🌍 “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘸.” – Matthew 9:37 In 2020, we embarked on a mission to cultivate Africa's next generation of business leaders with the launch of the Funema Venture Building Institute. Our goal was to equip young people with the skills to identify, nurture, and scale promising startups. As we journeyed through this exciting venture, we realized that we needed a name that more accurately reflected our commitment to Africa's boundless potential and the tireless spirit of its people. 𝘒𝘢𝘻𝘪, a Swahili word for “worker,” embodies labor and effort. It was born from the realization that Africa is brimming with business opportunities and youthful potential. Wherever you are on this vibrant continent—Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, and beyond—look around. How many small businesses are striving to grow, and how many young people are eager for impactful work? The answer is clear: 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔! Small businesses are hustling to make a dollar stretch, and young talent is working tirelessly to make ends meet. They share a common challenge: a lack of venture management, finance, and technological training needed to manage their potential and ventures effectively. That’s why we’ve launched the Kazi Fellowship Program—to cultivate the skills needed to harness Africa’s abundant opportunities. The Kazi Fellowship is a transformative program designed to empower young talents at the beginning of their careers. This program is tailored for aspiring professionals keen to excel in Development Entrepreneurship, Development Finance, and Inclusive Technology. 🌟 Why Kazi? 𝟭. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗼-𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Learn the proven Funema way of building sustainable and scalable ventures refined over 7 years of building scalable companies. 𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Learn to take it a step further by exploring redemptive principles for restoring the beauty and glory of this planet and our world. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Work on real projects and build practical skills. You will start with a big trust credit. 𝟰. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Every fellow in Funema can testify to our human-centric focus and high regard for family. Family first before profits. You'd be joining a family of those who have gone ahead of you just as you would later on pave the way for those who would come after you The Kazi Fellowship is poised to transform careers and shape Africa's future, and will guide you on your venture-building career path with confidence! Apply now to join our community for our 2025 cohort → https://lnkd.in/dcP5H-Jb In the meantime, let's have a chat—how can we best nurture the talent needed for this change? Let's hear it in the comments! #KaziFellowship #AfricanTalent #DevelopmentEntrepreneurship #DevelopmentFinance #InclusiveTechnology #CareerGrowth #Innovation
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The harvest of impact opportunities across the emerging market is ripe but the workers are few. Our socio-economic issues demand more than just adherence to ethical standards—they call for bold, radical solutions. We must acknowledge that there are entrenched forces that resist the fair distribution of prosperity because they profit from the current state of affairs. As we build solutions, we can't turn a blind eye to the powerful, often criminal, systems that thrive on disorder and benefit from the lack of opportunities. Extreme poverty is a reality we must confront while designing profitable tech models. There's a delicate balance between creating inclusive innovations and falling into the trap of extractive practices. Capital intended for positive disruption can easily become another tool for maintaining the status quo in frontier markets, failing to create the lasting impact needed for generational change. If love and compassion aren't the driving forces behind our businesses, our best efforts may ultimately become ammunition for those who perpetuate harm and inequality.
🌍 “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘸.” – Matthew 9:37 In 2020, we embarked on a mission to cultivate Africa's next generation of business leaders with the launch of the Funema Venture Building Institute. Our goal was to equip young people with the skills to identify, nurture, and scale promising startups. As we journeyed through this exciting venture, we realized that we needed a name that more accurately reflected our commitment to Africa's boundless potential and the tireless spirit of its people. 𝘒𝘢𝘻𝘪, a Swahili word for “worker,” embodies labor and effort. It was born from the realization that Africa is brimming with business opportunities and youthful potential. Wherever you are on this vibrant continent—Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Angola, Zimbabwe, and beyond—look around. How many small businesses are striving to grow, and how many young people are eager for impactful work? The answer is clear: 𝙋𝙇𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔! Small businesses are hustling to make a dollar stretch, and young talent is working tirelessly to make ends meet. They share a common challenge: a lack of venture management, finance, and technological training needed to manage their potential and ventures effectively. That’s why we’ve launched the Kazi Fellowship Program—to cultivate the skills needed to harness Africa’s abundant opportunities. The Kazi Fellowship is a transformative program designed to empower young talents at the beginning of their careers. This program is tailored for aspiring professionals keen to excel in Development Entrepreneurship, Development Finance, and Inclusive Technology. 