AS Africa pushes to strengthen its industrial base and digital economy, locally-assembled technology firms are increasingly positioning themselves to compete on the global stage. One such company is Avantis Technologies, a Zimbabwean technology manufacturer founded in 2016 with ambitions stretching far beyond the domestic market. Led by chief executive officer Ari Goldstein (AG), Avantis is seeking to build what he describes as a globally competitive African technology company focused on hardware manufacturing, artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and digital sovereignty. The company recently launched the Avantis Parote 1030i laptop as part of efforts to provide affordable computing solutions tailored for African markets. Goldstein says Avantis is pursuing a long-term strategy that includes a potential listing on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) and, eventually, a secondary listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to attract international capital and strategic partnerships. In this interview with our assistant editor Mthandazo Nyoni (MN), Goldstein discusses the inspiration behind Avantis, the company’s manufacturing ambitions, plans for artificial intelligence, export market opportunities, funding challenges, and his vision of building a global technology brand with African roots. Below are excerpts from the interview:
MN: What inspired you to establish this company?
AG: I started Avantis Technologies in 2016 because I was tired of seeing Africa positioned only as a consumer of technology. Every laptop, server, and major piece of hardware we relied on was imported, heavily marked up, and often inaccessible to many talented young Africans who had the potential to innovate and compete globally.
The moment that truly pushed me to act was watching a young developer in Harare build software with global potential yet struggle simply because he could not afford reliable hardware. That stayed with me. I realised that if we could design, assemble, and support computers locally, we could lower costs, create jobs, strengthen local skills, and give African innovators the tools to build the future on their own terms. That is why Avantis exists — to make technology simplified, accessible, and African-made.
MN: What is your long-term vision for it?
AG: My long-term vision for Avantis is bold because I believe Africa’s future in technology must be equally bold. We are not building a small local assembler; we are building a globally competitive African technology company. Part of that vision includes listing on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, with a long-term objective of pursuing a secondary listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Beyond listings, our ambition is to build a billion-dollar African technology company that designs, manufactures, and exports African-made computers, AI-powered devices, and digital infrastructure across the continent and beyond. We are already scaling our manufacturing capabilities significantly, and that forms the foundation for the next phase of growth.
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MN: Any focus on data and artificial intelligence?
AG: We also see the future of technology being driven by artificial intelligence and data sovereignty. Africa cannot afford to remain dependent on foreign-controlled digital ecosystems forever. We want Avantis to contribute towards building African AI capabilities, local data infrastructure, and technologies that understand African languages, markets, and challenges. Ultimately, this journey is bigger than business. It is about proving that African engineering, African innovation, and African companies can compete globally, lead globally, and shape the future of technology from within the continent itself.
MN: What progress has Avantis made towards meeting the listing requirements, and when can investors realistically expect the listing?
AG: We have already begun internal structuring processes towards the VFEX listing, including strengthening governance frameworks, financial reporting systems, operational compliance, and engagements with advisers and auditors. The process is progressing steadily, and while listings require rigorous preparation and regulatory compliance, our objective is to position Avantis for listing once all key requirements are fully met and the business is strategically ready for public participation.
MN: Why do you believe the VFEX is the right platform for Avantis?
AG: The VFEX presents an attractive platform because of its international investment positioning, foreign currency framework, and focus on growth-oriented businesses with regional ambitions. Avantis is building a business that is export-focused, innovation-driven, and positioned beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. The VFEX aligns with our ambitions to attract long-term strategic investors who understand industrial growth, technology, and African expansion opportunities.
MN: Why are you targeting the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange?
AG: Israel is globally recognised as one of the leading innovation and technology ecosystems. A secondary listing on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange would provide Avantis with greater international visibility, access to sophisticated technology-focused investors, and opportunities for strategic partnerships in innovation, manufacturing, and research. It also aligns with our broader vision of integrating African manufacturing capabilities with global technological ecosystems. Access to that market would provide Avantis with strategic partnerships, international visibility, and growth capital to accelerate our expansion.
MN: What message do you have for investors, particularly equity market players?
AG: Africa’s technology growth story is still in its early stages, and investors who participate now are positioning themselves ahead of a major transformation wave. Avantis represents more than a technology company; it represents industrialisation, innovation, and the development of African manufacturing capacity. We believe long-term value will come from companies that solve real regional challenges while building scalable infrastructure and production capabilities.
MN: Last week, you launched a new product. What gap in the market is this product addressing, and how does it differ from what is already available locally and regionally?
AG: The Avantis Parote 1030i was developed to address the growing need for reliable, accessible, and affordable computing solutions designed for African consumers, institutions, and enterprises. What differentiates the product is our focus on balancing quality, affordability, local support, and regional relevance. We are not simply importing finished products; we are building a technology ecosystem that supports local assembly, future manufacturing expansion, and customised solutions for African environments.
