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As a faith driven entrepreneur, a digital evangelist (borrowed from Oswald Osaretin Guobadia), I firmly believe in the transformative power of technology and innovation to drive economic prosperity in Africa. To unlock the continent’s immense potential, it is crucial to support entrepreneurs and startups. These innovators are the driving force behind job creation, technological advancement, and sustainable economic growth. Organizations like the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) have been instrumental to helping startups and entrepreneurs accelerate innovation and improve productivity. Together, we can create an environment where entrepreneurial spirit thrives, fostering economic prosperity and social progress across the continent. Let’s support our entrepreneurs and startups, and watch Africa rise to new heights. #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #TechAdvocate #DigitalStrategy

“Naija no dey carry last!” The local phrase loosely translates to - Nigerians never come last. Though in a bit of a downturn, Nigeria continues to be a major player in the global startup ecosystem. With its market potential, impressive capital raises, supportive policies and a mature fintech sector, the country offers fertile ground for innovation and growth. Get to know about Nigeria’s startup entrepreneurial ecosystem in 5 minutes, or less! >> https://lnkd.in/dxVQ9q_N #InvestInAfrica #Nigeria #StartupEcosystem

🌍 Most Active APAC Investors in African Startups 🚀 In recent years, the African startup ecosystem has captured the attention of international investors, including investors from APAC. These firms invested heavily in sectors such as fintech, agritech, and e-commerce, bringing in capital and global expertise to help African startups scale. From large funding rounds to strategic partnerships, these APAC investors are enabling African founders to innovate, expand into new markets, and bring cutting-edge solutions to global challenges: - Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Group Philanthropy through Africa's Business Heroes - Antler, led in Africa by Marie Nielsen and Melalite Ayenew - AAIC | Asia Africa Investment & Consulting, led by Shohei Namba, Shigeru Handa, and Hiroki Ishida - EMURGO, led by Ken Kodama - Kepple Africa Ventures, led by Takahiro（Taka） Kanzaki, Satoshi Shinada and Ryosuke (Rio) Yamawaki - mobility54, led by Takeshi Watanabe, Daiki Sato, Marika S, and Agnes Karwamba - MSA Capital, led by Jenny Zeng - SAMURAI INCUBATE, led by Rena Yoneyama - SBI Investment - TEN13, led by Steve Baxter, Stew Glynn, and An Vo - Tencent - UNCOVERED FUND, led by Takuma Terakubo and Papama Nyati 📧 If you want more details on each investor, check out our article in Startup Researcher Africa, and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter. Source: Africa: The Big Deal #africa #APAC #investors #venturecapital

REFLECTIONS: DAY#1 Today is the Beginning of Whatever I Want: Limitless! Building in Africa is not for the faint-hearted. Entrepreneurs here face challenges that demand resilience and creativity daily. In Nigeria alone, 85% of startups fail within their first five years, burdened by limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, and complex policies. Yet, these challenges continue to spark remarkable innovations. In 2023, African startups raised $4.8 billion, Data Trackers set the amount raised by African #startups in 2023 at between $2.9 billion and $4.1 billion, from $4.6 billion to $6.5 billion in #total funding the previous year with Nigeria leading at $1.2 billion. This funding isn’t just fueling industries like #fintech, #agritech, and #healthtech—it’s attributable to the rewritten narrative. Through my journey of building and scaling #techproducts across Africa, I’ve learned pivotal lessons: ✅ Marketing is non-negotiable. A great product is just the beginning; strategic storytelling and understanding customer behavior drive adoption and growth. ✅ People and teams are the heartbeat of any venture. Hiring talent aligned with your vision and investing in their growth creates a foundation for success. ✅ Policy shapes progress. Engaging with regulators early and understanding the ecosystem helps navigate bureaucratic bottlenecks and unlock opportunities. ✅ Resilience is a competitive advantage. The ability to pivot quickly in the face of obstacles often determines whether a startup survives or folds. ✅Adaptability is key. The landscape is ever-changing, and flexibility in strategy often defines survival. ✅Local context matters. Solutions rooted in understanding cultural and economic realities scale better. ✅Funding isn't everything. Creative problem-solving and resourcefulness are as critical as capital. ✅Build for impact. Products that solve real problems create long-term #value for people and businesses. As we wind down 2024 and prepare for 2025, it’s a moment to reflect on the journey—what we've achieved, the obstacles we’ve overcome, and the #lessons learned. 2024 was about resilience and #innovation, and now, as we step into 2025, we have the chance to build on that foundation, tackling new challenges and seizing the opportunities ahead. 🌍 #africanentrepreneurship #startupecosystem #innovation #leadership #techforGood #lessonlearnt #funding #investor #founder

