Cape Town, 13th September 2024
The Africa Early Stage Investor Summit, hosted by the Africa Business Angel Network (ABAN) and VC4A, returns for its 11th edition this November. Investors and key ecosystem stakeholders will convene on 28 – 29 November 2024 at the Avenue Event and Conference Center, set against Cape Town’s iconic V & A Waterfront, for Africa’s premier early-stage investment gathering.
Since its inception in 2014, when just $2 million was invested in early-stage ventures in Africa, the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit has evolved from a modest gathering of angel investors and venture capital fund managers into a dynamic and influential community. Today, it stands at the forefront of early-stage investment in Africa, engaging key stakeholders responsible for over 90% of early-stage venture investments, which amounted to $2.9 billion in 2023.
With investment mobilization in Africa gaining momentum, the summit remains committed to showcasing groundbreaking approaches, fostering strategic partnerships that drive sustainable growth, and highlighting the latest advancements in capital strategies shaping the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As part of the activities leading up to the summit, we are hosting a series of over 30 Investor Meetups across key African and global cities, which will serve as regional in-person events for the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit community, scheduled between 30th September and 19th October. Prominent international cities such as London, San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Dublin will host meetups, while African cities ranging from Lagos to Cape Town will also participate.
Notable angel networks such as Lagos Angel Network, Jozi Angels, Ennovate Ventures, Viktoria Business Angel Network, Core Angels, and Bongo Hive will be involved. By showcasing Africa’s investment prospects, these meetups aim to strengthen key local partnerships and enhance collaborative efforts on a global scale.
Investors are encouraged to secure their complimentary tickets, as space is limited. Meetup attendees will also receive a special discount for the landmark Africa Early Stage Investor 2-day summit, providing a valuable opportunity to network with industry peers and contribute to a more robust early-stage investment landscape in Africa.
This year’s theme, “Pioneering Pathways: Innovating Investment Mobilization in Africa”, promises to elevate the summit even further. The event will emphasize the critical role of investment innovation in shaping Africa’s early-stage investing landscape, bringing together leading investors, key stakeholders, and industry experts from Africa and beyond.
With a focus on capital mobilization strategies, the summit is set to explore new frontiers in capital models, highlight underrepresented innovators, leverage Africa’s demographic potential, promote sustainable development, and accelerate the continent’s investment ecosystem. As such, the summit will serve as a cornerstone for advancing impactful dialogue and collaboration that will shape the trajectory of Africa’s early-stage investment landscape.
The summit aims to achieve the following key objectives:
1. Increase the amount of investment capital accessible for African early-stage innovations.
2. Facilitate connections and collaborations among early-stage investors.
3. Equip early-stage investors with the technical skills and knowledge necessary for success.
4. Shape policy discussions to support and enhance early-stage investing in Africa.
According to Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, the Africa Early Stage Investment Summit represents a critical milestone, as she explains: “In line with the ABAN 2024 theme, ‘Consolidating Angel Investing Across Africa and the Diaspora,’ this year’s summit will focus on four key pillars: innovative financing mechanisms, inclusive growth, collaboration, and strategic adaptation. We are committed to exploring new ways to support underserved regions and enhance climate resilience while staying true to ESGs and SDGs.
Prioritizing investment for women and marginalized groups and developing more female capital allocators is crucial for creating a balanced ecosystem. Engaging the African diaspora and global investors will be vital for uniting diverse stakeholders and advancing early-stage ventures.
Lastly, as we embrace the theme of ‘Pioneering Pathways: Innovating Investment Mobilization in Africa,’ strategic adaptation will be essential for scaling impact and achieving sustainable growth across Africa’s dynamic landscape. I look forward to our collective efforts’ innovative solutions and meaningful progress.”
As co-hosts of the summit, VC4A is instrumental in crafting a world-class agenda, handpicking highpotential startups for the showcase segment, and fostering vital connections between investors and entrepreneurs. With VC4A’s extensive network and deep understanding of the African startup ecosystem, the organization is committed to ensuring that the summit provides unparalleled value to all attendees. Vincent Hoogduijn, CEO at VC4A, underscores the significance of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2024:
“AESIS2024 is the destination of the year for Africa-focused investors. It embodies VC4A’s mission to unlock startup opportunities by connecting global capital with Africa’s top startups. The Local Investor Meetups leading to the Summit are an important part of building these connections that allow VCs, angel investors, and ecosystem builders to form lasting relationships locally, strengthening the global network of Africa-focused investors.
The Summit is more than just a discussion forum – it’s a catalyst for action. Looking at 2024 and beyond, it is essential to continue mobilizing capital, driving innovation, and impactful investment to support the growth of Africa’s most promising startups.”
As the summit approaches, it is set to ignite a new chapter in early-stage investment. With an agenda focused on innovation, collaboration, and impactful growth, the summit will unite leading investors, and key stakeholders to drive the future of investing in Africa. This event represents a unique opportunity to engage with the forefront of Africa’s investment landscape and contribute to shaping its next era.
For further information on how to be part of this transformative event or to join a regional investor meetup near you, please visit the AESIS website. To explore partnership opportunities or get involved, contact Enkromelle Andrew, our Partnerships Lead, at [email protected]
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About AESIS
The Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AESIS) is the premier event for early-stage investment insights and opportunities across Africa. Co-created by ABAN and VC4A, AESIS is dedicated to advancing the continent’s investment ecosystem through its core pillars: Consolidation, Community, and Collaboration. Our mission is to empower investors with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, support promising ventures, and drive positive change. By consolidating expertise, building a vibrant community, and fostering strategic collaborations, AESIS aims to unlock the full potential of Africa’s investment landscape and accelerate growth in early-stage ventures.
About ABAN ABAN is the largest pan-African organization of Angel investors in Africa. Established in 2015, ABAN represents the growing number of business angel groups in the African early-stage ecosystems’ future, providing vital human and financial capital to African startup companies creating jobs across the continent. Today, ABAN is a 73-member network in 35 African countries and the Diaspora representing over 5,000 angel investors. Visit the ABAN website for more information.
About VC4A
VC4A is an ecosystem builder that leverages its infrastructure, network, and expertise for the programs that contribute to the startup movement in emerging markets. Since 2007, the organization has designed, structured, and implemented successful entrepreneurship programs on the continent. VC4A runs an online platform featuring the world’s largest database of startups in Africa and Latin America, connecting entrepreneurs to resources, networks, and funding. Visit vc4a.com and latam.vc4a.com for more information.
Media Contact
For media inquiries, please contact Amimo Achcillah at [email protected]
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