Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen

What do founders need to know when preparing for funding? Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of consulting for companies across Africa and the UK, helping founders navigate the complexities of fundraising. From crafting compelling pitch decks to refining financial models, I’ve seen firsthand what separates those who secure funding from those who don’t. Investor readiness isn’t just about having a great idea – it’s about knowing how to present that idea in a way that makes investors stop and listen. A few key questions to ask yourself before seeking investment: 1. Are you able to articulate your growth potential clearly? 2. Can you demonstrate product-market fit? 3. Is your business model scalable and sustainable? If you're building an innovative earlystage pre-seed or seed startup, I’m here to help guide you through the investor readiness process. My goal is to ensure you're fully prepared before pitching that investor. Let’s make sure you're set up for success. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat about how we can prepare your business for its next funding round! #InvestorReadiness #Fundraising #BusinessGrowth #Startups #VentureCapital

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Great to speak on the UKTN podcast speaking on our work at Openseed VC backing experienced operators, and talking about the incredible potential of European and African ecosystem. There is a growing pipeline of experienced operators starting their technology companies across both regions -- this is the focus for Openseed VC On the podcast, we talk about AI, emerging technology trends, the importance of talent, liquidity, impact of policy on the entrepreneurship ecosystem and many more! I also speak about the incredible growth opportunity that is the #African continent - tough macro climate yes -- but we believe difficulty is the flip side of opportunity to create value. There will be an incredible crop of experienced operators who choose to solve difficult, impactful and commercially viable problems. At Openseed VC we want to be your launch partner if this sounds like you! Got questions, we've got answers on www.openseed.vc/faq A huge thanks to the UKTN team for having me! #OpenseedVC #UKTN #Europe #Africa https://lnkd.in/eAH9ZbNM

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So we started Cohort 3 of the Immerse Africa VC Fellowship by Immerse Africa VC Academy last weekend. It was a diverse class with people from different backgrounds. This cohort has a fine blend of startup CFOs who want to know how to navigate the VC landscape for the benefit of their company and VC Professionals who just want to get better at their job. As always, we started this cohort with the VC Business Model. Understanding how VCs think about deals and then we built our VC Fund Return Model and the Management Company Model. As always, we saw that VCs are looking for outsized returns. 3x returns are good, but what you're looking for is 30x or 50x. So the challenge for our VC professionals is that how do they identify the 30x return startups and more importantly founders or founding teams? The question for our startup CFOs - Is your startup the 30x return startup? On Sunday, we went in full time on the the language of finance - Accounting. This is as we prepare to start building our startup financial models from next weekend. Excited about this cohort... already. If you still want to join this cohort, this might be your time before the next class.

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Twiva, Kenyan Growth Stage Startup - among the Top 20 chosen to pitch to a sea of Venture Capitalists, at Africa's coveted Angel Fair Africa 2024. This year's participants scale from the South to East and West of Africa. Twiva is Kenya's leading AI-driven #socialcommerce platform, powered by #influencers and #resellers to bring brands closer to consumers across the continent. Established to revolutionize retail, Twiva connects businesses to a vast network of over 13,500 influencers and 2,500 merchants, generating genuine engagement and driving sales through trusted recommendations. In just five years, Twiva has gained the trust of hundreds of thousands of unique monthly visitors, positioning itself as a fast-growing solution that enhances #marketaccess, #jobcreation, and #salesconversion for businesses in industries ranging from fashion and electronics to home and beauty. With a proven record of #awardwinningpartnerships and an expanding presence in the region, Twiva is not just driving #commercialgrowth but is building a more #inclusive, #digitalretailecosystem for Africa's future To greater scale, and indelible reach. #BuildingTheAfricaWeWant

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The success of any start-up depends on; The Market, The Business Model & The Team. These 3 ingredients ignite the bonfire. At Broad Capital Advisory, we strongly believe in passionate founders...folks doing impactful things across several sectors. We remain bullish on Africa. If you seek Alpha then Africa is the place to be. Congrats to Futa, Grace Jerolgan Nganakala, Daniel Dang, and the team for staying the course. #Girlpower #Womenintech Yemi Keri

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We are very excited to share the progress of our deep dive into our collective role as capital allocators to drive positive climate action. The white paper explores how the agility and innovation of startups, combined with the strategic deployment of venture capital, can catalyze the development and scaling of climate-smart solutions. This effort originated from a simple question we asked ourselves at Ventures Platform Fund “Do we have to be a climate fund to impact our climate positively?” As you will find, the answer is a resounding “no.” I hope you find it useful!

