Africa Tech Festival 2025: Key Trends, Big Announcements, and What They Mean for Africa’s Digital Future

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By Dynaton Data

Africa Tech Festival 2025 brought together innovators, founders, telcos, policymakers, and global technology leaders , and this year’s event felt different. The conversations were sharper, the ambitions were bigger, and the announcements signaled that Africa is no longer trying to “catch up” in the tech race. We are officially part of the global front line.

Below is a comprehensive recap of the major themes, technologies, and insights we gathered throughout the week.

1. Strive Masiyiwa Sets the Pace: Africa Is Building Real AI Infrastructure

One of the defining highlights of the festival came from Strive Masiyiwa, whose announcements reaffirmed that Africa is preparing itself ,structurally and strategically  for an AI-powered future.

Cassava AI Becomes Africa’s First Preferred NVIDIA Cloud Partner

This milestone secures access to advanced GPU compute for AI development across the continent. It signals a continental shift: Africa is building foundational infrastructure instead of relying solely on foreign cloud capability.

Cassava x Google Partnership: 6 Months of Free AI Capabilities for MNOs

Another groundbreaking announcement was the partnership between Cassava Technologies and Google, designed to give mobile network operators across Africa AI capabilities at no cost for the first six months.

What this means:

  • MNOs can immediately integrate AI-powered services into their platforms.
  • Millions of subscribers will gain access to AI tools without paying a premium.
  • Telcos can test, scale, and understand AI user behavior before committing to long-term commercial models.
  • The barrier to adopting AI for mass-market consumers drops to nearly zero.

This is one of the most strategic moves in Africa’s digital ecosystem, because telcos remain the continent’s largest digital distribution channel. Offering AI through MNOs can accelerate adoption faster than any standalone app ever could.

For companies like Dynaton, this opens new possibilities for embedding AI into advertising, engagement, customer service, and enterprise-grade analytics at continental scale.

2. The Rise of AI in Education

AI-powered education was a major discussion point, exploring:

  • Intelligent tutoring systems
  • Adaptive learning platforms
  • AI-powered assessments
  • Tackling digital literacy gaps across rural and urban environments

African ed-tech startups are shifting from content delivery to personalised learning ecosystems driven by real-time data. With AI infrastructure expanding, this transformation is set to accelerate.

3. Climate Tech: Africa’s New Innovation Frontier

Climate tech sessions explored solutions for:

  • Early warning systems
  • Flood and drought monitoring
  • Renewable energy analytics
  • Low-cost environmental sensors
  • Climate-smart agriculture

Investors are aligning with this sector because climate resilience is now both a humanitarian priority and a commercial opportunity.

4. Robotics Takes Center Stage

Robotics had a strong presence this year with both hardware and software applications:

  • Industrial automation
  • Agricultural robots
  • Education-focused robots
  • Warehouse and logistics automation
  • Locally engineered robotics prototypes

It’s clear that robotics in Africa is moving beyond showcases to practical deployment, especially in manufacturing and agriculture. Robotics + AI creates enormous opportunities for automation, data generation, and new enterprise services.

5. Telco Innovation: From Connectivity to Digital Ecosystems

Telcos across Africa showcased how they are becoming multi-service digital platforms. Key themes included:

  • Cloud transformation
  • AI-powered customer experience
  • 5G enterprise offerings
  • Startup-telco collaboration models
  • Smart messaging and contextual advertising

With partnerships like Cassava x Google and new NVIDIA-powered cloud infrastructure, telcos are gearing up to deliver AI directly to subscribers — a shift that could redefine mobile services.

6. Startup Pitch Competitions: A Maturing Ecosystem

The startup pitch competitions highlighted founders solving African-scale problems in:

  • AI
  • Fintech
  • Health tech
  • Education
  • Climate tech
  • Enterprise SaaS

The quality of pitches and the technical depth showcased how quickly Africa’s startup ecosystem is maturing.

7. Quantum Computing & Q-Day: The Urgency of Post-Quantum Security

One of the most impactful sessions was Dr. Alfred Musarurwa’s talk on quantum computing and the concept of Q-Day — the moment quantum machines become powerful enough to break modern encryption.