Bunmi Akinyemiju is a serial entrepreneur, technology innovator and investor. He is the CEO of Venture Garden Group (VGG) - a high growth technology investment holding company which has incubated and invested in a group of financial technology (FINTECH) companies that provide innovative technology platforms addressing payment and data inefficiencies across multiple sectors of the African economy. He is also a Founding Partner at GreenHouse Capital (GHC) - the venture arm of the Venture Garden Group which has invested in 20 innovative fintech companies across Africa. Some of the most ambitious startups in West Africa make up the GHC portfolio. Typically, GHC is the first check for highly ambitious tech entrepreneurs. As part of the leadership at Venture Garden Group, Bunmi and his team have dedicated their work and resources to transforming Africa through technology and have successfully led several impactful change projects through strategic public and private sector partnerships. Today, VGG and its subsidiary companies have deployed Data and Revenue Collection technologies in the Aviation, Education, Power, Social, Tax and Banking sectors. The combined efforts of these companies have helped improve efficiency in these critical industries and also work to provide technical assistance to foster good governance and support sustained economic growth in Nigeria. Today, all of us at PSE Ltd celebrates you 👏 Thank you for being a role-model. www.panoramicsynergy.co.uk #techtitans #menintech #womenintech #technology #greenhousecapital #pse #enterpreneurship #BunmiAkinyemiju #socialentrepreneurship #digitaltechnology #womendevelopment #ceo #africantech

Kenyan startups are doing well in securing funding, better than all other African countries. It is a testimony to investible ventures and the growth of the country's “startup economy”, a concept that focuses on the creation of high growth ventures. The value that startups create in the country's economy is transformative in that they attract local and foreign investments, rapidly create job for highly skilled and unskilled workers, build local value chains and potentially export goods and services. In quarters 1-3, Kenya has racked in a whooping USD437million, and equivalent of KES56,373,000,000 in startup funding. This is a good injection of foreign currency into the country and boost in forex reserves. In terms of sustainable enterprise growth and job creation as well as contribution to the GDP, a lot more measurement metrics are required to effectively compute and demonstrate the return on investments (ROI). My friends, Mercy Kimalat, Ian Lorenzen, Victor Otieno Agolla, Moses Sitati, David Ogiga, what's your take on this?

💵 VC Funding in Africa Faces Slowdown in Q1 2024 The African startup ecosystem experienced a significant funding slowdown in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest industry report. Despite the challenges, there were some positive signals amidst the turbulence. Here are 3 key takeaways on VC trends in Africa for Q1 2024: 🔹 African startups raised $542 million across 153 deals in Q1 2024 year-to-date (Jan-Apr), a 45.62% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. However, the number of startups raising $1 million or more increased to 75 vs. 69 in 2023. 🔹 For the first time, Africa-based VCs accounted for the largest share (35%) of investors active in African startups in 2023, surpassing North America (30%) and Europe (25%). This shift highlights the growing prominence of domestic VC activity. 🔹 Among the leading Africa-based investors were firms from Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, reflecting the continent's diverse VC landscape. As the African startup ecosystem navigates this challenging funding environment, domestic VC firms are emerging as key players, supporting local entrepreneurs and driving innovation across the continent. Share your thoughts on the Q1 2024 VC trends in Africa and the role of domestic investors in fostering a resilient ecosystem. 📝 Thank you all for your support and your trust 🔗 Don't forget to register and follow us on appcyto.com 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔗 Share | ➕ Subscribe Connecting Africa, Empowering You! Africa: The Big Deal Azur Innovation Management Ventures Platform Fund Voltron Capital Renew Capital Founders Factory Africa Catalyst Fund Launch Africa Ventures Joachim Valot Tamara Lerner Corentin Grenon #Fintech #Angola #Africa #Tech #Finance #Inclusion #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Payments #Investments #Efficiency #Transparency #Security #StationF #Remittances #YouthEmployment #EconomicGrowth #FinancialInclusion #SDG #TechInAfrica #StartupFunding #Fintech #Innovation #AfricanTechRevolution #VCTrends #AfricanStartups #VentureCapital #DomesticInvestors