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 🦄 𝗔 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻? (𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗼-𝗕𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻)? 🦄 M-KOPA, a pay-as-you-go asset financing platform serving 5 million underbanked Africans, is on the verge of reaching a major milestone: surpassing an annual revenue rate of $400 million by the end of the year. Headquartered in London, the fintech concluded last year with 4 million customers and $248 million in ARR. The 13-year-old company offers smartphones and other “productive assets” through flexible digital micropayments, where users pay daily based on the whole cost of the item divided by 365 days. Read more here, article by Tage Kene-Okafor: https://lnkd.in/gMd-hnCZ #Africa #Unicorn #Soonicorn #Fintech #AssetFinance

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I recently read an article published by TechCrunch on the 1st of September that touched on a significant issue on the minds of many tech investors interested in Africa: why are exits so few on the continent? I found a few points quite thought-provoking. While the space has recorded some big wins, such as BioNTech's $680 million acquisition, SendWave's $500 million acquisition by WorldRemit (now Zepz Group), DPO's acquisition by Network International for $291 million, and Paystack's acquisition by Stripe for $200 million, these numbers, though impressive, raise the question of whether they are good enough. This is especially true considering that about $20 billion has been attracted into the space. Comparing the exit values to the total funding raised, there seems to be a significant gap. For a moment, I pondered this, and I believe that breaking down the data might provide context that could enrich our understanding and pave the way for deeper conversations. The truth is that looking at the data this way might not be an apples-to-apples comparison for some reasons. Firstly, while 2014 may be considered the golden age of venture capital in Africa, more than half of the $20 billion was raised in just two years—2021 ($6 billion) and 2022 ($6.5 billion)—due to the abundance of capital during that period, driven by favorable macroeconomic circumstances beyond anyone's control. If we also look at exits, we see that the majority of large exits were influenced by these same macroeconomic factors, which made exits easier than they would be in tougher economic situations. Great companies were able to leverage these opportunities. Out of the eight exits mentioned, three occurred between 2020 and 2021, a period when exits performed exceptionally well globally. Extending the timeline further, seven out of the eight exits happened between 2020 and 2024. None of these companies were formed in 2021 or 2022, which led to the funding boom; the average age from founding to exit is approximately 10 years, with Paystack being the youngest, founded in 2015. Following this trend, we see that investments made in 2020–2022, during the period of the most significant funding growth, will still take time to materialize. These investments will benefit if global macroeconomic conditions become favorable, making exits easier. We may need to shift from a short-term, year-on-year perspective to a longer-term horizon to appreciate the future potential if we focus on building great companies now. The jury is still out on African tech exits, but I think there is hope. https://lnkd.in/dwPCCeXq

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Check out the topics we've lined up for the rest of the year and join us as we support African entrepreneurs. #Shujaacapital #PaschalOffordum #Africanstartups

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Thoughts on funding innovation in Africa. We like to put stuffs in neat little boxes: “Institutional investors” “Accredited investors” “Angel investors” blah blah blah… If there is anything I know about disruptive innovation, the kind that creates new markets and widespread prosperity is that it’s all about breaking rules. Breaking rules about what is the “proper” way to do things and rather figuring out a much “better” way to do things. Africa needs to disrupt how we fund her innovation. I am grateful for the foreign capital that has found its way to the continent. But are we really winning when all of that return on investment eventually leaves the continent? African is a startup trying to be a large corporate. We can’t play by the rules of already developed economies and expect to win. We need to act and think differently about how we fund innovation on the continent. We need more Africans investing in Africa. We need to disrupt how capital is raised and how equity is obtained. Africa needs more Angel investors and a strong Angel investing culture. Not the kind that places a restriction on who can fund innovation and how much is “good enough”. Nope. But the kind that is accommodating, community driven and embedded in hope, trust and a belief in a future Africa that will be created by Africa. Africa needs more Angel investors.