🌟 Why Kazi? 𝟭. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝘁𝗼-𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Learn the proven Funema way of building sustainable and scalable ventures refined over 7 years of building scalable companies. 𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Learn to take it a step further by exploring redemptive principles for restoring the beauty and glory of this planet and our world. 𝟯. 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Work on real projects and build practical skills. You will start with a big trust credit. 𝟰. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆: Every fellow in Funema can testify to our human-centric focus and high regard for family. Family first before profits. You'd be joining a family of those who have gone ahead of you just as you would later on pave the way for those who would come after you The Kazi Fellowship is poised to transform careers and shape Africa's future, and will guide you on your venture-building career path with confidence! Apply now to join our community for our 2025 cohort → https://lnkd.in/dcP5H-Jb In the meantime, let's have a chat—how can we best nurture the talent needed for this change? Let's hear it in the comments! #KaziFellowship #AfricanTalent #DevelopmentEntrepreneurship #DevelopmentFinance #InclusiveTechnology #CareerGrowth #Innovation
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Excited to have served as a juror at the develoPPP Pitch Event! I was inspired by entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to everyday problems, driving positive change, and improving the lives of Ghanaians across various sectors - from healthcare to FinTech and beyond. #develoPPPPitchEvent #GhanaianInnovation #Entrepreneurship"
🌟🇬🇭 develoPPP Ventures Ghana Advances to the Next Stage! On May 16, 2024, GreenTec supported the organization of an engaging pitch event at #MakeLab ACity in Accra, as part of the develoPPP Ventures Ghana project. The event was executed in a hybrid format, creating the opportunity for remote participation. Our 4th cohort showcased 14 high-potential startups from four key sectors: Agribusiness, Consumer Services, Financial/Deep Tech, and Manufacturing, Health & BioTech. 🌱🏆 The event was a great success, thanks to the combined efforts of the develoPPP Ventures Team (Annabelle Söffing and Camilo Carrillo Wilisch), GreenTec Team (Godson Quaye), SCIO Team (Emmanuel Nomafo), ILM Consult team (Maurice Nii Adjei Cashinco) and MakeLab ACity, a local innovation hub that provided us with an incredible venue. The exclusive session was attended by startups, past alumni, and our esteemed jury, whose presence and participation were invaluable. The jury was carefully selected from across the startup ecosystem, including representatives from the Big Four, investment banking and advisory services, and impact investing, among others. They played a crucial role in evaluating the startups' potential and guiding them through the pitch process. Following the pitch event, the organizing team further selected a core number of startups to move on to the next stage: on-site due diligence. These startups are now closer to potentially receiving 100,000 Euros each for scaling their innovative, impact-driven businesses in Ghana. 🚀 We wish these startups all the best as they continue their journey, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to every participant for their incredible effort and dedication. Thank you to everyone for making this event happen! Special thank you to the jury, including Evans Asare, Amma A. Gyampo, Cheryl Otoo, Norbert Dziwornu, Stephanie Asare, Dennis Ishmael Brown (BA, FCCA), John Nani, Kakra Sersah, and to the local expert team: Hannah Acquaah, Isaac Newton Acquah, Michael Kottoh, and Maurice Nii Adjei Cashinco. In addition, special appreciation goes to GIZ Elisabeth Richter, colleagues in Ghana, Iris Hammerschick, — develoPPP GIZ Ghana Wilhelm Hugo — Cluster Coordinator for sustainable economic development at GIZ Ghana, for your pivotal roles in making this event a success. #develoPPP Ventures is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (#BMZ), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (#GIZ) GmbH. The initiative is aimed at young companies, whose innovative business model improves living conditions in a developing or emerging country and who are planning to scale up. In Ghana, the initiative is supported through Scio Network, GreenTec Capital Partners, and ILM Consult acting as the core partner on the ground. #develoPPPVentures #Funding #Investment #GhanaEntrepreneurs #Ghana #ImpactInvesting #Entrepreneurship #Founder #PitchEvent 🌱 Thomas Festerling
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Excited to have served as a juror at the develoPPP Pitch Event! I was inspired by entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to everyday problems, driving positive change, and improving the lives of Ghanaians across various sectors - from healthcare to FinTech and beyond. #develoPPPPitchEvent #GhanaianInnovation #Entrepreneurship"