Key warnings:

  • Banking, telecoms, cloud, and healthcare encryption standards could become obsolete.
  • Sensitive records (medical, financial, personal communication) could be exposed.
  • Africa must begin adopting post-quantum cryptography immediately.

This session served as a powerful reminder that innovation must come with security.

8. Africa Is Officially in the AI Race

Across all sessions and exhibitor showcases, one message stood out: Africa is not catching up to the AI revolution — we are joining it on our own terms.

Notable developments:

  • AI training hubs and incubation centers
  • GPU clusters and new data centres
  • LLM-powered government and enterprise applications
  • Emerging AI regulation and national policy frameworks
  • Tools allowing SMEs and startups to adopt AI faster

And with partnerships like Cassava x Google and infrastructure backed by NVIDIA, AI is becoming accessible at national scale.

Final Reflections: A Defining Moment for Africa’s Tech Future

Africa Tech Festival 2025 demonstrated that the continent has entered a new era — one shaped by infrastructure, collaboration, and bold innovation.

For us at Dynaton Data, these were the major takeaways:

  • AI is becoming the backbone of Africa’s digital economy
  • Telcos will accelerate mass AI adoption
  • Robotics, quantum resilience, and climate tech are rising priority sectors
  • Partnerships between startups and large enterprises will define the next decade
  • African companies are building solutions with global potential

We leave Cape Town with renewed clarity and purpose: to build AI-powered solutions that serve African businesses, empower users, and contribute to a future where Africa is not just consuming technology , but shaping it.

Dynaton Data

Dynaton WhatsApp Advertising: A Complete Guide for Zimbabwean Marketers

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Dynaton Data , advertising exchange in Zimbabwe : Simply Delivering Results for all


Learn how Dynaton’s WhatsApp ad engine drives 98 % open-rates, AI-optimised A/B tests and EcoCash check-outs for brands across Zimbabwe.


Zimbabwe now counts 81.5 % internet penetration and WhatsApp alone accounts for ≈ 44 % of all mobile data traffic  . If your brand is not inside your customers’ favourite chat app, you are invisible. Dynaton’s WhatsApp advertising stack lets you reach, engage and convert those users within minutes—without writing a line of code.



Why WhatsApp Beats Every Other Channel

MetricWhatsappEmailGeneric SMS
Average open-rate98%20%28%
Typical CTR45-60%2-5%4-6%
Rich media supportImages, Video, Audio, Catalogues, LocationLimitedNone
Two-way conversationYesNoOne Way



How Dynaton’s Platform Works

1. Self-Serve Campaign Builder

Create a campaign in four steps:

  1. Choose objective – awareness, lead gen or direct sale
  2. Upload creative – or let our GPT-4o copy assistant generate variants
  3. Select targeting – audience segments or specific WhatsApp groups curated by Dynaton
  4. Set budget & schedule – starting from USD 10

Campaigns go live in under 30 minutes once approved by our compliance engine.

2. AI-Driven A/B Testing

Every creative is versioned. The platform automatically reroutes traffic to the higher-converting copy or image after a statistically significant threshold (≥ 95 % confidence). Advertisers typically see +27 % CTR uplift after 48 hours of optimisation (internal aggregate).

3. Interactive Flows & Catalogs

Beyond broadcast blasts, Dynaton offers drag-and-drop conversation builders:

  • Lead capture flows – auto-qualify prospects, then pipe data into your CRM
  • Product catalog – in-chat browsing and checkout
  • Survey or poll – collect zero-party data in real time

4. One-Click EcoCash Payments

Insert a secure EcoCash payment link directly into the chat. The user taps, authorises and receives an instant confirmation inside WhatsApp. No app-switch drop-off.

5. Real-Time Analytics Dashboard

  • Impressions, opens, clicks, cost and ROAS
  • Group-level heat-maps to spot saturation
  • Export to CSV or push to Google Looker Studio via webhook

6. Compliance & Deliverability

  • Follows WhatsApp Business Policy and POTRAZ guidelines
  • Opt-out and frequency caps built in
  • Messages counted as impressions only after ≥ 1 second in viewport—the same viewability standard Dynaton applies on display.



