Dream VC

IA '24 have officially graduated 🎈🎆✨ We use the word community very often.  But what does community truly mean?  💭 Is it just a group of people gathering together? Does it require certain ways of interacting? Must they share the same history or envision the same future? At Dream VC, we’ve taken the time to explore what community means to us, and here’s what we found: It is having passion aligned in the same direction, a certain kind of faith in ourselves and the future we are building together. It is a shared understanding and commitment to learning—regardless of time zones and regions. It is an optimistic outlook and a genuine interest in the African ecosystem, keeping those roots strong no matter where we go. It is the joy we find in engaging with each other's humor, questions, and even grief on difficult days.  We have built a space through abstraction and found meaning in our connections. ✨ IA, you have been vibrant, generous, hilarious, and inspiring in every way. You are the embodiment of what Dream VC stands for, the community we will continue to point to when asked, What defines us? 💎 Good luck and congratulations ❤️🥂 Aaron Olajide, Abena Opeibea Anie-Budu, Abraham Williams, PhD, Adebowale Asaya, CPSM, PMP, Albert Mbithi, Ashley Maddox, Brigitte Binneman, Chisobem N., Deborah Sanni, Dorra Mahbouli, MBA, Mafini Dosso, PhD, PMP®, Dr. Dami Adeyemi-Levites FCCA, Victor Ekoko Mukete, Emmanuel Inyada, Fanta Traore, Jennifer Onwudiwe, Joe Ndirangu, Julie Lanckriet-Goerig, Kevin Finjap Njinga, Lauretta E., Lenah Hafez Al-Akrami, Mamadou Fall, Maxime LOKOSSI, MSc MODEV, CDFP, Moses Gitonga, FCCA, AFM, Dr. Meggie Mwoka, Opeyemi Solaru mutsa kenneth nyatsine, Esohe Igbinoba, Reda LAKHLIFI, Ricardo Pinho, Seyi (Shay) Ogebule, Ph.D, Shuai Zhang, Thabang Wessie, Kgosietsile Thato Matsafu, Urbanus Wambua, Vilma Djala, Wachuka Musomba, Wiatta Thomas, Yunus Ibrahim #dreamvc #ia #africa #venturecapital

We are very excited for all the insightful discussions and the network of different ecosystems coming together next week!

"I wanted to be a capital provider that has a different lens." Loise Warui's words reflect a growing shift in how capital is viewed for Africa. It’s not just about money but about the right kind of support for local ecosystems, tailored approaches, and different considerations. Most startups struggle to fit into traditional VC molds. But what if we rethink how capital is deployed? Thanks to our own Sharon Kabubi who has conducted these extensive interviews. #DreamVC #VentureCapital #VC #Africa

Still reeling from a packed week in Dubai for GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World and Expand North Star ⚡ Over the week, I got to join multiple stages, meet 22x startups, attend 8x side events and connect with at least 90+ investors, speaking to counterparts in the startup and innovation ecosystem such as: • Investors from Germany, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Australia, UAE and more • 20+ CVCs and Strategic investors from around the world • 10+ Family offices and fund of funds looking at MENA and Africa • Ecosystem builders from all over the world Whether in the investor-startup meetings at the investor lounge, or in vibrant discussions at the speaker clubhouse or at morning discussion roundtables - it never stopped. The key highlight for me was the opportunity to take hold of the Corporate stage and deliver a workshop, to an audience of current and aspiring corporate innovation and strategic leaders from all over the world on the new "Corporate Innovation and CVC" track. Amazing to see an audience overflowing the seating area as we explored the practical steps any corporation can take to determine if they need to - and if so - how to build a corporate venture capital fund 💼💸 It was also a pleasure to moderate a down-to-earth conversation on Discovering the African Startup Ecosystem with: • Joseph K. Appiah, Vice President, Black Star Group • Renald Appiah, Principal, Wangara Green Ventures • Michel Friedman, Founding Partner, Reflect Ventures • Farrukh Hussain, Venture Capital Investments, Sony Innovation Fund Key takeaways: 1️⃣ We all agreed that "Africa Rising" has been used many times to signal a 'new development' - when in fact it is a broader longer trend 2️⃣ Despite macroeconomic challenges, multiple African countries are considerably more investable than ever before 3️⃣ It is important to consider the cultural context for investment activities to succeed in due diligence and deal execution 4️⃣ African markets can offer areas of unique defensibility once you secure a market presence 5️⃣ It is absolutely essential to have some form of presence or insight on the ground, directly or via partners. And of course - 𝐰𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 in emerging markets. ♻ Exits build confidence - confidence leads to more investment - that can facilitate more exits. A positive feedback cycle! Fantastic to participate, both as a speaker and an investor, and to witness the scale of innovation and activity across Expand North Star and GITEX Global - congratulations to Teena Tolani Thawani, Sandra Anne Kuriakose, Georgios Chatzivamvakis, Claudia Mortimer and the rest of the team for once again pulling off a world-class event 👏 📸 P.S. A pleasure to meet up with colleagues at the event - especially when everyone's usually travelling and to reconnect over a table (or a padel court!). Here are some highlights from this year!

