Across rural Africa, where smartphones are scarce and data is unaffordable, Naledi Magowe is helping millions leap over the digital divide. As co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of Brastorne Enterprises, Magowe is leading a bold charge to connect unconnected populations using nothing more than basic mobile phones and ultra-low-cost technology. Through Brastorne’s innovative platforms, rural communities can now access markets, farming advice, health tips, and financial tools without the internet.
The digital divide
Despite Africa’s growing tech ecosystem, 62% of the continent’s population remains offline as of 2024—more than 940 million people. The divide is even more pronounced in rural areas, where only 23% of the population uses the internet, compared to 57% in cities.
One major barrier? The high cost of data. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to six of the ten most expensive countries for mobile data, with 1GB costing an average of $6.44, a price out of reach for most rural users. But where many see an impossible gap, Magowe sees opportunity.
Brastorne: Reaching the unreached
Founded in Botswana by Naledi Magowe and Martin Stimela (CEO), Brastorne Enterprises is a youth-led tech company that aims to bring digital access to the 350 million offline Africans. Their solution? Turning simple feature phones into powerful digital lifelines using USSD, SMS, and IVR—no smartphones, data, or literacy required.
“Our users don’t need to download an app or buy data. They dial a short code and get connected,” says Magowe.
Brastorne’s flagship product, mAgri, is a USSD-based mobile platform for smallholder farmers. With a simple code, farmers can access live market prices, weather updates, pest control tips, sell produce, open mobile stores, and chat with other farmers. And it costs just $0.05 per day.
Real impact in real time
Brastorne’s impact is measurable and growing. The company has connected over 5 million users across countries, including Botswana, Cameroon, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eighty per cent of its users are youth, and 60 per cent are women, groups often excluded from mainstream digital access. The results speak volumes:
- $93.67 increase in farm yield value for every $1 invested in Brastorne.
- 12% increase in net income for women farmers.
- 77% savings on communication and information costs.
- Over 60,000 mobile stores created and 100,000+ active farmers each month.
“For many of our users, Brastorne is their first-ever experience of being online,” Magowe notes. “And it’s changing lives.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the platform delivered essential vaccination information, health tips, and job listings—proof of its versatility beyond agriculture. Looking ahead, Brastorne plans to expand into financial services and insurance, further empowering rural communities.
Global recognition, local roots
Brastorne’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2021, the company:
- Won the MIT Solve Digital Inclusion Challenge
- Took home the HP Prize for Advancing Digital Equity
- Was selected for the Google Black Founders Fund
They’ve partnered with leading organisations such as Orange Botswana, Mercy Corps, and the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation to scale their reach and impact.Their next goal is to connect 49 million people across Africa, starting from the ground up, one basic phone at a time.
Naledi Magowe’s vision for a connected Africa
As the face and force behind growth at Brastorne, Naledi Magowe is proving that inclusive innovation doesn’t require high-tech tools—it requires a deep understanding of community needs and the will to challenge convention.
Her mission is simple yet radical: If you can talk, you can connect. In a continent where connectivity often decides economic opportunity, health, and dignity, that’s a revolution worth dialling into.