Case Snapshot: FMCG Flash-Sale

KPIBefore DynatonAfter Dynaton
Open Rate62% (email)97.4%
CTR6.1%52%
Cost per PurchaseUSD 1.38USD 0.35

The campaign used three creative variants; the winning headline was identified in 9 hours, statistically locked, and budget was re-allocated automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need API access?

No. Use the web UI or plug in through our REST endpoints if you prefer automation.

How are WhatsApp groups sourced?

Dynaton maintains a database of opt-in thematic groups (sports, parenting, SME business etc.). Group owners are compensated on a CPM basis.

What if a user replies?

Set an automated response, forward to a live agent, or integrate your own chatbot. Conversation transcripts are stored for 30 days by default.

Can I geo-target within Zimbabwe?

Yes, SIM-based location and self-declared profile data allow city-level targeting (Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, etc.).

Getting Started Today

  1. Sign up at dynaton.co.zw/whatsapp
  2. Verify your business number (under 5 minutes)
  3. Fund your wallet via EcoCash or USD card
  4. Launch your first test for as little as USD 10
Dynaton Data

200 Million Impressions Later: The Zimbabwe Digital Marketing Playbook That Actually Works

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In 18 months, our Dynatón Data Advertising platform delivered over 200 million impressions across Zimbabwe’s digital landscape. What started as data collection quickly turned into a front-row seat to what actually works in this market.

This is the first in a series of 25 insights we’ll be sharing, each drawn from real campaigns, real results, and lessons you can apply whether you’re running social media for your tuckshop or leading marketing for a national brand.

1. Speak Zimbabwean First, Marketing-Speak Second

Generic global creatives rarely resonate here.Your audience is Zimbabwean first.

A food delivery service that showcased sadza and other traditional Zimbabwean dishes reported an order volume increase by over 36% compared to one restaurant which showed international cuisines.. Why? Because Zimbabwean audiences instantly recognize when you’re speaking to them, not at them.

Quick Win: Reference local touchpoints that signal you understand the culture and relate to the average zimbabwean. Even simple localizations (using “kombi” instead of “minibus“) create immediate connection.

2. Leverage Whatsapp as a channel

With data costs remaining a concern, WhatsApp has become Zimbabwe’s digital town square. In Q4 2024, we introduced WhatsApp Advertising by building entire customer journeys inside the app, from discovery to purchase, without ever asking users to leave their comfort zone. For many Zimbabweans, WhatsApp is the internet. It’s common to hear someone say, “as long as phone yangu ichiita WhatsApp.” That’s where recommendations happen, where brands are discussed, and where buying decisions start.

We didn’t just follow the audience; we designed for their behavior. By embedding brand discovery and engagement into everyday chats, we’ve seen campaigns drive results that feel more like word-of-mouth than marketing. If you want to meet your customers where they actually are, not where you hope they’ll be, WhatsApp is the place. And Dynaton makes that transition seamless.

3. Your Payment Flow Makes or Breaks Conversion

The moment you force Zimbabwean customers to leave their comfort zone for payment, you’ve lost them. Payment friction kills conversions. By integrating EcoCash prominently at first interaction, one ecommerce client slashed cart abandonment by significant points.

Pro Tip: Test your full payment journey on slow connections and older devices , that’s where most breakdowns happen.

4. Turn Zimbabwe’s Constraints Into Your Competitive Edge

When budgets are tight, creativity must stretch further. When you can’t out‑spend, out‑innovate. I’ll leave it as this.

Success Secret: Ask yourself “How can this limitation become our advantage?” instead of just working around it.

5. Build Real-Time Resilience Into Your Marketing

A client of ours recently ran a weekend flash sale. A few hours in, we noticed the click-through rate wasn’t performing as expected. Because we had real-time tracking in place, we quickly picked up on the issue , the call-to-action didn’t match the urgency of the offer. We worked with the client to adjust the creative mid-campaign, and engagement jumped by +42% before the sale ended.

The takeaway: In the fast-paced digital space, being able to spot and fix issues while a campaign is still live can make all the difference. Data shouldn’t just be something you check after the fact. It should guide your next move.

