Africa’s early-stage investor community came together on November 17th for the 3rd annual African Angel Investor Summit at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The event organized by VC4Africa, ABAN and the Lagos Angels Network, powered by the WorkInProgress! Alliance, brought together investors and key stakeholders in the ecosystem from across the continent to exchange best practices, share lessons learned and plot the roadmap for the future.
This years’ theme for the Summit was ‘Cooperation and Co-investing’. Therefore, all conversations, keynotes and panel discussions centered on how different players in the ecosystem – angels, VC’s, governments, accelerators, the diaspora, etc – can work together to help maximize Africa’s entrepreneurial potential.
Headlining the Summit were renowned international and local investors – with delegates from angel investor networks from Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria and others; representatives from the VC and PE community such as Eghosa Omoigui, Folabi Esan, Chika Nwobi, Lexi Novitske; and overseas investors including Monique Woodard, partner at 500 startups; Chris Schulz; Rise Capital founder Tom Terbell; and Olawale Ayeni, representing the IFC. A pan African panel of ‘Founders funding founders’ helped set the scene with Paga founder Tayo Oviosu, Hotels.ng founder Mark Essien, EatOut founder Mikul Shah and SiliconAccra founder and former Dropify CEO David Osei.
VC4Africa CEO Ben White presented the latest trends and developments in early stage investing. VC4Africa’s Program and Partnership lead Alina Vinogradova introduced the WorkinProgress! Alliance and the collaboration with She Leads Africa in Nigeria. Following by pitches of five graduates of the She Leads Africa Accelerator Program, a 3-month accelerator designed to identify, support and fund the next generation of Nigeria’s brightest female entrepreneurs.
The summit provided a unique opportunity for accessing the latest investment methods and best practices from sourcing deals, through valuation, to exits. It also provided investors with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the best of an increasing number of cross-border and syndication initiatives being developed by a new generation of investors. Furthermore, the summit provided an unprecedented opportunity to network with the most influential thought leaders in the early stage investment space.
Events like this are part of an ongoing effort to better connect African focused investors, improve knowledge of Africa investing, and to better mobilize the capital that is needed to support the continued growth of Africa’s innovation sectors. In this way, ABAN, VC4Africa and local organizations such as the Lagos Angels Network and similar networks seek to maximize the continent’s entrepreneurial potential.
Originally published here.