About
Software worth discovering
Discover African-built products and the people building them.
Most directories optimize for how many startups they can list. We optimize for trust. If Africa Is Building features a product, you should know it’s a real thing shipping from Africa, not a broken link, a dead social account, or a random landing page.
Principles
How we decide what belongs here
01
Discovery over directory
People shouldn’t visit because we listed thousands of startups. They should visit because they can find the right products for their needs.
02
Value before scale
We ask how much value we can create for each founder, not how many products we can collect. Listing should open doors, not just fill a catalog.
03
Open discovery, curated placement
New submissions are public by default. Founders manage their details, our team selects featured products, and listings that violate our guidelines can be hidden.
04
Builders, not just products
We invest in the people behind the software: stories, journeys, milestones, and the craft of shipping from Africa.
For founders
Value before volume
We’re building toward a listing that means something: a clear product page, a builder story, spotlight moments, play and discovery surfaces, and over time walkthroughs, interviews, and community challenges around real African software. Getting listed should help you get found, not just fill a slot.
Quality bar
What we look for before approval
Submissions are public by default. This checklist guides our selections for new products and for the reputation of everyone already listed.
- Solves a real problem
- Working website (loads cleanly)
- HTTPS and custom domain
- Mobile responsive
- Working OG image and favicon in the browser tab
- Clear page title and meta description
- Product is actually usable, not only a waitlist or deck
- Clear value proposition
- Clear way to start (signup, demo, or pricing)
- Founder or team is identifiable
- Built by founders in Africa
- Active, real social presence (no dead links)
- Proper logo and branding
- Screenshots or a credible product surface
- Contact or support is findable
- Doesn't appear abandoned
We usually won’t approve yet if…
- Broken or unreachable website
- Missing or broken OG image
- Social links that go nowhere
- No clear product or problem
- Landing page only with nothing to try
- No identifiable founder
- No clear African founder connection
- Looks abandoned or inactive
That isn’t rejection forever. Fix the gaps, then come back when the product is ready. Strong listings protect the founders who do get featured.