Wave : the No Free Lunch conversation
The strategy behind the headline, minus the hype.
- Why it matters now for founders — and who it affects first.
- What to watch next as the story develops.
- How Côte d'Ivoire's market shapes the outcome.
The strategy behind the headline, minus the hype.
- Why it matters now for founders — and who it affects first.
- What to watch next as the story develops.
- How Côte d'Ivoire's market shapes the outcome.
For anyone building in podcasts, the useful question is where this changes your costs, distribution or competition — and how soon you act on it.
AI-generated summary. It can miss nuance — read the full story above for the complete picture.
In Kampala, the story of Wave is becoming a case study in what it takes to reach profitability.
What's really being tested here is whether a lending product can survive contact with Côte d'Ivoire's real economy.
Why it matters
In this economy, unit economics are the strategy.
The move reframes hiring for anyone building in Côte d'Ivoire: get the fundamentals right before you scale.
Competitors won't sit still. Expect telco wallets to respond within the quarter.
What to watch next
- Whether Wave can hold margins while it chases 80% retention.
- Whether the pre-seed buys enough runway to reach the next milestone.
- Which rivals move first, and how telco wallets counter.
The bet is placed. The market will settle it soon enough.
