ABAN and VC4A are pleased to announce the 8th edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2021) which will take place online and offline from November 3 -5. The annual event ‘for investors, by investors’ this year, will shed light on new insights and trends taking over Africa’s startup space, share best practices, open the floor for powerful new deal-flows, celebrate successes and promote a culture of early-stage investing on the African continent.
Africa is moving onward and upwards as startups on the continent are breaking records astronomically this year. By mid-July, the ecosystem had already raised as much as it had in the whole of 2019 through $1M+ deals such that even before the big OPay raise of $400M, the total amount raised by startups in Africa so far this year had just surpassed the total amount raised in 2020 overall ($1.6B) – reaching a new milestone of $2B in 2021. Early-stage investing in Africa is more set than ever to take off in 2021!
COMING UP AT #AESIS2021
The summit brings together the most notable speakers and guests from leading angel networks, venture capital (VC) funds, impact investors, accelerators, corporate venture divisions, industry associations and the public sector over the power-packed two-day event. Day 1 focuses on angel investors and day 2 on VCs. Summit delegates will explore developments in Africa’s early-stage investment space and will set the agenda for the coming years.
THE 2021 VENTURE SHOWCASE
This year, 16 top companies representing the best investment opportunities on the continent made it into the portfolio of the 2021 VC4A Venture Showcase. The founders will showcase their businesses from the Seed and Series A tracks on Day 1 and 2 of the summit respectively, with fundraising rounds ranging from $400K to $20M. Following this, interested investors can get their seat at the table through the dedicated DealRooms organized in the week after the Summit.
SPEAKERS
Speakers this year boast industry giants such as Rebecca Enonchong, Eghosa Omoigui, David S Rose, Wale Ayeni, Lauren Cochran, Justin Norman, Zachariah George, Kola Aina, Idris Ayodeji Bello, Hannah Subayi Kamuanga, Yemi Keri, Dina el-Shenoufy and Aly El-Shakany with more still to come.
INVESTOR MEETUPS
#AESIS2021 will be complemented by informal invite-only local physical networking meetups organized by the investor community members in 10 cities across the world on the evening of 3 Nov. Confirmed cities include Abuja, Accra, Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos Nairobi and Washington DC. Spaces are limited so register ASAP or email the team to find a local meetup near you or to become a local host.
SPECIAL THANKS TO NASPERS
Our longstanding partner Naspers will be hosting the networking lounge at #AESIS2021 this year. Naspers is also with whom we will successfully be delivering the Summit, to the early-stage investor community once again.
REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE!
Click here to register now and make sure to block your agenda to attend the physical meetup on November 3 and the virtual summit for November 4-5.
Successful registration will unlock exclusive access to our community of investors representing over 90% of capital being invested into startups on the African continent. You will also have access to highly curated deal flows with the most investible ventures from emerging markers and the ability to relive #AESIS2020 via these recordings.
To ensure the investor community is able to connect and continue important discussions during these times, VC4A and ABAN are offering investors the opportunity to join free of charge. Feel free to invite your networks, but keep in mind the Summit is investor-only. For media requests and partnership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact the organizers via team@africainvestorsummit.com.
Media Contact:
Boye Abiodun-Adepoju
boyewa@vc4a.com
Website: africaninvestorsummit.com
About ABAN:
ABAN is the Pan-African network organization for angel investors. Established in 2015 by a group of 6 pioneer angel networks in Africa, ABAN represents an emerging sector playing a vital role in the African early-stage ecosystems’ future, providing valuable human and financial capital to African startups through a growing number of Angel investor groups, syndicates and networks across the continent.
Visit www.abanangels.org for more information.
About VC4A:
VC4A is an ecosystem builder that leverages its infrastructure, network and expertise for the programs that contribute to Africa’s startup movement. Since 2008, the organization designs, structures and implements successful entrepreneurship programs on the continent. VC4A runs an online platform featuring the world’s largest database of African startups and connecting local entrepreneurs to learning resources, mentors, investors and partner programs.
Visit www.VC4A.com for more information.