6. Use AI to Work Smarter, Not Just Faster

AI isn’t just a global buzzword, it’s a practical tool you can use to punch above your weight. In our campaigns, we’ve used our proprietary Dynaton AI to test different ad headlines before going live, summarize large volumes of customer feedback, automated lead generation and even generate localized content variations for different regions in Zimbabwe. One telecoms client rotated AI-generated captions on our whatsapp platform tailored to low-data users, and conversions on that campaign improved by +19%.

Smart Play: Don’t try to replace your creativity ,amplify it. Use tools like ChatGPT or Canva’s Magic Write to brainstorm, localize, and optimize your content at scale. Even with a small team, AI helps you move like a big brand, without the overhead.

The Real Advantage Is Agility, Not Budget

Zimbabwe’s digital landscape rewards marketers who listen closely and respond quickly. The businesses consistently winning here aren’t necessarily those spending the most, but those understanding the cultural context, embracing local platforms, and turning every constraint into an opportunity.

This is 6 out of the 25 insights we will be sharing.

Advertising in zimbabwe at budget

Cutting Advertising Costs for Zim SMEs: Why Digital Wins Over Traditional

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If you are a small or medium-sized business (SME) in Zimbabwe, you know how tough it is to make your marketing budget stretch. Every dollar counts. Yet, traditional advertising options, like radio, print newspapers, and outdoor billboards, often cost more than they deliver.

Today, there is a better way to grow your business: digital advertising. With platforms like Dynaton Data, reaching the right customers at the right time has never been easier or more affordable.

The True Cost of Traditional Advertising

Let us break it down:

• Radio ads in Zimbabwe typically cost between $200 and $500 per week for just a few 30-second slots.

• Newspaper ads can range from $150 to over $1,000 for a single placement, depending on size and publication.

• Billboards can cost $500 or more per month, not including printing fees.

Despite these high costs, traditional advertising has major weaknesses for SMEs:

• Poor targeting: You pay to reach everyone, even people who are not your potential customers.

• Limited tracking: It is hard to measure exactly how many people respond to your ad.

• One-size-fits-all messaging: Traditional channels rarely allow you to personalize your message to different types of customers.

Why Digital Advertising is the Future for SMEs

Digital platforms change everything:

• Target precisely: Show your ads only to the people most likely to buy.

• Track performance: See exactly how many people saw, clicked, and acted on your ads.

• Scale flexibly: Spend $5 or $500, you control your budget and can adjust anytime.

That is where Dynaton Data comes in.

We are proud to offer Zimbabwean SMEs a smarter way to advertise, offering wider reach, smarter targeting, and lower costs.

And it gets better: Dynaton has partnered with Econet, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator, to extend our reach even further. This partnership empowers you to tap into millions of potential customers directly on their phones, where they spend most of their time.

How Dynaton Saves You Money (and Grows Your Business)

Here is a quick comparison:

MediumCostAudience TargetingMeasurable Results
Radio$200-$500 / weekBroad (everyone listening)Limited and Innacurate
Newspaper$150-$1000 / adBroad (all readers)None
DynatonFrom $1 / dayTargeted (age, location, interests)Full tracking dashboard

Instead of wasting your budget broadcasting to everyone, Dynaton helps you focus on real prospects, boosting your chances of converting interest into sales without breaking the bank.

Plus, when you sign up today, you will receive $50 in free ad credits to experience the power of targeted digital advertising for yourself.

Common SME Advertising Pain Points and How Dynaton Solves Them

Problem 1: “I cannot afford advertising right now.”

Dynaton’s solution: Start small, even $5 can get you results. Plus, we give you $50 free credit to test without risk.

Problem 2: “I am tired of spending money and not knowing if it works.”

Dynaton’s solution: Our platform shows you exactly how many people saw, clicked, and engaged with your ads.

Problem 3: “I need to target specific areas or customers.”

Dynaton’s solution: Filter your ads by location, age, interests, and more, so you only pay to reach your best prospects.

Ready to Grow Smarter?

Advertising should not feel like throwing money into the wind.

Join hundreds of forward-thinking SMEs in Zimbabwe already moving beyond expensive, ineffective traditional ads.

Try Dynaton today and get $50 in free ad credit.

No risk. No commitment. Just real results.

Signup for your free trial