The need for localised, culturally informed consulting services in Africa is greater than ever before. Enter ZER consulting - a firm that empowers startups, SMEs, and social enterprises to achieve sustainable growth and global expansion. As an applicant for the Verto Award, ZER consulting sees this opportunity as a natural fit – aligning with its mission to connect African businesses to international markets.
We spoke with the ZER Consulting Africa team to learn more about their journey, challenges, and how winning the Verto Award would accelerate their impact.
A vision rooted in African excellence
At its core, ZER Consulting Africa is driven by the belief that African businesses can thrive on the global stage. The company provides tailored consulting solutions that help organizations navigate complex business environments. Their unique SCALE framework–Strategies, Champion, Accelerate, Leverage, Expand–acts as a five-step roadmap to business transformation.
Their approach focuses on:
- Strategic business growth for African SMEs and startups.
- Cross-border trade facilitation to expand African businesses into new markets.
- Governance, strategy, and people development to ensure long-term sustainability.
Since its launch, ZER Consulting Africa has expanded beyond Nigeria into key markets like Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
“Our goal is to demonstrate that African excellence is not just an ideal–it’s achievable. By providing the right guidance, we help businesses scale beyond borders.”
Overcoming challenges in scaling African businesses
Despite Africa’s immense potential, businesses face critical barriers to global expansion. Traditional banking channels often slow down international transactions, making it difficult for African entrepreneurs to operate smoothly across multiple markets.
ZER Consulting has firsthand experience in navigating these challenges:
