Fidelis Chiwara, who leads global expansion and payment partnerships for Southern Africa at Flutterwave, took part in a panel at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as business leaders and investors discussed the outlook for some of the continent’s most prominent private firms.
Panel focus: building institutions, not just scaling
Speaking at the Africa Tech 50 (AT50) Market Open event, where the session was framed around “Africa’s Leading Private Companies: What Comes Next?”, Chiwara said the debate around African technology is moving past a narrow focus on growth and scale. In his view, the key question now is how companies can develop durable institutions that can last through changing market conditions.
Chiwara highlighted Flutterwave’s expansion across more than 30 African markets, describing the company as a platform that supports trade and payments across the continent. He argued that achieving long-run growth takes more than growing revenue; it also depends on the internal and external structures that allow a business to operate reliably as it expands.
He pointed to governance and regulatory compliance as essential foundations, alongside the need for strong partnerships and operational systems that can support companies managing activities across multiple jurisdictions. As businesses extend their footprint, he suggested they require the right frameworks to keep running smoothly rather than rebuilding processes each time they enter a new market.
Cross-border connections and ecosystem transparency
Beyond expansion, Chiwara said Africa’s longer-term opportunity is tied to strengthening the links between markets. He argued that as companies increasingly need infrastructure to sell, receive payments, and function across borders, they should be able to do so without having to recreate their systems in every country.
Chiwara also stressed that greater transparency and collaboration across the broader ecosystem will be critical to supporting the next wave of African companies aiming to compete globally. He positioned these improvements as necessary to ensure that growth translates into sustainable, institution-backed performance.
Flutterwave’s next steps
Looking ahead, Chiwara reaffirmed Flutterwave’s ambition to move beyond payments alone. He said the company plans to continue building the financial infrastructure that supports businesses as they scale across Africa.
He concluded by calling for deeper collaboration among technology providers, financial institutions, and investors, arguing that coordinated support is needed to help the next generation of African businesses grow and compete on a global footing.
