Rotimi Thomas

After five incredible years at @TechCrunch, I’m signing off. I spent that time telling the stories of Africa’s tech ecosystem and helping shape how the world understands it. It’s been some of the most fulfilling work of my career, covering many of the continent’s most important companies, founders, investors, and transactions. I’m deeply grateful to God for His continued guidance; to my editors — @panzer, @Pickavet, @ingridlunden, @Cookie, and @Julie188 — for the opportunity and for trusting my work; and to my colleagues, sources, and everyone who made this journey possible. In my years of reporting, it has become clear that Africa does not lack software innovation, especially in financial services — the sector that has, so far, produced many of the continent’s largest companies and outcomes. But that alone can only take us so far. If we want to build truly thriving economies for the world’s youngest population, we must invest in infrastructure, industrial capacity, and the physical systems that drive economic growth. This will become even more important as we move into the age of AI and automation, where Africa and its resources are critical in ways we have not yet fully grasped. I’m excited to join a young company working at the center of this shift. More soon.