Month: February 2025

CLEAR is an identity company trying to take the friction out of air travel (such as with TSA PreCheck, available through CLEAR), stadium events, and other experiences that require security screening. 

Find Caitlin on LinkedIn. 

Shoutout to Stack Overflow user Patrick Pijnappel, who earned a Populist badge with their answer to Redirect all output to file using Bash on Linux?. It’s helped 230,000 people and counting.

This episode features an engaging conversation with Rob Bergman, Chief Investment Officer at Unicorn Factory, exploring the nuanced intersection of digital infrastructure investment and internet connectivity ecosystem development across Africa. Episode overview: Andile Masuku engages with Bergman to unpack his 12-year journey in African investment, examining how Unicorn Factory's distinctive two-pillar approach combines operational expertise with strategic advisory and deal brokering services to accelerate digital infrastructure development across the continent. Bergman reflects on his transition from traditional M&A in Europe to impact-driven infrastructure investment in Africa through Unicorn Factory, a family office and permanent capital vehicle focused on long-term investments across four main business segments, including digital infrastructure and communication technologies. He advocates passionately for his firm's vision for a highly-collaborative and mutually-beneficial carrier neutral setting for digital transformation in African markets. Key topics: - Carrier-neutral infrastructure development - Ecosystem-driven investment strategies - Digital infrastructure value chain dynamics - Market liberalisation and regulatory frameworks - Infrastructure financing models - Sustainable profitability versus charitable approaches Notable points: 1. The strategic importance of carrier-neutral infrastructure in African markets 2. Unicorn Factory's two-pillar business model combining operations and advisory 3. The catalytic role of WorkOnline as an IP transit provider 4. Current advisory mandates approaching $900 million for continental infrastructure 5. South Africa as a case study for successful market liberalisation Image credit: Unicorn Factory