The Secret Africa Doesn’t Know It’s Sitting On

By Prateek Suri

JULY 12 – Africa is sitting on a secret so powerful; it could redefine its destiny. And it’s not oil, diamonds, or rare earth minerals. It’s something far more valuable and deeply rooted—its people. The real goldmine of this continent is human potential: untapped, underestimated, and ready to rise.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. From arriving in Africa with no roadmap to building Maser Group—a billion-dollar business spanning technology, infrastructure, and sustainable ventures—my journey has been shaped entirely by the continent’s energy, resilience, and local genius. Today, Maser may be recognized globally, but its soul was built on African soil, through partnerships with local minds and hands who understood what the textbooks never teach—how to do more with less.

But now, after the success of Maser Group, I’ve entered a new chapter. I’ve shifted my focus toward two powerful levers of change: philanthropy and venture capital. And my mission is clear—to give back to the continent that gave me everything, and to unlock the potential it doesn’t yet fully recognize in itself.

The biggest myth we must break is that Africa is waiting to be developed. Africa is already building itself. I’ve seen teenagers code AI on broken screens. I’ve seen women-run solar energy cooperatives in off-grid villages. I’ve seen farmers using WhatsApp to run supply chains more efficiently than some urban logistics startups. These are not exceptions—they are signals of a quiet revolution.

Through our philanthropic initiatives, we’re investing in education, healthcare, and skills development—especially in rural regions. We’ve launched coding schools powered by solar in areas with no electricity. We’re training youth not just to be job-seekers but job-creators. We’re showing them that the next billion-dollar companies can—and must—be born from their own ideas.

Simultaneously, my venture capital fund is backing Large Capital ventures of Africa that are solving Africa’s most persistent problems with hyperlocal solutions. From Infrastructure to roadways, mining to Artificial intelligence, to sustainable forestry through community-owned teakwood plantations—we’re not chasing trends. We’re betting on the real Africa.

And here lies the secret: Africa doesn’t need saving—it needs belief. It needs its own people to realize the value of their ideas. It needs investors, mentors, and institutions that are willing to bet on local brilliance, not just global models. Most of all, it needs a mindset shift—from scarcity to abundance.

Maser Group showed what’s possible when African potential is matched with vision and execution. Now, I want to replicate that story across sectors, across borders, and across generations.

The world is beginning to wake up to Africa. The question is—will Africa wake up to itself?
You are not sitting on problems—you’re sitting on power. Not just the power to grow, but to lead. The secret is no longer hidden. It’s within you. And now is the time to unlock it.

The writer is Founder and CEO of Maser Group