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UNPACKING AFRICA'S STARTUP FUNDING LANDSCAPE As we edge into the weekend, this week on Market Pulse, I dived into the latest African startup funding trends, and the numbers are telling. Watch as I break down the $138M raised in September 2024, with fintechs leading the charge. Some key takeaways: Nigerian startups are struggling to secure big deals, with only a few notable exceptions Kenya and Egypt are giving Nigeria a run for its money as the leading destination for startup funding Exits and acquisitions are on the rise, with @Syft's $70M acquisition by Xero being a standout deal But here's the question: What's driving this shift in Africa's startup funding landscape? Is it a sign of maturity, with investors seeking more refined and scalable businesses? Or is it a reflection of broader economic trends, with Nigeria's funding drought being a canary in the coal mine? Join the conversation! Share your insights and let's unpack the future of African startup funding together. Featured companies: FlapKap Paymob Fido Syft Risevestors Mutual funds HISA INGENIERIE Moove Partners: Newscentral_Africa Newscentral_Africa Nairametrics #AfricanStartups #StartupFunding #Fintech #MarketPulse #NewsCentralTV #Nairametrics #BusinessMedia #IndustryInsights"

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This African investor funded the growth of the world’s 2nd strongest banking brand. Built the largest Africa-focused private investment firm. And manages $4+ billion in assets.   Meet, Helios Investment Partners. The Prototype Helios is the investor behind some of Africa’s biggest deals. Connecting capital to African talent and businesses. In 2007.  Fresh from raising its first fund. Helios was sitting on $305 million. They were hunting for deals. Deals in big markets. Deals with high growth and returns. They got wind of this bank. A fast-rising bank. That was shaking up Kenya. Unlike other banks in the markets then. This bank had carved out a niche for itself. As a demand-driven bank. Catering to the unbanked population. It was a champion of the underdog. Giving loans to small and medium businesses. That had been ignored by every bank who should have cared It was a great turnaround story. Having grown from a failing building society in 1994. To a full-grown commercial bank by 2004. Thanks to its visionary leader. One James Mwangi.  Who had turned from bank account holder to its CEO. Equity Bank Limited ticked all the boxes for Helios. It had good management. Had high growth and high returns. And was in a big market with room for more growth. Helios was ready to pounce on the deal. And then bam. The unexpected happened. The Global Financial Crisis in late 2007 ensued. Sending shock waves around the world. Investors the world over panicked. Helios got caught in the crossfire. Since the investors in their fund were foreign. They had to decide on whether to move on or not from the deal. To add fuel to the fire.  Kenya had just had an election.  Triggering a Post-Election crisis. Helios was caught in a dilemma. It was either they backed off from the deal. Or go against the current and do the deal. Helios decided on the latter. Investing $179M for a  25% share of Equity Bank.  The largest private equity investment in Kenya at the time. Come 2008. With Helios help. Equity Bank acquired Uganda MicroFinance Limited for $25M. It’s first investment outside of Kenya. They also launched mobile banking services. And expanded their operations into South Sudan.  In a move that ushered their regional expansion. Helios joined the board of the bank. And over the next 8 years the governance of the bank improved. With Helios lending a helping hand in human resource capacity building. Helios cashed out big time. Exiting the investment in 2015.  With one of its best returns to date. Today, Equity Bank is East and Central Africa’s biggest bank. With 📈 Total Assets of $13+  billion  💰 Deposits of 9+ billion. 💼 16+ million customers in 7 countries. What are your thoughts on this story? Let me know in the comments. 👇 This week in my newsletter, I dived deep into Helios' meteoric rise. Grab it in your inbox here 💌 https://lnkd.in/d-mDKYRT PS- Helios' investing playbook on Africa is the best I've ever seen.