🌟🇬🇭 develoPPP Ventures Ghana Advances to the Next Stage! On May 16, 2024, GreenTec supported the organization of an engaging pitch event at #MakeLab ACity in Accra, as part of the develoPPP Ventures Ghana project. The event was executed in a hybrid format, creating the opportunity for remote participation. Our 4th cohort showcased 14 high-potential startups from four key sectors: Agribusiness, Consumer Services, Financial/Deep Tech, and Manufacturing, Health & BioTech. 🌱🏆 The event was a great success, thanks to the combined efforts of the develoPPP Ventures Team (Annabelle Söffing and Camilo Carrillo Wilisch), GreenTec Team (Godson Quaye), SCIO Team (Emmanuel Nomafo), ILM Consult team (Maurice Nii Adjei Cashinco) and MakeLab ACity, a local innovation hub that provided us with an incredible venue. The exclusive session was attended by startups, past alumni, and our esteemed jury, whose presence and participation were invaluable. The jury was carefully selected from across the startup ecosystem, including representatives from the Big Four, investment banking and advisory services, and impact investing, among others. They played a crucial role in evaluating the startups' potential and guiding them through the pitch process. Following the pitch event, the organizing team further selected a core number of startups to move on to the next stage: on-site due diligence. These startups are now closer to potentially receiving 100,000 Euros each for scaling their innovative, impact-driven businesses in Ghana. 🚀 We wish these startups all the best as they continue their journey, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to every participant for their incredible effort and dedication. Thank you to everyone for making this event happen! Special thank you to the jury, including Evans Asare, Amma A. Gyampo, Cheryl Otoo, Norbert Dziwornu, Stephanie Asare, Dennis Ishmael Brown (BA, FCCA), John Nani, Kakra Sersah, and to the local expert team: Hannah Acquaah, Isaac Newton Acquah, Michael Kottoh, and Maurice Nii Adjei Cashinco. In addition, special appreciation goes to GIZ Elisabeth Richter, colleagues in Ghana, Iris Hammerschick, — develoPPP GIZ Ghana Wilhelm Hugo — Cluster Coordinator for sustainable economic development at GIZ Ghana, for your pivotal roles in making this event a success. #develoPPP Ventures is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (#BMZ), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (#GIZ) GmbH. The initiative is aimed at young companies, whose innovative business model improves living conditions in a developing or emerging country and who are planning to scale up. In Ghana, the initiative is supported through Scio Network, GreenTec Capital Partners, and ILM Consult acting as the core partner on the ground. #develoPPPVentures #Funding #Investment #GhanaEntrepreneurs #Ghana #ImpactInvesting #Entrepreneurship #Founder #PitchEvent 🌱 Thomas Festerling
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Founder @ Neftalem Consulting | BDS Expert, UNDP GPN/ExpRes Roster/Co-founder of Y&F Kitchen Manufacturing Company
Jesaya Hano-Oshike 🌍 Insights from a Dynamic Conversation on Namibia’s Startup Ecosystem with Mr. Jesaya Hano-Oshike I recently had the privilege of an e-meeting with Mr. Jesaya Hano Oshike, a prominent figure in Namibia's startup ecosystem—a seasoned investor, bootcamp manager, and co-founder of the Namibia Business Angel Network. Our discussion covered some essential pathways for advancing entrepreneurship in Namibia and highlighted valuable ideas for sustainability and collaboration. 💼 Banking & Venture Capital Roots Mr. Jesaya shared insights from his early banking career in liability and risk management and his experiences at a venture capital firm, where he observed the need for risk-tolerant capital. His journey led him to co-found Namibia's Business Angel Network. 🏗️ The Role of Government and Private Hubs He emphasized that for Namibia to succeed, the government should invest in physical infrastructure and set KPIs while private hubs drive the innovation. We discussed how the government’s role in facilitating access to finance, alongside private sector involvement, is vital for a sustainable ecosystem. 🌍 Positioning Namibia as a Launchpad for Southern Africa Namibia has unique advantages—political stability, rule of law, and strong infrastructure—that could make it a strategic entry point for the broader Southern African region. This positioning could attract more investors, entrepreneurs, and strategic partnerships across the continent. 💡 Innovative Model for Incubator Sustainability. To ensure financial independence, I suggested that incubation centers take a small equity share (2-5%) in startups they support, only if the incubator connects them to significant investors (e.g., Series A rounds at $1M+). This way, startups receive critical funding, and incubators gain a sustainable income. This win-win approach incentivizes incubators and aligns their success with that of their startups. 🤝 Post-Investment Support and Arbitration We discussed the importance of ongoing mentorship after major investments. I proposed that incubators stay on board for at least a year post-investment, acting as a neutral arbitrator between investors and startups, especially in the critical first year when high expectations can lead to challenges. While we saw some room for discussion, both of us recognized the potential for a stronger ecosystem with better startup-investor alignment. I’m thrilled to share these insights and grateful for the knowledge exchange with Mr. Jesaya. Addis Alemayehou Joseph Kibur Henok Assefa Question for Ethiopia’s #Startup Ecosystem: Does #Ethiopia startup ecosystem have a clear, data-driven strategy & roadmap to position itself effectively in the market? Beyond a large population & economic growth, what unique advantages do Ethiopian startups offer? What incentives exist for investing &what trajectory can we expect over the next five years? Why should investors act now rather than later?
