Yassin El Hardouz’s Post

🌍💡 Unlocking Africa’s Startup Potential: Building Local Investment Ecosystems 💡🌍 The African startup ecosystem faces significant challenges. In the first half of 2024, venture investments declined by 65%, according to the African Private Capital Association (AVCA). Historically, 77% of Africa’s venture funding has come from foreign sources, and the reduced foreign interest is being felt deeply. But here’s the truth: Africa’s future cannot depend solely on foreign investors. We must build a thriving local investment ecosystem. 💼 The Call to Action for Africa’s Wealthy: It’s time for our #African #millionaires and #billionaires to step up and invest in the continent’s innovation and entrepreneurship. Local angel investors and venture funds can drive a new wave of growth by backing startups that address Africa’s pressing needs in sectors like fintech, agritech, healthcare, logistics, and more. 🚀 The Opportunity Ahead: 1️⃣ Developing Early-Stage Companies: Strong local funding ecosystems can nurture startups with clear business models and scalable solutions, making them attractive to larger investors. 2️⃣ Empowering Local Entrepreneurs: African startups must focus on leveraging homegrown capital to create resilient businesses that reflect the continent’s unique needs. 3️⃣ Shifting the Narrative: Investing in startups isn’t just about profit—it’s about transforming economies, creating jobs, and building a sustainable future for Africa. 💬 Let’s Build the Future Together: This is a pivotal moment. By fostering local investment, Africa can reduce reliance on foreign funding and create a sustainable, self-reliant startup ecosystem. To our local investors: What’s stopping you from being part of Africa’s next big success story? #AfricaStartups #AngelInvestors #VentureCapital #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #LocalInvestment #SustainableGrowth 🌱🚀✨

Hey FACE community! Exciting times ahead for the Southeast Asian entrepreneurial scene! 📈 This year, we're seeing a noticeable shift towards investments in mature, stable start-ups across the region. With a projected recovery in 2024, investors are playing it safe, focusing on businesses that have proven their worth and are ready to scale. Countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia are leading the way with resilient financial sectors, booming tech industries, and supportive economic policies. Edward Ismawan from the Indonesian Association of Venture Capital for Startups highlights the preference for profitable and innovative companies. Similarly, Lawrence Loh from the National University of Singapore Business School notes a trend towards investing in businesses beyond the conceptual stage. Investors want unique ideas with solid business models and proven profitability. A shining example is Singapore-based insurtech firm Bolttech, which raised US$246 million in a Series B funding round. Join us at FACE to dive deeper into these trends and connect with fellow founders and creative entrepreneurs shaping the future! 👉 Learn more and get involved: https://facebkk.club/ #FACEBKK #StartUps #SoutheastAsia #Investments #TechGrowth #Sustainability #Fintech #Entrepreneurship #DigitalTransformation #BusinessGrowth #Innovation

Raising the Bar for African Startups Global investors are increasingly viewing African tech startups as gold mines of innovation. A recent investment by Daraja Capital into Kenya-based Serac Ventures stands as testament. This logistics firm, bridging the gap between African exporters and global markets, secured undisclosed funding for scaling and tech enhancements from the global investment firm. The investment not only propels Serac, but also underlines the pivotal role venture capital plays in nurturing early-stage business growth. And this isn't an isolated incident. There's a burgeoning trend, with global investors gravitating towards African startups. That's likely to enhance their reach, scale, and impact. As the African tech landscape hones its competitive edge, startups continent-wide should latch onto this trend and actively seek international collaborations and funding. Venture capital isn't only about pooling financial resources. It's also a symbiosis of shared learning and technological enhancements. Today, venture capitalists are as invested in you as you are in your vision. So, my fellow startup pioneers, are you ready to tap into this global trend and seek out venture capital? You can read more about it here https://lnkd.in/gN9fagUM #VentureCapital #StartUpFunding #BusinessGrowth What's your take on this surge in international venture capital investment in Africa's startup scene? Share your thoughts and insights!

💰 Let's have a look at Top 20 Investors (in number of deals) in African Startups in 2024! 👀 🤑 We're talking about $1.79B raised in 9 months! 🗓️ From January to September 2024 🔢 410unique deals 🔢 432 unique investors 💵 735 different tickets 🔢 1.7 deals per investor on average 💰 $1.79B raised in 9 months 🥇 DEG with 23 deals (24 deals in 2023) 🥈 Techstars with 18 deals (57 deals in 2023) 🥉 Digital Africa with 17 deals (only 3 in 2023!) 📉 Ventures Platform Fund from 15 deals in 2023 to only 2 in 2024, Google for Startups from 27 deals in 2023 to 0 in 2024, Wefunder from 9 deals in 2023 to 0 in 2024, LoftyInc Capital from 9 deals in 2023 to 0 in 2024 🚀 Top new entrants: Co-creation HUB (CcHUB) and iHUB Nairobi from 0 to 9 deals, Digital Africa from 3 to 17 deals, Efficiency for Access from 0 to 7 deals 🔥 New players (no deals before 2024): iHUB Nairobi, Efficiency for Access, Madica, Sanofi, Blizzard Fund, Hyperithm, Plus VC (+VC), RZM Investment and others... * All this data is based on publicly available data 🙏 Thanks Africa: The Big Deal for the data #Africa #Startups #VentureCapital #Investors #StartupInvestors #AfricanStartups Tech in Africa