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It all started about two years ago when we asked ourselves, what problem do African founders need solving, not what do we want to sell… Today, Raise is doing incredibly meaningful work across the continent and solving equity structuring issues for startups and their founders alike. African solutions for African problems! #equitymanagement #africafirst #raiseafrica

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Securing pre-seed investment in Africa can be challenging due to various factors. Two areas of focus for founders are typically (and should be): 1. Building a solid founding team; and 2. Focussing on traction 1. Build a Solid Team: Typically a business idea is developed by one person (usually entrepreneurially inclined). You have to be open to invite people with relevant skills and experience (and who you get along with) to join you as co-founders. Investors often invest in the team as much as the idea. NB: Get a solid finance person to join from the start if you can. Please! 2. Focus on Traction: Even in the early stages, strive to generate traction by acquiring users, customers, or partners. This kind of early market validation through traction can instill confidence in investors and increase the attractiveness of your startup. So, if you have a solid team with proven traction within a growing market - these are strong signals - most pre-seed investors looking into your sector would give you a serious look. Would you add anything here that can help? #preseedinvestments #earlystagecapital #venturecapital #angelinvestors #startups #africanstartups #founders #startupecosystem #startuptraction

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🚀 Expanding the Frontiers of Digitalization in Lending🚀 I’m thrilled to be part of a panel session at the Credit Bureau Association of Nigeria Conference happening today! Themed “The Impact of Credit Reporting on the Nigerian Financial Services Industry,” this conference brings together industry leaders to discuss how credit reporting and digitalization are reshaping Nigeria’s financial landscape. 🕒 My Session: Topic: Expanding the Frontiers of Digitalization for Lending in the Nigerian Financial Services Industry ⏰ Time: 2:00 PM 📍 Venue: The Zone, Gbagada, Lagos In this session, I’ll share insights on how technology is revolutionizing access to credit, boosting financial inclusion, and driving innovation for a #StrongFinanceSystem and a #StrongEconomy. Credit is a game-changer for economic growth, and digitalization is the key to unlocking its potential. Let’s explore how we can make access to consumer credit easy and build a more inclusive financial system. I look forward to seeing you there or continuing the conversation here on LinkedIn! #AccessToConsumerCreditMadeEasy #YourCreditMatters #FinancialInclusion #DigitalFinance #CreditInnovation #Veend VeendHQ (Techstars '23)

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Investments calling at Afribridge Capital! 🌍 📍 10 Countries Across Sub-Saharan Africa 📈 6 High-Growth Sectors 💼 100%  Scalable Businesses Who should we invest in next? Tag your favourite scalable early-stage and growth-stage businesses offering solutions within Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest challenges.

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🧐 Want to have your say in how an African Tech Conference is run? Then I want to hear from you 👇 Delighted to have joined this year's #AfricaIgnite Advisory Board for Africa Tech Festival (ATF) 2024 this November in 🇿🇦 Cape Town. We have been tasked with helping shape some of this year's activities to increase the value & opportunity for Africa’s 🌍 startup & investor community. 💡 One area of focus amongst others I'm really interested in is how we leverage the Festivals anchor event AfricaCom which hosts the continents biggest Telcos, Corporates & Governments. Specifically how we engage spotlight & connect them with our tech ecosystems leading startups, investors & enablers. 🧠 But what do you think ATF or events like this more broadly can do to improve the offering to attendees? What is real & unique value add to you? Comment below and tag anyone who should join the conversation 🙏 ➡ To find out more or reg for Africa Tech Festival: https://lnkd.in/ekZgadq6 Finally big shout to my fellow Advisory Board members Zachariah, Laurie, Folarin, Janet, Lavina + Ciara & James from the ATF team for bringing us together and driving continuous improvement to the Festival. #Africa #Tech #Startups #Founders #Investors

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Summary: Janngo Capital, an African venture capital firm, has closed its second fund at €73 million, 20% more than its initial target. The firm focuses on investing in diverse and female-led startups in sectors beyond fintech. Key takeaways: Janngo Capital's second fund exceeded its initial target, demonstrating confidence from investors in the potential of African startups. The firm has a strong focus on gender equality, with over half of its portfolio made up of startups founded or led by women. Janngo Capital has had success with exits and investments in diverse sectors, showing that a high-impact thesis can deliver in the African startup ecosystem. Counter arguments: Some may argue that the percentage of investments in female-led startups may be seen as tokenism rather than genuine support for diversity. Janngo Capital's focus on sectors beyond fintech may be seen as a riskier investment strategy, which could lead to lower returns. #venturecapital #vc #venture https://lnkd.in/gvxaR6Pc

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