Issue 024: The Mangrove Newsletter
News & Expert Views, Reports, Insights, Thoughts, and Perspectives on Global Resilience and Business Continuity.
Welcome to Issue 024 of the Mangrove Newsletter! We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.
1. Updates on Mangrove
Wondering what we’ve been up to? We’ve got a lot on our plate and some big things coming up!
Back Downunder
It feels like an entire minute since we’ve been Downunder. It is always great to reconnect with our roots.
A little less than 5 years ago, the Aussie startup ecosystem quite literally did not exist; we were, and are still somewhat, more inclined to stick to standard business trajectories. Or perhaps we just don’t call everything being an entrepreneur or a startup.
Whatever the reason, the change in the last few years has been nothing short of fabulous. From a handful of brave souls fuelled by passion and little else have really helped the ecosystem to emerge. Now, conversations buzz with talk of seed funding, Series A rounds, and the potential of Aussie unicorns. If you want to attend a startup-meetup in Melbourne, you could quite literally keep your calendar full each night.
It's fascinating to witness this mindset shift firsthand. The scepticism that once met any deviation from the traditional path seems to be slowly but surely giving way to a genuine excitement for the potential of disruptive ideas. You see it in the growing number of incubators and accelerators popping up across the major cities, and the huge increase in venture capital firms across Aus.
Circling back to the mindset shift; there is a growing acceptance of risk, a willingness to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and a collective belief that Australia can indeed be a breeding ground for globally impactful companies. While we might still have a uniquely Aussie way of going about things, a certain understated pragmatism perhaps, the entrepreneurial spirit is here and we are excited about it for our short visit back home.
So, if you’re an Aussie in the ecosystem or perhaps an investor overseas who wants to learn more. We’re cooking up something interesting in the coming months. We are working with some local partners to create a space where investors can come and experience the startups world Down Under.
Here is recap of the amazing event last year. If you’re interested, drop us a submission and we will share the registration details:
Launching Startup Garage
Mangrove and Startinev are thrilled to announce their partnership! 🚀
Are you a startup founder ready to break through your current challenges?
The Startup Garage Africa Academy is a 12-week deep dive designed specifically for entrepreneurs like you. Those who've launched but need the framework and expertise to reach the next level.
Over 12 intensive weeks, you'll:
👌 Learn practical, real-world entrepreneurship strategies.
👌 Gain clarity on your product and refine your strategic direction.
👌 Develop a strong understanding of operations, finance, and growth drivers.
👌 Build the foundation for a truly scalable business.
This program is for action-oriented founders who are ready to sharpen their execution. 🙌
Full Scale Podcast
So, we did something new... 🚀
Our latest whitepaper offers a blueprint for building operational resilience as a cornerstone of success within the African EdTech ecosystem.
Far beyond theory, this paper delivers practical insights and real-world examples for entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders.
Introducing the Mangrove Operational Resilience Framework, a robust and practical approach designed to anchor African EdTechs in challenging environments.
With a rigorous yet user-focused approach, Kirimi Mitambo Cecil Senna Nutakor Lilian Mutegi and our fabulous founder Amitty have created a blueprint to empower African EdTech startups.
Just as a mangrove withstands turbulent tides, this framework empowers ventures to establish deep roots, adapt flexibly, and flourish even.
Full Scale Podcast
If you missed it. Our incredible founder, Amitty P., sat down with Timothy Mukiti and Adrian Ntwatwa on the Full Scale Podcast when she was recently in Nairobi. It is a goldmine of practical advice. Forget the buzzwords and fluffy theories, this is real talk!
Amitty's got 10+ years of experience wrangling financial giants and helping scrappy scale-ups thrive. She's spilling the beans on operational resilience, and trust me, you'll want to take notes.
Here's a taste of what you'll get:
✅ The Mangrove 6-step framework for growth that actually works.
✅ How to spot the common blind spots that can sink your startup. Avoid the pitfalls!
✅ Practical tips for cutting costs and scaling smart because budgets matter.
And, of course, Amitty's famous food analogies that makes complex concepts easy to digest. 🍰
Whether you're building a fintech in Lagos or a logistics platform in Nairobi, this episode is packed with grounded insights and actionable strategies.
We're talking real-world solutions for real-world challenges.
2. What We're Working On
🥳 We’ve launched the Investor Pilot Program! 🥳
Are you an Investor with Scaleups in your Portfolio?
Join our Investment Pilot Program and gain unprecedented insight into your portfolio's operational health!
PROBLEM
Traditional due diligence often misses critical operational vulnerabilities.
Investors lack clear visibility into the real-time health of their portfolios.
Operational resilience is crucial for startup survival, but overlooked.
SOLUTION
We've developed the first of its kind Investor Dashboard with Co Pilot, to provide:
Clear Portfolio Health View: Move beyond vanity metrics. Gain a transparent lifeline into your portfolio's operational health.
Proactive Risk Mitigation: Identify vulnerabilities and strengths to minimise risk and maximise ROI.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage actionable insights to make informed investment decisions.
Reduced Due Diligence: On demand data reduces on-going due dilligence.
WHAT WE OFFER
Access to our investor dashboard and digital twin technology for the duration of the pilot program. This covers access for the firm and 2 - 4 startups.
WHY MANGROVE
We are passionate about fostering resilient and innovative startups. We have a proven track record of delivering impactful pilot programs and masterclasses
What is Whitespace?
We are getting ready to launch our third pilot program. We already have a few startups on the cohort waitlist for July 2025, but are always looking to fill a few more spots. Could this be you? 👀
Whitespace is our innovative approach to unlocking a business’s full potential with resilience education.
The Whitespace Pilot Program: Join the Journey
The pilot program is a three-stage journey, kicking off in June 25. Here's what you can expect:
Stage 1: Onboarding to Mangrove Foundation. We'll work with you to build your company's digital twin.
Stage 2: Includes Mangrove Analytics. We'll enhance your digital twin with powerful analytics and generate even deeper insights.
Stage 3: Get ready for the Mangrove + (Co-Pilot). This stage leverages the insights from the digital twin and analytics to empower the implementation of necessary changes and business optimisation.
Are you ready to build a more resilient startup? We are!
Applications for the Whitespace pilot program are now active. To apply, please submit a form to register your interest. If selected, we will share the next steps.
3. Work with Us
Global business, SMB, or a Startup? We understand that technology is essential for modern businesses, and we've built replicable processes for businesses that guarantee long-term scalability and sustainability.
Let’s work with you to build better and scale faster. Schedule a Demo with us here. We can’t wait to connect.
