Tiny African startups draw interest after slow start

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame at the Viva Tech start-up and technology gathering in Paris, France, May 24, 2018. Michel Euler/Pool via Reuters

African high-tech startups are minuscule compared with their US and European peers but they are finally gaining momentum and attention in some of the world's most promising economies. 

“There are little glimmers of light everywhere” in Africa, said Gilles Babinet, a digital technology expert with the European Commission.