Edmund Higenbottam, MD, Verdant Capital Investing in African Fintech
In this episode we are joined by leading African fintech investment banker, Edmund Higenbottam, MD of Verdant Capital. With 20 years of experience in investment banking, Edmund has established the largest advisor to the fintech sector in Africa, which is particularly attractive to investors. We discuss the effects of COVID-19 on market activity and why key players including VC funds and global groups are competing for market share. Africa currently hosts around 500 fintech firms, most of them in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The opportunities still remain vast as around two thirds of Africans are still unbanked, despite 60% of the world's mobile money passing through Africa. We also speak to Edmund about his career before founding Verdant, and he also gives us tips on hot fintechs to watch out for in 2021. This timely podcast coincides with the UK-Africa Fintech Summit this week. Read more: Verdant Capital https://verdant-cap.com/ UK-Africa Fintech Summit 03-04 February 2021 https://eu.eventscloud.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=200217940& African Business Tech 54 reports Africa tech investment holds steady under Covid https://african.business/2021/01/trade-investment/investment-in-africa-holds-steady-amid-covid-19/