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A few days ago, one of the most important stages in my family's life came to an end - I moved my mother and our pets, a cat and a dog, to Germany, away from the war. It has been a long period of difficult decisions. Now the hardest part of the process is over. The pets are safe. I am starting to get involved in the business processes. I am in the process of creating a venture builder. Over many years of working with external projects I have come to the conclusion that if you want to get an extraordinary result - form your own professional team and deal with the project from the beginning to the final result. Why? The probability of success of a startup is equal to the result of multiplying the probabilities of success of the following (and other) events: * the right choice of (promising, with excellent growth potential) business direction; * the founders will be able to form an effective team that will be able to: - run fast in the right direction (ways, methods and direction of the project development), ahead of potential competitors (including patent protection, etc.); - retain know-how within the project; - attract investments (in the required amount) in a timely manner at (correct valuation) from ("right" investors); - timely strengthen the team with effective specialists and displace (those who have become) ineffective, hindering the development of the project (at different stages of development the startup team needs specialists with different, often mutually exclusive qualities that are not compatible in one person); - create a corporate culture conducive to the effective activity of the project team members, form the right motivation and retain key employees in the project; - competently distribute shares/salary/bonuses among all project participants, in case of parting with any of the team members - "correctly" and correctly part; - transform personal limitations and "cockroaches in the head" of funders and key employees so that they contribute to the effective development of the project; - attract strong mentors and enablers; * be lucky. The statistics of venture capital fund returns in the world shows: 50% of funds are unprofitable,35% operate at zero, 10% return up to 3 X's, 5% return 3 X's and above. Familiar representatives of the startup ecosystem from different parts of the world also say that there are many venture builders in the US, Europe and Asia that are not profitable. On the one hand such statistics are depressing, but on the other hand it is a great opportunity to make the process of building successful projects manageable, predictable and systematic. Business experience, exposure to projects and team funders, more than 12 years of experience in strategic marketing, market analytics, etc. allow, in the words of Stephen Covey, "to put the ladder of success against the right wall without error".
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💪 In the past two years, the #RAISE initiative has created a comprehensive support system for #startups. Their guide on using European structural #funds aids startups in securing crucial #funding to boost employment and foster a resilient economy. 😎 More: https://lnkd.in/d6X6bD5d #Scaleup #Investment #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #TechTrends #Technology #Leadership #Growth #Success #Management #Enterprise #Funding #StartupSuccess #BusinessGrowth #OpenScience #OpenAccess #Business #Startup #Startups #Entrepreneur #SME #Tech #EU #Europe #AngelInvestor #Venture #Businessman #VentureCapitalists #Crowdfunding #RAISE #InnovationCulture #FutureOfBusiness #DisruptiveTech #DigitalTransformation #SmallBiz #FounderLife #InnovationEcosystem #AngelInvesting #SeedFunding #TechStartup #BusinessStrategy #VCInvesting #StartupLife #TechInnovation #FundingRound #CorporateVenture #BusinessLeadership #StartupCulture #ScaleUpNation #EntrepreneurialMindset #InvestmentOpportunity #StartupCommunity #TechSavvy #EmergingTech #BusinessDevelopment #FounderJourney #InvestorNetwork #BusinessMentorship #StartupEcosystem #TechInvestor #ScaleUpStrategy #EntrepreneurialSpirit #InnovationHub #StartupIncubator #VCCommunity #InvestmentPortfolio #StartupAccelerator #DigitalEntrepreneur #VentureFunding #SeedCapital #GrowthMindset #TechEntrepreneur #StartupNation #InnovationStrategy #AngelNetwork #VentureCapitalFirm #Fintech #TechInnovationHub #BusinessNetworking #StartupAdvice #USA #InvestmentCapital #AngelInvestment #StartUpVenture #TechInvestment #BusinessIncubator #InvestorRelations #BusinessInsights EBAN - European Business Angel Network EURADA - European Association of Development Agencies SERN - Startup Europe Regions Network International Consortium of Research Staff Associations (ICoRSA) FUNDECYT-PCTEX
