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Need a laugh? Try Jake the Rizzbot complimenting peeps’ outfits in Gen Alpha. Built by China’s Unitree Robotics, he’s a fun toy that you can own, but it’ll set you back almost R300k. Here’s more antics, nephew. 🦾

Immigrants sending money back home is big business, and we found a novel startup idea that’s ripe for a local version…

There are roughly 20 million African diaspora working and living outside the continent. Just under 1 million of those are South Africans, half of whom live in the UK, Australia and Canada. And, like most migrants, they regularly support family back home financially. 

In 2024 alone, nearly $95 billion was sent to Africa in remittances to elderly parents, grandparents and other family members. And most of this money goes toward basic household needs and expenses like food, housing, and transport.

The opportunity

Money earned abroad often stretches further in Africa due to favourable exchange rates: A British Pound gets you ~ R24, an Aussie Dollar R11, and a Canadian Dollar slightly more at ~ R13 in SA. And that’s a powerful financial tool in a local’s hands — stronger currencies converted to weaker ones supercharge the support back home. 

A big worry when you’re working abroad is medical emergencies back home. Especially if loved ones don’t always have enough money to cover the costs. Now imagine the possibilities of formalising those diaspora dollars (or pounds) into bundled social‑impact services like healthcare. You could deliver value, reliability and dignity while ensuring accountability and scalability.

Who’s working on this

Susu is a French‑SAS InsurTech startup offering diaspora‑funded health plans for African families. Subscribers pay abroad in strong currencies, and Susu delivers local health‑care packages covering consultations, chronic‑disease support, maternal care, emergency evacuation and repatriation in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon and DR Congo. 

It transforms raw remittance into structured, impactful health coverage, giving families certainty and insurers scale through diaspora funding. 

There’s a real opportunity for a local FinTech or MedTech startup to replicate this model locally – 1 million South Africans (20 million Africans) working abroad sending 10x-plussed amounts back home, could get subscription‑funded coverage aimed at Ouma or Goggo.

Another way to look at it? There are 2.4 million foreign nationals working in SA. You could focus locally and build the reverse. 

Who’s jumping on this?

Helping people send money back home is a big deal

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Yesterday, we told you about this new township backroom rental platform and asked about the best use for your backyard. Most wanna grow their own veg…

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🥬 A garden (organic spinach and vibes) (36%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ 🔥 A braai spot (obviously) (31%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🛏️ A rental room (hello, passive income) (18%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💈 A side hustle HQ (hair salon, car wash, you name it) (5%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🚫 Don’t have a backyard – too much upkeep anyway (10%)

Your 2 cents…

Backyard braaiers, one and all, eh, Liesl? 🔥

Not a bad idea, Natalie-Jane. WhatsApp’s def the channel for it. 🌽

Indeed, Chris! Not many local producers, so prolly also a big agri market opportunity. ☕

Exactly, Charmaine. To each their own. 🥳

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