Right now, U.S. sports tech is deep in its data and dollars era. The space has matured with analytics, wearables, NIL platforms, betting integrations, fan engagement apps, and AI-based scouting, all backed by big time VC firms and big money. Investors like a16z, Courtside VC, and Elysian Park Ventures are dumoing money into companies that target every part of the sports stack from athlete performance to making money from fans and of course media (big and small). The model is straight forward: sports are culture, and culture is commerce. Every new tech layer becomes a monetizable data point.

But the U.S. market is crowded. Everyone is chasing the same athlete data, the same eyeballs, and the same NIL monetization angles. Margins are getting tight, and innovation is slowing down. Many startups are just recycling old ideas with new buzzwords. For angels, that means entry prices are high, exits are slower, and it is harder to find real differentiation. Right now, the U.S. sports tech game is about scale not discovery.

Now look at Africa. It feels like the first quarter of a whole new game. Africa’s sports tech industry is young, hungry, and full of upside. The continent has an exploding youth population, a deep love for sports, and a digital infrastructure that is starting to catch up. Most African sports tech founders are solving access problems. They are building discovery platforms for local talent, low-cost streaming for underserved fans, community-driven sports betting, and mobile integrations for payments and sponsorships. The focus is not on optimizing elite athletes. It is on democratizing opportunity. (This is a key on the continent; I’ll have a post about that later)

From an angel investing perspective, the difference is big. In the U.S., you are buying growth. In Africa, you are buying the infrastructure for growth. That is a different type of risk and reward. In the States, the ceiling is known. In Africa, the floor is still being built.

Sports have always been a global export of Black excellence, but ownership rarely sits with us. In the U.S., we are often the product, not the shareholder. In Africa, we have a real chance to change that dynamic and own the platforms, leagues, data, and fan experiences that define how sports are monetized across the diaspora.

If you are thinking long-term as an angel investor, here is the takeaway:

* U.S. sports tech creates returns through optimization.

* African sports tech creates returns through creation.

The biggest opportunity ahead is connecting the two. Use U.S. experience and capital discipline to back African innovation and sports infrastructure. This is not charity. It is smart commerce. The next major sports tech win will not be another fantasy app or AI scout. It will be a Pan-African sports ecosystem that connects talent, fans, and money across continents.

I’m currently in due diligence for two sports tech startups, one in the U.S. and one in Africa. If you want access to these kinds of early deals, set up a quick chat to learn how: https://bit.ly/QuickChatp.