JSE Activation Highlights Need for Tech Market Infrastructure

On July 15, the AT50 Index held its first African Exchange Activation at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), following its global launch at the London Stock Exchange in January. The event gathered representatives from the JSE, African banks, institutional investors, policymakers, and executives from major private technology companies.

A key discussion point was whether Africa has developed sufficient market infrastructure to support technology companies as they transition from traditional venture funding to accessing long-term institutional capital. Sam Mokorosi, Head of Origination and Deals at the JSE, emphasized that as companies scale, their capital needs evolve from early-stage funding to sustainable long-term growth.

The JSE is working to simplify the listing process while maintaining governance standards and developing pathways for capital through secondary listings and private placements. Richard Stout, Head of Equity Capital Markets at Standard Bank CIB, supported the initiative, indicating the importance of aligning efficient capital access with strong corporate governance.