knew we\u2019d never go back.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p>Such stories reveal how Web3 is not an abstract theory but a tool to unlock affordability and accessibility in places where global platforms overlook the market.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-the-incubation-effect\">The Incubation Effect<\/h3>\n<p>Beyond individual wins, structured programs are seeding ecosystems. A founder who entered an early cohort described how transformative the experience was.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBefore, I thought building a startup was just about coding. But inside the incubator, I had to think about marketing, compliance, and my customers. It forced me to grow into a real founder, not just a developer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Another added:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIf I weren\u2019t in an incubation program, I might have quit. But being surrounded by people just as hungry as me, nobody sleeps until 3 a.m. because we\u2019re all building. That kept me going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The networks formed in these programs often outlast the funding itself, creating support webs across cities and countries.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-compounding-success\">Compounding Success<\/h3>\n<p>A recurring theme was the idea of reinvestment, where founders give back once they succeed, creating a flywheel effect.<\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<p><small>Sponsored<\/small><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cEven if you win small, give back. Because the ecosystem compounds. What you share today multiplies tomorrow,\u201d one participant told BeInCrypto during the panel.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This mindset reflects a shift from survival to abundance: every win is not just individual but collective, building an ecosystem brick by brick.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-why-africa-is-not-catching-up\">Why Africa is Not \u201cCatching Up\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps the strongest message was a rejection of the narrative that Africa is lagging. By necessity, African founders are building leaner, sharper, and more customer-focused businesses.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not waiting to catch up. In some ways, we\u2019re already ahead,\u201d a panelist articulated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/learn\/what-is-stablecoin\/\">stablecoin<\/a>-based merchant payments, decentralized content platforms, and accountability-driven incubation programs, Africa is developing a Web3 culture that looks less like Silicon Valley and more like its own.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.beincrypto.com\/img\/CnwWapE5sc64v6LsQjXv1VAr_gI=\/smart\/96c7a27fe6c44c71bac1d500ed6f9888\" alt=\"Lisk talks fundraising and the African startup ecosystem\"><figcaption>Lisk Talks Fundraising and the African Startup Ecosystem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-call-to-investors-and-policymakers\">A Call to Investors and Policymakers<\/h2>\n<p>For investors and policymakers, the takeaway is clear: supporting African Web3 is not about parachuting capital, but about strengthening ecosystems where networks, training, and peer accountability matter as much as money.<\/p>\n<p>ETHSafari\u2019s panels demonstrated that Africa is not just a frontier for Web3. It is a proving ground. And the founders telling their stories showed that the next wave of blockchain innovation may not come with a Silicon Valley accent, but an African one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Disclaimer<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Following the <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/trust-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trust Project<\/a> guidelines, this feature article presents opinions and perspectives from industry experts or individuals. BeInCrypto is dedicated to transparent reporting, but the views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of BeInCrypto or its staff. Readers should verify information independently and consult with a professional before making decisions based on this content. Please note that our <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/terms-and-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terms and Conditions<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/disclaimer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Disclaimers<\/a> have been updated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/beincrypto.com\/web3-eyes-of-african-founders-ethsafari-2025-lisk\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Lockridge Okoth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building in Web3 Through the Eyes of African Founders: ETHSafari 2025 Editorial note: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you take action, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations remain independent and unbiased. ???? Learn more in our Advertiser Disclosure African founders at ETHSafari 2025 shared<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":871994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4299,3327],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-871993","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-building","8":"category-through"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=871993"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/871993\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/871994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=871993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=871993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=871993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}