Urgent and Important !!! NITDA is currently putting together the consultative forum for the Nigerian Startup Act. However, there aren’t enough registrations from the North. Please kindly register if you are a Start-up, an incubator, an Accelerator, an innovation hub or a VC. You are highly encouraged to do so if you are a female-led organisation. Register here: https://startup.gov.ng Please share

I agree Charles Warria 💯. To add, Kenya’s impressive success in startup funding is a significant step toward building a robust innovation ecosystem. However, beyond just financial metrics, the true value of these investments lies in their potential to drive social impact and foster inclusive growth. Startups that address pressing social challenges—like access to healthcare, education, and renewable energy—can create scalable solutions that improve quality of life for communities across Kenya. Moreover, innovation plays a key role in this growth, especially when startups develop disruptive technologies and models that address gaps in the market. By focusing on sustainable growth and creating jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers, startups can reduce unemployment and contribute to local economic development. Additionally, as these ventures expand, they foster knowledge transfer, build local value chains, and strengthen Kenya’s capacity for resilience in sectors like agritech, fintech, and clean energy. For future progress, it will be essential to measure the social return on investment (SROI), looking at long-term benefits like job creation, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability. These metrics will help demonstrate the holistic value that Kenya’s startups are contributing, making the case for continued investment in this burgeoning ecosystem. Kevin Kadiri (MA, BA, PMP®) Daniel Midega Denis Kioko

Startup- Stay Resilient Amid Challenges According to a new report by TLP Advisory, a leading VC law firm, 49% of Nigerian startups surveyed generate less than ₦10 million (~$5,900) annually, while only 15% surpass ₦250 million (~$148,000) in yearly revenue. These numbers paint a clear picture of the financial hurdles faced by emerging businesses in Nigeria. From economic turbulence to regulatory challenges, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy—its businesses—continues to face immense pressure. Globally, startups share similar struggles, including: 🥜 Limited access to investors and capital 🥦 Poor marketing strategies 🥥 Misalignment between product and market fit 🍍 Complex regulations and taxing systems 🍋 Inadequate business models 🍎 High interest or equity rates imposed by investors Here’s how you can thrive despite the odds: 🐑 Bootstrap Your Way Up: Start small, focus on sustainable growth, and reinvest your earnings. 🐄 Be Flexible: Your initial business model isn’t final—continuously refine it to match evolving market demands. 🦏 Manage Burnout: Prioritize the well-being of your team, maximize creativity, and optimize your resources. 🐫 Build a Network: Connect with founders, investors, and incubator programs to share knowledge and opportunities. 🦙 Understand Regulations: Dedicate time to understanding local regulatory frameworks and tax policies. 🐖 Leverage Free Resources: Research organizations that provide startups with free or subsidized tools like cloud infrastructure or low-code platforms. 🦄 Targeted Outreach: Research investors thoroughly before reaching out with tailored pitches. Avoid spamming! 🐎 Protect Your Equity: For initial funding, aim to retain significant ownership—don’t give away more than 50%. If you’re co-founders, distribute equity wisely to preserve future flexibility. 💡 In the coming weeks, we will summarize and review top startup books, offering actionable insights to help you navigate your entrepreneurial journey. Follow us today to join a thriving community of founders, dreamers, and changemakers! Together, let’s build stronger and resilient businesses. 🍀 What’s one tip you’ve learned from your startup journey? Share in the comments below! 👇 #startup #entrepreneurship #founders #dreamers #prolpil #startupgrowth #fyp