The Tools Stack for Early-Stage African Startups

Choosing Wisely

Early-stage startups often waste money on tools they don't need or choose enterprise software when startup-friendly alternatives exist. The goal isn't to have the best tools—it's to have tools that don't get in your way while you figure out product-market fit.

Start with the basics: you need communication (Slack or Discord), documentation (Notion or Google Docs), project management (Linear, Asana, or even Trello), and version control (GitHub). Everything else is optional until you need it.

African-Specific Considerations

Some tools work better in African contexts than others. Payment processing? You'll likely need local providers like Paystack or Flutterwave rather than Stripe. Banking? Consider digital banks that understand startup needs. HR and payroll? Look for providers with African entity support.

Cloud costs can add up quickly. AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure all have startup programs with credits—apply to all of them. And be thoughtful about data residency requirements, which vary by country and industry.

When to Upgrade

Don't adopt complex tools before you need them. You don't need Salesforce until you have a real sales process. You don't need enterprise security tools until you have enterprise customers. Let your needs drive your tools, not the other way around.