Midweek Check-In: The Productivity Illusion
Are you actually working or just being busy 🤔
Mhoro, Dear Innovator 👋
Unrelated, but you should consider the opening as your first lesson in Shona (one of Zimbabwe’s official languages). It’ll give you a head start for when you visit 😜
Now…
The Art of Looking Busy
Be honest—how many times have you sat in front of your laptop for hours, only to realize you’ve done… absolutely nothing?
This isn’t a call-out or anything (okay, maybe a little 👀), it’s just that since there’s such a fine line between ‘being productive’ and ‘performing productivity’, we’ve found out that doing it overtime may actually be one of the reason why you’ve not done anything innovative recently.
Just to be sure, see if you fit anything on this list 😉
✅ You’re on your laptop.
✅ You’re moving your mouse/have your finger on your touchpad
✅ You have so many tabs open.
✅ On several occasions, you’ve caught yourself typing (but it’s just responding to messages, not actual work).
That’s the productivity illusion!
“The first step to fixing anything is identifying it”
- Source: We no fit lie give you
Dear Innovator, now that you know that you might have this problem and it’s been affecting your innovative flow, pls will you fix it?🥺 Remember, Africa’s counting on you!
Tech Ecosystem Updates
ORA Technologies, a Moroccan super app, has secured $1.9 million in pre-Series A funding, which it will use to scale its food delivery feature, Kooul, and accelerate its newly-launched digital payment and money transfer solution, ORA Cash.
We look forward to more good news out of North Africa!
Early-stage venture capital firm, Antler, has expanded its operations from Kenya to Nigeria, indicating a growing interest in supporting startups and entrepreneurs in West Africa. According to reports, Antler’s expansion into Nigeria is driven by the country’s vibrant tech ecosystem and its status as a hub of innovation.
So far, Antler has supported 26 startups in East Africa, investing approximately $14 million to help founders validate ideas, find co-founders, and secure additional funding. Will they surpass this in Nigeria? 🤔
ICYMI
Here are some other reads from us, incase you missed it 😉
From Regulation to Revolution: The Emerging Policies Driving Africa’s 2025 Tech Boom
·Happy weekend, Dear Innovator 👊
Other Tech News For You 🌍
Has LOTUS Bank expanded into football sponsorships? Click for deets!
AfriGO and Moniepoint have entered into a ‘contactless partnership’
Bolt Nigeria has mandated the use of AC in all ride categories
On Saturday, we’ll continue our analysis of tech companies that pass reality’s “test”—innovators who are solving real problems that African users face every day.
We’ll help you find out if you’re one of ‘em or if you’re simply building tech mansions in the clouds (pun intended).
Toodles!