As the year draws to a close, we would like to reflect on an incredible journey filled with growth, collaboration, and milestones that have further solidified our mission to nurture the angel investment ecosystem across Africa and beyond.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate the highlights of 2024, a year dedicated to Consolidating Angel Investing Across the Continent and the Diaspora.
Setting the Tone for 2024: Consolidating Angel Investing Across Africa and the Diaspora
January: The year began with the unveiling of our new theme, “Consolidating Angel Investing Across Africa and the Diaspora.” This theme highlighted our commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation, and expansion within the ecosystem. It was the guiding light for all our activities, shaping impactful initiatives and partnerships throughout the year.
Scaling Membership and Transactions in February
We welcomed seven new member networks to ABAN, including Seed Capital Limited, HoaQ, Guinea Bissau Business Angel Network, GOAL, TOGOBAN, Innovate Africa Fund, and Bold Angel Fund, surging our network membership to 75 strong. This growth reflects the increasing interest in angel investing across the continent.
The same month, Catalytic Africa closed its 21st transaction with TileGreen, facilitated by Alexandria Angels. This marked a significant milestone, injecting €60,000 into a venture that exemplifies innovation and sustainability.
Additionally, ABAN partnered with AEDIB|NET to host a Mentoring Program for African Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) on 27th February, strengthening the bridge between African and European digital innovation ecosystems.
Cross-Border Collaboration and Global Presence in March
Catalytic Africa’s campaign was launched, spotlighting the transformative solutions of portfolio companies across Africa and the Diaspora.
We also organized a side event during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress Plus (GEC+) Africa in Cape Town from 13-14 March.
On 14th March, our first cross-border investment in Rwanda was initiated, marking a significant step towards pioneering angel investment opportunities across Africa.
We ended the month with a bang by representing ABAN at the EBAN-AEDIB|NET-ChangeNOW event in Paris, France, from 26 – 28 March.
What Were the Key Achievements for us in the Investment Ecosystem?
We were able to:
- Host a Cross-Border Investments Masterclass on 16th April providing actionable insights into navigating diverse markets and overcoming regulatory barriers. Missed it? Watch the recordings of our other Masterclasses that we held: Navigating the African Investment Landscape on 25th June, Unlocking Liquidity for African Tech Start-ups and Angels Exit on 31st July, Strategies for Building a Diverse Investor Base on 4th September, and the Investor Connect (Online Meetup) (Internal Member-only Event) on 23rd October here on our YouTube Channel!
- Celebrate the launch of the Togo Business Angel Network (TOGOBAN), expanding the reach of angel investing in West Africa. Catch the highlights here.
- Successfully conducted the ABAN 2024 Angel Investment Survey, gathering crucial insights into trends shaping African tech investments.
- Partner with SAIS powered by GIZ, to launch the Climate Smart Agriculture Angel Investor Capacity Development (CAICD) program. This groundbreaking initiative aims to boost investments in sustainable agricultural practices.
- Sign an MOU with MsFit Ventures, cementing a collaboration to strengthen Africa’s investment ecosystem. Representing Angel Investors Globally
Throughout the year, ABAN championed the voice of angel investors at various high-profile events, including:
- European Angel Investors Summit
- Digital Innovation Festival
- Hamburg Sustainability Conference
- SPARK: Securing Finance to Unlock Sustainability Opportunities (UN Global Compact)
- Cameroon International Tech Summit (2024 Edition)
- Invest in the D.R. Congo Forum
- Unstoppable Africa: Timbuktoo Innovation Event (Global Africa Business Initiative)
- Makutano Business Forum
- 2024 Entrepreneurship World Cup Global Finale
- SuperReturn Africa
- Oxford Grand Finale Africa Tour
What Was the Mother of All Events in 2024 for Us?
It was none other than the 11th edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2024)!
Co-hosted by the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) and VC4A, this landmark event concluded with unprecedented success, marking a key moment in the drive towards building a sustainable investment ecosystem across Africa.
With the theme “Pioneering Pathways: Innovating Investment Mobilization in Africa,” the summit brought together over 300 participants from 42 countries worldwide. Investors, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders converged to explore new investment strategies and collaborations aimed at accelerating Africa’s growth.
Here’s a look at how #AESIS2024 shaped the future of angel investing and set the stage for an even “bigger and better” summit in 2025! Continue reading for the full highlights…..
As we wrap up 2024, ABAN stays fully committed to growing angel investing in Africa and driving impactful collaboration across the ecosystem. The partnerships we have built, the milestones we have reached, and the events we have hosted this year emphasize our focus on fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and enabling growth within the angel investment ecosystem.
Be part of the journey by joining our network as we continue to pave the way for a vibrant and sustainable investment ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs and drives innovation across Africa and the Diaspora. Email secretariat@abanangels.org for more details!
We look forward to hosting more events and representing the voices of angel investors in Africa in 2025!
