13/05/2025
Africa is falling behind the potential $4 Trillion investment into AI . In 2024, the continent attracted less than 1% of the global AI venture funding.
Weird, it seems like everyone’s using AI these days. So what gives?
The challenges of adopting AI…
Companies face a myriad of reasons why they can’t simply just incorporate AI into their business.
Everything from concerns around data accuracy or bias, insufficient proprietary data available to train and customise models, insufficient business case or a financial justification, and inadequate AI experience. Not to mention the meaty price tag linked to building your own custom AI solution in-house.
On the other hand, South Africa’s IT skills shortage means most larger local companies are importing AI skills, or simply going without it. But if the guys with deep pockets are finding it hard to access top AI talent pools, just imagine what it must be like for an SME that’s simply trying to get things done a little better.
The AI tools they need
For SA SMEs, we’re not even talking about massive custom AI tools and platforms to change the game and obliterate the competition (although that would be pretty cool), we’re talking basic things like AI-powered translators, chatbots, document extraction and validation, verification tools and things that can replace archaic, manual processes.
How do we get every SA business AI-empowered?
The local player getting the little guy into the AI game
Highwind (https://highwind.ai/pages/home/?utm_source=theopenletter.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=putting-local-smes-on-the-4-trillion-ai-map) is a local AI product marketplace that gives small businesses access to enterprise-level AI solutions at a fraction of the price, and without having to hire an AI team.
From solutions to help cut costs, automate workflows and use data to make smarter decisions, they’re trying to make it as easy as possible for SMEs to integrate and deploy AI tools that are vetted, verified and do what it says on the box (to protect the users and their customers).
There are already several unique solutions on the Highwind marketplace, many already proven and in use by SA companies in finance, healthcare, legal, logistics, manufacturing, retail and technology. But companies looking for a unique solution can also make a request, and the Highwind team can help get it built. Lekker!
Naturally, this creates two immediate opportunities for South Africans:
SA companies, come get your AI tools here
And, AI founders, here’s a place to build and launch products -
the hidden costs of trying to build and implement your own custom AI solution can reach eye-watering amounts, the kind that puts it out of reach for many organisations, never mind small to medium-sized ones.
With platforms like Highwind making it more accessible for SMEs to integrate enterprise-grade AI solutions into their businesses, the opportunities are limitless…