Why African Startups Need to Launch in Multiple Countries – Tizeti CEO Kendall Ananyi 🚀 The dynamic CEO of Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi, shares powerful insights on the future of African startups! 🌟 In his recent blog post, Ananyi emphasizes the importance of launching in multiple countries to hedge against currency risks. He reveals that diversifying geographic presence can stabilise financial results and mitigate currency volatility. 📊💼 “Launching in multiple countries once in the growth stage can balance out currency fluctuations. For example, the Nigerian Naira might be down when the Ghanaian Cedi is up, offering financial stability,” says Ananyi. He also touches on startup challenges, co-founder conflicts, and the critical need for good governance. 🛡 🗣 “Proper governance should help maintain trust and attract investors,” Ananyi advises. Despite the hurdles, Ananyi remains optimistic about startup exits, though they may take longer due to higher valuations post-2021. 🕒 💡What You Should Know: - Tizeti is a leading ISP in Nigeria with operations in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. - Ananyi's investment portfolio spans diverse sectors, with successful exits from companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Reliance Health. Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments section! 📣 #Tizeti #africanstartups #businessgrowth #currencyrisk #startuplife #innovation #entrepreneurship #BusinessNews

Synergy’s Role in Shaping the Future of Emerging Economies: A Path to Profitability As we witness the remarkable growth of Nigeria's start-up tech ecosystem, it's clear that strategic collaboration is the driving force behind sustainable success. In this vibrant landscape, synergy is not just a buzzword—it's the new currency that fuels innovation, accelerates growth, and paves the way to profitability. Nigeria’s tech industry has shown us how collaborative efforts can transform challenges into opportunities, and small ventures into industry leaders. By uniting talents, resources, and visions, these start-ups have set a precedent for what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal. Inspired by this dynamic ecosystem, RockCine Universal Studios is excited to announce an upcoming project that seeks to intertwine the allure of culinary arts with lifestyle entertainment. This venture is not just about creating content—it’s about building a platform where art, culture, and commerce converge to create something truly extraordinary. We are calling on visionary partners who share our passion for creativity and innovation to join us on this journey. Together, we can shape the future of entertainment, create new economic opportunities, and showcase the power of synergy in driving success. Let’s explore how we can collaborate to make this vision a reality. Reach out to us at 08164964926 or via email at [email protected]. Let's make history together. David Onyeneke #InnovationCultureTrend #Oraimo #ShapinvCulture #Entrepreneurship #CreativeIndustry #Startup #TechIndustry #EmergingMarkets #Innovation #Collaboration #Nigeria #Ecosystem #Profitability

𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 The lack of African investors in startups on the continent was a point highlighted by many of the fellow startups from the diaspora that we met at both the GITEX AFRICA conference and the Viva Technology conference. This article by Forbes Africa focuses on the event Gitex Africa as well as the different opinions exchanged regarding investment in Africa and here's a summary of the key points regarding investment in Africa: While the Gitex Africa conference saw a notable presence of investors from the Middle East and Europe, African investors were largely absent. Folarin Oreoluwa Aiyegbusi , Google's Director of African Startup Ecosystem in Nigeria, confirms this reality, stating that "the majority of the funding that goes to startups still comes from what I would call the Global West." The numbers back him up: 89% of venture capital entering Africa is foreign and is mainly concentrated in four countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt. Nassreddine RIAHI, our CEO and co-founder, laments this lack of local investment and calls for a change in mindset. He believes that African investors still prefer traditional investments like real estate over startups, which have a high potential for growth. He encourages entrepreneurs to focus on their projects, have a clear vision, and surround themselves with the right people to attract investors. Anthony Same, founder of ST DIGITAL, has also followed this path, using a bootstrapping model and raising funds from African shareholders exclusively. The African continent is increasingly looking to itself to finance its economic development. Local investment in startups is a key element of this strategy. The lack of African investors is a major challenge, but examples like Cynoia and ST Digital show that it can be overcome by adopting innovative models and surrounding themselves with the right partners. To get the full insights take a look at this article by Forbes Africa ⤵ 🔗 https://bit.ly/3RqwZOr

Unlocking Global Markets: How Nigerian Startups Are Expanding Beyond Borders

"If the next generation of African unicorns are to last, venture capitalists must shift away from demanding rapid, exponential growth and favor paced profitability as the model of success." Sabrina Dorman, Co-founder Zumi. This article was published a short while back before Copia and Gro hit the news. I agreed with everything that she put out in the article especially the last part... "If African investors can shift this paradigm, the valuable businesses they create will in turn become investors in their own ecosystem and nurture the next generation of African unicorns." More than just nurturing the next generation of unicorns, they will nurture the businesses that "make what people want". Key word is business not startup. Time for the African startup to run like an Indian business? PS. It took 4-5 years of me consulting for an Indian owned tech company for me to really understand the difference between being in business and being in startup. Read the full article by Sabrina - https://lnkd.in/dGShAq8y I've written about VC in Kenya/Africa before on a slightly similar tone. "The curse of VC funds, or is Africa just a tough market?" Read more - 🚀 https://lnkd.in/d7pzx-Pq