MN: Avantis has previously spoken about ambitions to manufacture computers at scale for export markets. How close are you to achieving those production targets, and what has been the biggest obstacle so far?
AG: We have already successfully completed initial production runs and established manufacturing capacity capable of scaling significantly as demand grows. The biggest challenge has largely been accessing affordable long-term capital and foreign currency stability, which are critical for importing components, locking supplier pricing, and expanding production lines. However, we remain confident that with the right partnerships and investment support, those targets are achievable.
MN: Are you receiving enough support from local banks? To scale up your operations, how much funding do you require?
AG: The banking sector has shown interest in supporting industrialisation and local manufacturing, but technology manufacturing requires patient capital, competitive financing structures, and long-term funding solutions. To fully scale our operations, strengthen supply chains, and expand manufacturing capacity, significant capital investment will be required over time. Our focus is not only on funding, but also on securing strategic financial partnerships that understand the long-term nature of industrial growth.
MN: What kind of support are you seeking from either the government or investors?
AG: We are seeking support that encourages local manufacturing, export growth, innovation, and technology development. This includes access to affordable financing, tax incentives for manufacturers, export support mechanisms, infrastructure development, and policies that support industrial growth and technology innovation.
MN: How difficult has it been to build a locally assembled technology brand that can compete on price and quality with global manufacturers?
AG: It is certainly challenging because global manufacturers benefit from massive economies of scale, established supply chains, and access to cheaper financing. However, Avantis has focused on building credibility through quality, reliability, customer support, and strategic partnerships. Competing globally requires resilience, consistency, and innovation, and we believe African companies are capable of reaching international standards when given the right environment and support.
MN: Which African markets are currently showing the strongest demand for your products?
AG: We are seeing increasing interest from southern African and regional markets where there is growing demand for affordable computing solutions, digital infrastructure, educational technology, and enterprise hardware solutions. As digital transformation accelerates across Africa, we believe demand for locally relevant technology solutions will continue to rise significantly.
MN: How is Avantis navigating foreign currency shortages and high production cost pressures while trying to remain competitive?
AG: We are continuously strengthening supplier relationships, improving operational efficiencies, and exploring strategic partnerships that help stabilise procurement and production processes. At the same time, we are focusing on building scalable systems that allow us to reduce long-term costs through increased production volumes, localisation strategies, and supply chain optimisation.
MN: Is Avantis integrating AI into its new products or operations, and how do you see AI shaping the company's future?
AG: AI will undoubtedly shape the future of business, technology, education, and manufacturing. Avantis is exploring ways to integrate AI-driven capabilities into both products and operational systems to improve efficiency, connectivity, user experience, and intelligent device functionality. We see AI not as a trend, but as a fundamental shift that will redefine how African businesses and consumers interact with technology.
MN: Tell us more about your current production figures and manufacturing capacity.
AG: We have already completed successful production runs and continue strengthening our manufacturing capabilities as part of our long-term expansion strategy.
Our current infrastructure positions us to scale production significantly as market demand, financing, and supply chain conditions continue improving. The focus now is on expanding capacity sustainably while maintaining quality standards.
MN: Looking ahead five years from now, what is your vision for Avantis?
AG: Five years from now, Avantis will not be defined by geography or by a single product line. We are building a global technology company with African roots. Over the next five years, Avantis will operate data centres across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, running AI models trained on local languages and local data. That is why China is central to our operations; it is the nerve centre for our manufacturing and R&D partnerships. This lets us control cost, quality, and speed from silicon to software. The goal is a global brand, not just a pan-African one. Africa is where we start, but it is not where we stop. We are designing Avantis to compete and win globally. We are already in advanced discussions with partners such as Walmart on distribution and retail channels. The ambition is clear: Avantis should be recognised in the same breath as global OEMs and AI infrastructure providers.
MN: Do you see the company becoming primarily a hardware manufacturer, a broader technology solutions firm, or even a pan-African technology brand?
AG: Hardware remains our foundation, but it is not the ceiling. Yes, we will be a world-class hardware manufacturer.
AG: Our assembly capacity is scaling towards 1,5 million units annually, and we are building the supply chain and quality systems to compete anywhere. Hardware is how we get devices into the hands of users at a price and reliability level that makes sense for emerging markets. But hardware alone does not create the future. We are becoming a broader technology solutions firm. The real value is in the stack above the device. Avantis will be all three: a hardware manufacturer, a technology solutions firm, and a global brand. The difference is that we will do it with a mandate to give Africa, Latin America, and Asia ownership of their digital infrastructure and future, not just access to it. That is the company I am building.