Angel investing in Africa received another boost this week, this time in Cairo as the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) hosted an Angel Investor Masterclass at the spectacular Palace Al Gezirah. The 4-hour session, organized by ABAN in partnership with VC4Africa and powered by the WorkinProgress!Alliance, unpacked the entire investment spectrum from deal origination, valuation, due diligence, negotiation, post-investment monitoring and finally, exits.
International and local perspectives on angel investing
Directing the masterclass was renowned Swiss angel investor and experienced entrepreneur, Balz Roth, who shared with delegates his extensive range of expertise in deal sourcing and investment structuring; business model engineering and strategy development. After receiving a very warm welcome from local investors, Balz noted: “I am impressed about how lively and energetic the startup scene in Cairo is. I’m really impressed! I’m sure we will see more and more successful international startups branching from this community”.
Providing some local context, local multi-exit Cairo entrepreneur turned angel investor turned fund manager, Khaled Ismail, also featured as part of the proceedings, offering a well-crafted introduction which helped set the scene for local investors. When asked for his thoughts, he commented that “it was an informative workshop that allowed local Cairo angels access to what is happening elsewhere”.
David van Dijk, ABAN Director General, explains: “the positive response and enthusiasm of the Cairo angel investor community is indicative of what we are seeing across the continent”. He adds: “the African early-stage investment community can not only learn a lot from the experience of our European counterparts, but can also share a wealth of local experience which, in turn, can help to improve international angel investor practice”.
Series of angel investor masterclasses
This 2016 Cairo edition forms part of a series of masterclasses organized across the continent by ABAN, who aim to ‘unlock capital for early stage innovation’ by facilitating timely interactions between angel investors, high-potential entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders in the ecosystem. ABAN Masterclasses are reported to be highly interactive training sessions, with a focus on peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and the sharing of best practices.