📢 Free New Resource for African Startup and VC Enthusiasts! 📢 They say it takes 100s of hours to master a skillset. Well, the average professional commutes ~360+ hours/year. How about putting some of that time into upskilling? At Dream VC, we are big fans of podcasts, and we’ve just launched something special for aspiring investors, founders, and startup enthusiasts across African markets. 🎧 After a month of research on Africa's tech, venture capital, and entrepreneurship landscapes, we’re thrilled to present our latest update to the African Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship and Startup Podcast List. From founders and operators sharing their knowledge and learnings to insights from top-tier funds and global perspectives on emerging markets, our list includes 300+ Podcasts, segmented by relevance and featuring both English & French shows. Whether you want to level up your knowledge of EM investing or tune into the stories behind Africa’s most innovative entrepreneurs, this is the list for you. 🔍 Our Methodology: ➡️3x surveys with a reach across 2600+ participants ➡️Cross-referenced 100+ VC websites with an active emerging market portfolio ➡️Searched through Internet Archives, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Pandora and more ➡️Identified the latest 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 for each podcast ➡️Prioritized new episodes since January 1, 2024, ensuring fresh and relevant content From directly relevant podcasts to occasional gems, we’ve filtered, categorized, and expanded the list to give you everything you need to dive into the African startup scene. 💡 🔥 Looking to upskill or stay informed on the venture capital ecosystem? Look no further and catch up on the latest episodes with your favourite VCs, Founders and Builders today. 🔗 Check out the full list & start listening: https://lnkd.in/eQPACMak Make sure to share 📲 Awesome to have worked with w/ olufunmilayo and Devika on this version and hats off to the 54x GPs who directly contributed recommendations and referrals. We’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of VC education. Special shoutouts go to multiple alumni of Dream VC's venture capital training who run relevant podcasts themselves like Femi Awoniyi with "My Innovation Story"; Luke Naude-Lorentz with "The Dig Down 🚀 African Startup Podcast"; Dorra Mahbouli, with "Voice of FinTech®"; Moses Waweru with "Investments For Impact"; Sean Karanja with "Boardroom Banter Podcast"; Tomiwa Onaleye with "Africa’s Market Explained" and Dapo Omoniyi, with "Squord Academy" among others! Ready to level up? 🎧 Start listening today and immerse yourself in the world of venture capital and startups: https://lnkd.in/dG8HddNC 💸 Heard enough? Ready to break into #venturecapital or upskill to further your VC career? Make sure to register interest and be the first to know when we open up applications for Dream VC's 2025 cohorts: https://lnkd.in/ddGdFc7X #africa #technology #entrepreneurship #podcast #emergingmarkets

“Whenever you meet a corporate VC, they want to know ‘how do you help to future proof my company’, not only ‘how do you make me money’.” - Martin Maina 👏 Thank you Disrupt Africa 🥂 https://lnkd.in/dW88uTmt #cvc #dreamvc #vc #venturecapital #africa

🎙️ Podcast Lovers, This One’s for You! 🎁 Today’s gift is a goldmine for every #entrepreneur, #investor, and curious mind interested in #African #startups and #venturecapital! 🌍✨  🎁 300+ African VC & Startup-Focused Podcasts segmented for easy discovery:   ✅ Highly Relevant vs. Partially Relevant   ✅ Active vs. Inactive 💼 16 Podcasts feature someone from the Dream VC Team!  🗣 English & #French #podcasts to cater to diverse audiences.  🎙️ Check out some incredible podcasts hosted by our alumni and fellows:   - Femi Awoniyi with My Innovation Story - Luke Naude-Lorentz with The Dig Down 🚀 African Startup Podcast - Dorra Mahbouli, MBA with Voice of FinTech®   - Moses Waweru with Investments For Impact - Sean Karanja with Boardroom Banter Podcast  - Tomiwa Onaleye with Africa’s Market Explained   ...and so many more! 🛠 Whether you’re scouting for #insights or just bingeing on the latest #trends, this list has you covered. 🎧Let us know your favourite episodes or tag the next podcaster we should spotlight! 📲  #DreamVC #PodcastCommunity #AfricanStartups #VC #CVC https://lnkd.in/dyyFYEyM 📕 Head to our website for a list of books and TV series: https://lnkd.in/eaq3cnMh

"What was most important for me was the hard work that will be required to get things done on the continent." IA '22 fellow Christine Namara from Flat6Labs shares about her key takeaways and time spent at the program. Thanks to our own Sharon Kabubi who has conducted these extensive interviews. #dreamvc #venturecapital #africa #fellowship

This is Dream VC – a team that thrives across time zones, working seamlessly from different corners of the world. 🌍 On this scorching hot day in #Dubai, we juggled live sessions, team bonding moments, and an official corporate photoshoot – all while keeping our spirits high and our coffee cups full. ☕ The goal? To capture not only our professional headshots but also the essence of what makes us, us. Our passion and commitment to a shared dream envisioned by M&C (Mark & Cindy) drive everything we do – no matter where we are or how many projects we’re managing. ✨ Dreamy-eyed under Dubai’s sunny skies, soaking in every moment. #DreamVC #venturecapital #vc #africa #leadership

🎥 Listen to our Dream VC alumna Zeina Azab chat about her journey and experiences in venture capital through Dream VC! In this exciting episode, hosted by our very own alumna Sharon Kabubi, we dive deep into how Dream VC’s fellowships equip emerging talents with the tools, skills, and networks to build impactful careers in VC. 🚀 If you're passionate about venture capital, Africa’s startup ecosystem, or looking to break into VC, this series is for you! Don't miss out on insights directly from our fellows as they discuss the challenges, successes, and future opportunities within the VC landscape. 🌍 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe for more stories from Africa's leading VC fellowship programs and learn how Dream VC is shaping the next generation of investors and ecosystem builders! #venturecapital #vc #cvc #africa 📺 https://lnkd.in/d8niCeVZ