The Power of Vertical Partnerships

At Lionesses of Africa, we talk a lot about going further, together - and the power of partnerships. It is a philosophy that we practice every day, being the ultimate collaborators. So it has been interesting to read a number of articles recently about entrepreneurs who are finding structural solutions to the current economic challenges. They are teaming up with other companies who are doing something similar to their own businesses, and then partnering vertically. The aim is to exchange knowledge and expertise, to increase market access, and to leverage whatever new business opportunities exist through increased scale and innovation. This is not a new way of thinking. A great example of this type of vertical partnership was PayPal, created when Elon Musk’s online bank X.Com merged with its biggest competitor Confinity - and the rest is history. So in these challenging times, it’s worth considering the power of vertical partnerships to not just survive, but to thrive differently.