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Our lead Faculty Edward Esene is hosting his boss Harry 'Tomi Davies during this week's Ask Me Anything Session of the Grant Writing Course by School of Grant Success ‘Tomi Davies (TD) is Collaborator-in-Chief (CiC)' at TVC Labs, a technology-enabled innovation hub in Lagos, Nigeria which he founded. He is a co-founder of Zeitec, an investment firm that focuses on venture capital assets in Africa, the Lagos Angel Network (LAN), founding President of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) and board member of the Global Business Angel Network (GBAN). After graduating from the University of Miami in 1982, TD led innovative technology-enabled transformation initiatives for influential global brands such as Elf Aquitaine, Marks & Spencer, Ernst & Young and Sapient across Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. In 2000, his focus shifted to Africa where he worked on various technology-led innovation initiatives in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya using his goal-oriented approach to project delivery which inspired his 2014 book “The African Project Manager”. In December 2021, TD was named as one of the “100 Most Influential Africans of 2021” by New African Magazine. TD is Chairman of Powerstove (Renewables) and Non-Executive Director at MBO Capital (Private Equity) and sits on the boards of Big Cabal Media (Media & Entertainment), Trove (Fintech), Omnibiz (eCommerce) and Laptops4Learning (L4L) Nigeria (Edutech NGO). He also Chairs the Innovation Committee of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC). Being an African angel investor with insights gained from a growing portfolio of tech-enabled startup ventures originating from Africa, TD’s personal goal is to ”Find, Fund & Follow2Exit”, African founders that are using technology-enabled innovation to create economic value and social impact on the continent that “builds Africa’s future together”. These founders are the inspiration and target of his 2023 book “Investment Worthy Startup” which lays out his POEM Framework as a tool for founders and their investors building tech-enabled startups on the continent. Driven by intellect, innovation, integrity and collaboration, TD passionately supports Africa's startup ecosystem. He champions technology as a catalyst for improving lives and empowering innovative startups creating economic value that generates social impact across the continent. TD underscores the pivotal role of international support in accelerating the growth of innovation hubs and business angels which are critical resources shaping the future of African startups! #schoolofgrant #schoolofgrantsuccess #GrantCourse #GrantWritingCourse #GrantWriting #GrantWriter #WinningGrant #GrantApplication #FundingOption #grantfunding #GrantFundingOpporrunities #GrantSuccess #Investment readiness
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🌟 Unlocking the Path to Unicorns: Join Us at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024! Book your ticket now and join us for an engaging session at the AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2024 in Cape Town as we explore the journey of African startups that have achieved unicorn status or successful exits. 📅 Track: Investor Track 🗣️ Panel Session: From Startups to Unicorns: The Path to Successful Exits in Africa We are excited to present a distinguished panel of speakers who will share their insights on navigating the investment landscape in Africa and the critical pathways to success: Panelists: 🎙️Emmanuel Adegboye: As the Head of Madica, Emmanuel leads a structured investment program for pre-seed stage companies in Africa, empowering underrepresented founders. With a rich background in urban innovation and extensive experience in technology projects across emerging markets, Emmanuel is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs who are solving Africa’s biggest challenges. 🎙️Mark Birch: Co-Founder, Founder in the Cloud, Mark is currently the Global Startup Advocate at Amazon Web Services (AWS). He helps founders leverage cloud and AI technologies to build, grow, and scale their startups. Mark's insights into the tech ecosystem are invaluable for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of successful startup scaling. 🎙️Aysha Tegally: An Investment Advisor at Vatternfields Investments, Aysha collaborates with investors and entrepreneurs to enhance capital deployment to women-led businesses. With a focus on creating solutions for the planet’s biggest problems, she has been instrumental in shaping early-stage investment initiatives in Africa and the UK. 🎙️Jo Griffiths: Co-Founder of Global Innovation Initiative Group Africa Fund, Jo is a global thinker and investor focused on raising visibility and building partnerships for next-gen technologies. With a career dedicated to fostering innovation across Africa, Jo's work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, making her a key player in driving social impact initiatives. Moderator: 🎙️Francis Omorojie: Founder & Venture Partner at Ennovate Ventures, Francis is a venture builder and angel investor passionate about empowering Africa's underrepresented young entrepreneurs. With a portfolio of impactful startups and a focus on inclusive prosperity, Francis brings a wealth of experience in supporting high-growth companies. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from these visionary leaders and gain insights into the strategies that propel startups to unicorn status. Be part of the conversation that’s shaping Africa’s digital future! 👉 Register today: https://lnkd.in/d3nr7xWM African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Tanzania Hubs Network ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Cloudmania B-Tech AV Mounts République française Anglo American Interledger Foundation Intel Corporation ReCha City of Cape Town Technology Innovation Agency
