Catalytic Africa

Over the last decade, digital and technology-driven startups have become key drivers of #innovation in Africa, introducing products that address market gaps and create new business opportunities. This progress has been significantly boosted by the rise of impact-focused investors, including development finance institutions, and commercially-driven backers like angel investors and venture capitalists, who provide financial and non-financial support to help innovators grow their ventures. How has this wave of innovation transformed industries across the continent? Briter Intelligence tracks over $22 billion in #investments into #startups with primary headquarters in Africa from 2014 to the present day, with most #investments recorded in recent years. The 2024 ABAN Survey Report sponsored by Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF)and supported by African Angel Academy and Briter gives more details on how this has attracted a new crop of players, including a wave of angel investors, contributing to promoting ecosystem development: https://bit.ly/4g46etv!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 is characterised by resilience, innovation, and a deep understanding of local challenges. With the continent being the most entrepreneurial globally, African founders are driven by a desire to create impactful solutions that leverage limited resources creatively, often turning obstacles into opportunities. 𝗧𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺, 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 who are building in Africa, to share insights that have shaped who they are. It is possibly the fastest way to inspire entrepreneurship and to multiply success. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 at The Founders Peak stage at the #IFF2023 in Kigali, represent the energy, purpose and passion of African entrepreneurship. 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 from the inaugural edition in 2023, we are delighted to NOW dedicate a FULL-DAY to entrepreneurship at #IFF2025, on Wed 26th Feb. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲! 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 - https://lnkd.in/etDtKWfW Sopnendu Mohanty | Nick Barigye | Navin Suri | Sagari White | Francesca Aliverti | Shaduri Umutoniwase Rumongi | Hortense Mudenge | Leila Rwagasana | Jean De Dieu UWIHANGANYE | Matteo Rizzi | Pat Patel | Paula Ingabire | Nicola Fleming | GFTN | National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) | Kigali International Financial Centre | Singapore FinTech Festival | 3i Africa Summit

📢 Here is some incredible news for founders! Baobab Network is looking for potential companies to invest in for 2025! If you want to take your business from startup to superstar, you should not let this opportunity pass you by! Submit your applications here for consideration! https://bit.ly/40RgGiX

Join us at the Inclusive FinTech Forum for this session on "Building Bridges: How KIFC is Connecting Africa to the World" moderated by Fadilah Tchoumba. This panel session consisting of Nick Barigye (CEO of Rwanda Finance Limited), Chi-man Kwan (Group Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Chair, Raffles Family Office, Family Office Association Hong Kong) and Joe Moynihan (Chief Executive Officer, Jersey Finance) will showcase the Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC)'s strategic initiatives in becoming Africa’s leading international financial hub. The key discussion points in this session will be: ➡️ The key milestones KIFC has achieved since its inception. ➡️ The roadmap to positioning Kigali as Africa’s leading fintech hub. ➡️ Strategies KIFC is using to attract international investors to Rwanda. ➡️ KIFC’s perspective on global opportunities within Africa’s fintech sector. Visit https://bit.ly/4jARC6X for more details about this session and to get your summit pass! #IFF2025 #InclusiveFinTechForum Catalytic Africa

Do you have an impactful business? Get access to networks that will fund it! The Sankalp Forum brings Africa’s most innovative #entrepreneurs face-to-face with global #investors ready to scale their visions. If you are building a business that changes lives, this is where your journey accelerates! Don't just dream big, make it happen! Join us in Nairobi on 26-27 February & connect with a transformative ecosystem driving socio-economic change. Visit https://lnkd.in/dztQknff to reserve your spot!

According to last year's ABAN's Angel Investment Survey Report, the continent has significant potential for growing angel capital. Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, commonly called Africa’s Big Four #startup ecosystems, have the continent’s largest concentration of #startups and #venturefunding. Additionally, they host the most active #angelinvesting ecosystems, with the highest number of individual angels and angel groups. While new ecosystems have emerged as investible destinations in recent years, they trail behind the Big Four countries on key ecosystem attributes such as the number of startups and #investors, and #investment activity. As a result, startups in these destinations experience relatively less access to key resources necessary for their growth, widening investment inequality gaps between them. Read more about the disparity in investment activity towards smaller startup ecosystems in Africa at bit.ly/4g46etv Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) African Angel Academy Briter Fadilah Tchoumba

🚀 Calling all tech entrepreneurs! The TIA-TuksNovation Seed Fund, in partnership with TIA, is offering funding and incubation support through the 2024/2025 Innovation Challenge. Apply now and take your tech to the next level! #SeedFunding #TechInnovation #TIA #TuksNovation

The 2024 ABAN Angel Investment Survey Report comprehensively analyses Africa's evolving #angelinvestment landscape, drawing insights from 300+ #investors across 25 countries. The report highlights key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the ecosystem. Here’s a page-by-page summary of the key highlights: ➡️ Africa now boasts 110+ active angel #investment networks, a 27% increase compared to 2022, with significant expansion into emerging markets such as Francophone West Africa and Southern Africa. (pg. 5) ➡️ There's increasing diversity among investors, with 35% being women and a notable rise in participation from younger professionals aged 25–40. (pg.7) ➡️ Technology remains the leading focus, with 42% of deals targeting tech-driven startups. Fintech leads the sector, followed by agritech and health tech. There's also a 19% increase in funding for sustainability-focused startups. (pg. 9) ➡️ Individual angels invested an average of $30,000 per deal, while syndicates pooled up to $200,000. There is a shift towards co-investment models, collaborating with venture capital funds and institutional partners. (pg. 13) ➡️ 48% of participants engaged in cross-border investments, indicating increased regional collaboration and a Pan-African approach to early-stage investing. (pg. 15) ➡️ Over 60% of respondents prioritized impact investing, focusing on ventures addressing Africa's social, environmental, and economic challenges. (pg. 18) ➡️ 34% of angel investors credited structured programs like the African Angel Academy for enhancing their knowledge and skills, leading to more informed investment decisions. (pg. 22) ➡️ Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa remain at the forefront of angel investment activity while emerging hotspots include Togo, Ghana, and Egypt. A significant milestone in 2024 was Togo’s launch of its first angel investment network. (pg. 26) ➡️ The report identifies challenges such as limited exit opportunities and gaps in investor education. It also highlights opportunities to address these issues and foster a more robust ecosystem. (pg. 30) ➡️ We are deepening research efforts, expanding survey scope, and supporting Africa’s flourishing angel #investment landscape. (pg. 33) Our report also notes that while Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa remain at the forefront of angel investment activity, countries like Togo, Ghana, and Egypt are emerging as promising hotspots. The survey also identifies areas for further action, including addressing exit challenges, improving investor education, and increasing funding access for underserved regions and sectors. For a detailed page-by-page summary, please refer to the full report available here: bit.ly/4g46etv African Angel Academy Briter Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) Fadilah Tchoumba Smart cities Angel Network Climate Smart Agriculture Angel Network Digital Trade Angel Network Ahunna Eziakonwa United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) UNDP Africa

Join our Fund Manager, Fadilah Tchoumba at the upcoming Inclusive FinTech Forum in Kigali! Register at https://lnkd.in/g8w-VWc7 to be part of her session! ABAN Kigali International Financial Centre

🗓️ Save the date! Applications are officially open for the next Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders cohort! Don’t miss your chance—get all the details and apply today! https://lnkd.in/dG-BmSG9 #AcceleratedWithGoogle