Value creation doesn't stop at your border!

We break down why African free trade, the AfCFTA, and Africa's $192.2 billion intra-trade market matter for small and medium businesses; and why you don't need to be a trade expert to unlock novel value there.

New trade markets mean new customers, new value needs, and fresh value creation opportunities. Get an brand-new look at the opportunities (and the value!) now available to you, sitting right next door and beyond.

Big retail is moving in, and with them the R900 billion township economy transforms from a hidden niche into an open battleground.

But corporate giants can’t beat you at what you do best.

In this episode, we break down 5 concrete actions every township entrepreneur can take to secure their place in their own economy and sustain real growth:

• Pooling buying power through cooperatives

• Formalizing strategically, not via peer pressure

• Building a collective digital presence that serves the township

• Weaponise YOUR unfair advantages

• Building local value loops that keep money and value circulating in the township

This isn’t about surviving the competition. It’s about owning YOUR economy and creating value that stays local.

On this battleground, the entrepreneurs and enterprises who thrive won’t be the biggest: they’ll be the ones most community rooted.

When most corporates and foundations hear "township economy," they see a social problem to solve. They're missing the biggest asset hiding in plain sight.

In this episode we're sitting down with Thabang Kumalo, an ecosystem builder who has spent years connecting township entrepreneurs, corporates, foundations, and business schools, and get into the reality of what it truly means to engage the township economy and its participants.

The township economy is worth an estimated R900 billion, so why is it still treated as an afterthought?

In this episode Charmaine Nkosi and I explore how township SMMEs can move beyond the local neigbourhood, turn community trust into real value, and become a driving force in South Africa's economic resilience. From expanding business with trusted neighbours to developing robust supply and value chains and walking into corporate boardrooms as an equal partner, we unpack what it takes to scale township enterprises without losing authenticity, and what policymakers, corporates, and investors are still missing about this powerful sector.

Welcome back after TWO YEARS!

The township economy in South Africa has been the subject of much excitement in recent years as its enormous potential has finally been revealed to the rest of the nation, and even the world. As you can imagine the possibilities for Value creation are just as massive, but not if you approach it poorly!

In this episode, I'm giving you a brief introductory primer to this rapidly relevant sector in South Africa, and uncovering why that even matters for someone looking to create value, both as an SMME and as an ecosystem partner or investor

We've hit the season 1 finale of Inside Value, but this is NOT the end!

This episode's a little different from usual: I'll be reflecting on my journey, both in creating this podcast and my journey with you as the listener or viewer over these past 10 episodes (and 10 weeks!), and what I've got cooking for season 2, coming in June/July 2024

Watch to hear more about how we'll be taking Inside Value forward, together!