Building scale and maintaining a lower burn rate can coexist in a symbiotic relationship. Every founder aspires to scale their business, yet many—along with their investors—fail to evaluate the broader impact of every strategic decision. The consequences are often severe, leading to layoffs and shutdowns after ambitious attempts to scale.
Success stories like M-Pesa’s, Jumia’s, and Flutterwave’s inspire founders to embrace the pan-African dream, presenting cross-border expansion as a benchmark.
The catch is that these examples are exceptions, not norms.
