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💽 Equinix to build a new $22m data centre in Nigeria

💽 Equinix to build a new $22m data centre in Nigeria

Plus: 🛍️ Alibaba in South Africa after Shein and Temu

Innovation Village
November 11, 2025

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

It feels like the e-commerce world just keeps getting a little more crowded and a little more exciting. Today, we’re seeing yet another big name make its move, staking a claim in markets that were already buzzing with international competition. With companies like Shein and Temu already reshaping how African consumers shop online, the latest entrant is upping the ante.

This isn’t just about another website or app to scroll through, it’s about the bigger picturen of how global players are racing to understand local preferences, build trust with shoppers, and offer products that feel both accessible and aspirational. It’s a reminder that the digital marketplace in Africa isn’t static; it’s evolving at a pace that can surprise even the most seasoned observers.

For shoppers, entrepreneurs, and investors alike, these moves signal opportunity and challenge in equal measure. New choices, new partnerships, and new competition all mean the stakes are higher and the potential rewards even greater. So as you scroll through today’s edition, think of it not just as news, but as a window into how the global and local are colliding in ways that are changing the way we buy, sell, and interact online.

Let’s dive in👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

🗼 Equinix to build a new $22 million data centre in Lagos, Nigeria
☁️ Rack Centre and EdgeNext Team Up to Supercharge Nigeria’s Cloud and Streaming Scene
🛒 Alibaba sets foot in South Africa after Shein and Temu
💰 Chari Gets Fresh Backing to Turn Africa’s Corner Shops into Fintech Hubs
💵 DEG Backs Mediterrania with €35M to Boost Africa’s Inclusive Growth
💰$30M Boost for Sedgeley Solar to Power Southern Africa’s Clean Energy Push

🗼DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Equinix to build a new $22 million data centre in Lagos, Nigeria

Equinix, one of the world’s leading digital infrastructure company, has announced plans to build a new $22 million data center in Lagos, Nigeria — its first newly constructed facility in West Africa. The new site, named LG3, represents the first phase of a broader $100 million Africa investment plan aimed at accelerating the continent’s digital transformation over the next two years. Scheduled to open in Q1 2026, the facility will enhance connectivity, enable secure cloud access, and attract international businesses seeking a foothold in Africa’s largest digital economy.

LG3 will integrate Equinix Fabric, the company’s software-defined interconnection platform that allows businesses to connect seamlessly with cloud service providers and partners worldwide. This capability will link Nigerian enterprises directly to Equinix’s global ecosystem of over 270 data centres across more than 70 metropolitan areas...........…continue reading

Find your customers on Roku this Black Friday

As with any digital ad campaign, the important thing is to reach streaming audiences who will convert. To that end, Roku’s self-service Ads Manager stands ready with powerful segmentation and targeting options. After all, you know your customers, and we know our streaming audience.

Worried it’s too late to spin up new Black Friday creative? With Roku Ads Manager, you can easily import and augment existing creative assets from your social channels. We also have AI-assisted upscaling, so every ad is primed for CTV.

Once you’ve done this, then you can easily set up A/B tests to flight different creative variants and Black Friday offers. If you’re a Shopify brand, you can even run shoppable ads directly on-screen so viewers can purchase with just a click of their Roku remote.

Bonus: we’re gifting you $5K in ad credits when you spend your first $5K on Roku Ads Manager. Just sign up and use code GET5K. Terms apply.

Use code GET5K now

☁️ CLOUD SERVICES

Rack Centre and EdgeNext Team Up to Supercharge Nigeria’s Cloud and Streaming Scene

Nigeria’s internet just got a major upgrade! Rack Centre, one of West Africa’s top data hubs, is now hosting EdgeNext’s cloud and CDN services right in Lagos — a move that’s set to make everything from streaming and gaming to e-commerce way faster and smoother.

With over 200 million connected people, Nigeria’s demand for high-speed, low-latency internet keeps exploding. EdgeNext’s arrival means local startups and global brands can now store and deliver content closer to users, cutting lag, speeding up load times, and slashing costs.

The partnership also powers Nigeria’s fast-growing gaming and digital economy, while pushing for sustainable, energy-efficient infrastructure through Rack Centre’s new LGS2 facility...........…..…continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

Chari Gets Fresh Backing to Turn Africa’s Corner Shops into Fintech Hubs

Chari co-founders: Ismael Belkhayat (L) and Sophia Alj (R)

Morocco’s Chari is on a mission to turn everyday corner shops into mini financial centers — and it just got new fuel for that journey. The Y Combinator–backed startup has secured fresh funding from Egypt’s DisrupTech Ventures as part of its Series A extension round.

Founded by Ismael and Sophia Belkhayat, Chari helps small shop owners order goods fast and manage their businesses digitally — while also offering loans, payments, and insurance right from its app. Think of it as giving Africa’s informal retailers a fintech makeover.

With over 20,000 retailers onboarded and expansion already underway in Tunisia and Ivory Coast, Chari’s dream of building a pan-African fintech network is well on its way. DisrupTech’s investment isn’t just about money — it also brings strategic muscle to help Chari scale faster and smarter...........…..…continue reading

💵FUNDING

DEG Backs Mediterrania with €35M to Boost Africa’s Inclusive Growth

Albert Alsina, Founder and CEO of Mediterrania Capital Partners

DEG, Germany’s development finance powerhouse, is putting €35 million into Mediterrania Capital IV, a private equity fund focused on Africa. The goal? Backing high-growth companies in sectors like financial services, healthcare, education, consumer goods, and infrastructure — all while driving social and environmental impact.

Mediterrania Capital Partners says DEG’s support helps them deliver both strong returns and real-world impact, from creating jobs to fostering innovation and climate resilience. With this renewed partnership, the fund is set to fuel sustainable growth across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, proving that finance and positive change can go hand in hand..............…..…continue reading

🛒E-COMMERCE

Alibaba sets foot in South Africa after Shein and Temu

Big news for African e-commerce: Alibaba has chosen Durban, South Africa, as its strategic base for launching operations across the continent. The city’s busy port, growing warehousing network, and proximity to King Shaka International Airport make it the perfect hub for cross-border trade. Beyond logistics, the partnership promises digital skills training, entrepreneurship support, and opportunities for local startups and SMMEs.

Alibaba’s retail arm, AliExpress, has already been expanding in Africa — integrating local payment systems like M-Pesa in Kenya and Opay/Verve in Nigeria, enabling faster deliveries, and even opening a showroom in Ethiopia for wholesale buyers.

The move adds to the pressure from Chinese e-commerce rivals Shein and Temu, which together now capture 37% of South Africa’s online clothing sales, surpassing major global brands. While these platforms have shaken up local retail and manufacturing, they’ve also become popular with cost-conscious consumers............…continue reading

🔋CLEAN ENERGY

$30M Boost for Sedgeley Solar to Power Southern Africa’s Clean Energy Push

Southern Africa’s clean energy scene just got a big jolt. Inspired Evolution is leading a $30 million investment in Sedgeley Solar Group (SSG), part of a bigger $60 million funding round with backing from FMO and Swedfund.

SSG is the result of a merger between SolarSaver and Sedgeley, creating a one-stop powerhouse for commercial and industrial solar and battery solutions across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. The funding will turbocharge the rollout of new solar and storage systems, making clean, reliable, and affordable energy accessible to more businesses.

Founders and investors alike are excited: this isn’t just about capital — it’s about scaling impact, driving climate resilience, and powering a sustainable economic future in the region..........…..…continue reading