Scaling Sustainable Businesses in Africa

Scaling Sustainable Businesses in Africa

Robert Wanyama

Strathmore Business School, Kenya

Publication Information

Journal Title: International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Author(s): Wanyama, Robert
Published On: 10/23/2025
Volume: 9
Issue: 7
First Page: 5290
Last Page: 5327
ISSN: 2454-6186

Cite this Article Wanyama, Robert .; Scaling Sustainable Businesses in Africa, Volume 9 Issue 7, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS),5290-5327, Published on 10/23/2025, Available at https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/scaling-sustainable-businesses-in-africa/

Abstract

In Africa, millions of entrepreneurs wake up daily to open shop, driven by hope, hustle, and sheer willpower. Yet, despite their resilience, most businesses remain stuck in a cycle of stagnation never growing beyond a single shop, a small team, or the founder’s personal involvement. This silent struggle is rarely talked about. It hides behind flashy social media posts, “support local” campaigns, and inflated success narratives. The real issues, structural weaknesses, copy-paste entrepreneurship, financial illiteracy, and a mindset confined by survival remain unaddressed. The cost? A continent full of entrepreneurs, but few enterprises. Africa doesn’t lack ideas. It lacks scale. And it’s time we broke the cycle. Africa’s silent business struggle will not be solved by motivation alone. It requires a new culture, one that values structure over struggle, profit over passion alone, and long-term thinking over daily hustle. The next generation of African entrepreneurs must not only dream, but also design, delegate, and scale.

Keywords: Scaling, Sustainable, Businesses, Africa