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📢 Ukrainian Social Venture Fund invites you to participate in an exchange program between social entrepreneurs from Ukraine and Germany! This stage of the program includes a networking trip to Germany (Berlin or Munich) for Ukrainian social entrepreneurs, startups, and impact-oriented businesses who want to contribute to the rebuilding of Ukraine. 📅 When: December 9th-13th, 2024. We are looking for companies with innovative approaches to supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine, who have the potential to initiate joint Ukrainian-German pilot projects and develop sustainable partnerships with German businesses. 🤔What to expect? The Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF), in collaboration with the Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the Federal Impact Investing Initiative, and the Fraunhofer Future Foundation, invites you to participate in a five-day working trip focused on connecting with leaders and organizations in Germany's impact community. 📌Important: The working language of the program is English, so fluency is a mandatory requirement. The trip offers: 🔵 unique opportunities to connect and collaborate with the Fraunhofer Future Foundation, the Fraunhofer Society, and other leading organizations in Germany's impact ecosystem; 🔵 space and inspiration to develop innovative ideas and concepts that will contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine; 🔵 support in creating and implementing sustainable impact projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine. 🚀 10 participants will be selected based on an open competition. To qualify, you must have an established, impact-oriented or social business/startup, a clearly formulated plan for cooperation with German partners, and a high level of English proficiency. ‼️Organizers don’t provide permission to leave Ukraine. If you are applying, you must have a legitimate company representative who is able to leave the country. By submitting an application, the company confirms its agreement to these terms. 🎊Become a part of this unique initiative and contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine! Apply by November 8th, 23:59, using the link: https://wkf.ms/3YN7lYy
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Bosso and AfriOnline Group from Zambia have emerged as winners in the UNDP’s "Meet the Tôshikas" programme, a pioneering initiative designed to bridge the gap between Japanese venture capitalists and promising African startups. This programme, launched by the UNDP through its Africa Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH) with support from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan (METI), aims to foster investment readiness and drive venture capital towards Africa. The “Meet the Tôshikas” programme kicked off with applications from 256 startups, followed by a rigorous selection process involving desk research, direct interviews, field visits, ecosystem events, and a 3-week Bootcamp. Out of these 30 startups, Bosso and AfriOnline emerged as two of the six finalists (2 startups per country from Angola, South Africa and Zambia) selected for the highly tailored 3-month Investment Readiness Support Program (IRSP). This program, running from July 9 to September 27, is designed to prepare these startups for substantial investment opportunities. Alongside this support, each finalist will receive a $20,000 catalytic grant. Bosso is an e-commerce and construction platform make building houses simpler and cheaper. AfriOnline Group is an e-commerce and delivery integrated platform that allows customers to order from restaurants, supermarkets, and Wholesale. UNDP designed and implemented this program with the support of Double Feather Partners, a consulting firm selected and hired by UNDP through a formal competitive process. In addition, this program sees the collaboration of Japan-based VCs who applied for and are participating in this program; SAMURAI INCUBATE INC. Africa, TSI Japan, and Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures Partners, and local field accelerators who have a re-contracted relationship with UNDP; Acelera Angola (Angola), Grindstone (South Africa) and BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub (Zambia). “We are extremely honoured to be able to provide, through our benefactor METI, a unique opportunity for African startups to travel and meet Japanese investors and, on the other hand, Japanese investors to discover exciting startup venture opportunities from Africa sourced from a well-informed and deliberate ecosystem development approach that takes into account both the local potential growth and risk awareness through our network of field partners”, says Tomas Sales, Private Sector Special Advisor at the UNDP ASFH which oversees the UNDP Meet the Tôshikas project. “By combining a mature market such as South Africa with other nascent markets such as Angola and Zambia, we offer a fuller picture of the breadth and depth of early-stage opportunities to investors contemplating entry points for capital deployment in Africa”. Bosso and AfriOnline will also participate in a one-week investors roadshow in Tokyo and take part in an exclusive pitching event in front of the Tôshikas. Afshon Wallace Chisepo Chirwa Salwa Shamapande
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