Flourish Ventures’ Post

What a ride at Africa Tech Festival 2024! 🎤🔥 Our founder Mahlodi Letsie took the stage to tackle something every founder needs to hear: mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s your secret weapon! 🧠💪🏾🧘🏾♀️ Startups face enough challenges—falling valuations, investor nerves, endless hustling—and founder burnout is real. But guess what? A healthy mind leads to better decisions, stronger resilience, and thriving businesses. 🌱✨ Our session was all about keeping founders fueled, focused, and thriving with practical tools like introspection and guided meditation. 🧘🏾♀️ We’re on a mission to make mental health a priority in the startup world. Because when founders win, everyone wins. Let’s keep building and thriving together! 🚀

What #Questions would you ask our #CoFounder and #CEO Sarah FitzMorris (nee Fitzgerald) on 'TALENT CHALLENGES IN TECH GROWTH COMPANIES?' Please comment below. #Tech #Talent #Africa #Conference

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: When we won the #AfricaPrize in 2023, I thought it was about the award. 2024 showed me it was about the ripple effects - seeing three Ugandan founders make the shortlist, watching new innovations emerge across Africa, and realizing how community security solutions can transform entire neighborhoods. 🚀 This year proved what's possible when we combine technical innovation with community support: • Advanced our IoT-based security infrastructure across key African markets • Strengthened mentorship programs for early-stage startups • Expanded YUNGA's impact through strategic partnerships • Received special recognition at Africa Prize 10th anniversary celebration for engineering excellence Three insights that resonated deeply with our community: 1. "Government policies protecting local innovation can create thriving startup ecosystems" From our observations in South Korea - a model for enabling African innovation https://lnkd.in/dSTnfXVb 2. "As last year's winner of the #AfricaPrize for Engineering Innovation, I am very proud of our growing community of innovators" Celebrating Uganda's rising presence in engineering innovation https://lnkd.in/d2Em8CYa 3. "Such gestures from the academy continue to inspire us to further serve our communities" On expanding inclusive community security solutions https://lnkd.in/dZy5jXkB 2025 is about scaling our community security solutions while creating pathways for more African innovators to build transformative technologies. The future of African innovation isn't just about individual success - it's about building enabling environments where all founders can thrive. To every engineer and founder working to make Africa safer and more innovative - keep building. The real impact happens when we lift each other up. 💪🏽 #AfricaPrize #KeepBuilding #safecommunities 🕸️coauthor.studio

The rise of African tech communities by TechGist Africa The rise of tech communities in Africa represents a dynamic and rapidly growing sector that is transforming the continent’s economy, fostering

When I founded AfricaHacks and World Innovation League, my vision was simple: to create a platform where Africans and people of African Descent could access opportunities in tech and build successful careers. Today, AfricaHacks has grown into one of the largest tech communities for Africans, directly giving jobs to over 1,000 people and raising over $2 million for initiatives that empower these communities. But this journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Building something of this scale required not just innovation but a deep commitment to the mission of empowering others. Our hackathons, workshops, and mentorship programs are designed to inspire the next generation of African tech leaders and creators. What we’ve achieved so far is just the beginning. I’m excited to see how we can continue to grow, inspire, and make a difference in the lives of so many. 🌍 #CommunityBuilding #AfricaHacks #Innovation"

In the startup world, privilege often plays a decisive role in determining who gets to build, innovate, and succeed. It’s not always visible, but it’s there—in the ability to secure that first round of funding from family and friends, in the connections made at elite universities, and in the safety nets that allow risks to be taken without the fear of losing everything. As an immigrant, Latina, and female founder, our startup journey is different. The stakes are higher, and the fear of failure isn’t just about personal pride—it’s about survival. Entrepreneurship is already a challenging path, but for those of us who don’t fit the traditional mold, the obstacles can feel insurmountable. I don't think privilege is something to be ashamed of or viewed as inherently wrong. It’s a reality that some people are fortunate to have at different levels, and it can be a force for incredible good. If privilege is the door and one of the main barriers to entry, then those who have gained access through it have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to open that door for others. This is the true power of community; it’s not just about individual success but about collective empowerment. It’s about recognizing that our achievements don’t exist in isolation and that our responsibility extends beyond our own journey. By lifting each other up, we ensure that success is not the privilege of a few but a shared outcome, accessible to all who have the vision, grit, and determination to create change. The future of tech and leadership within it shouldn’t be reserved for those who already have a head start. It should be accessible to anyone with the grit and drive to put in the work, regardless of their background. Unfortunately, We’re not there yet. That’s why I’m proud to join LaFamilia Foundation in the fight to level the playing field, alongside many other organizations dedicated to similar causes—such as Techqueria, L'ATTITUDE VENTURES, Latinas in Tech, VamosVentures, Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce and more. This involves not only providing access to funding but also creating support networks that promote emotional and psychological resilience, ensuring access to quality educational resources, bringing more representation to the VC industry, and connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors who truly understand their unique challenges. I hope to have all of you with me on this journey of hard work! 💜 #Startups #DiversityAndInclusion #WomenInTech #LatineLeaders #TechForGood #StartupCommunity #FutureOfWork

Where do we even begin? 👀 We recently hosted our first exclusive event, #ThePlatform— marking the beginning in a series of boutique discussions designed to tackle the most pressing trends in technology and African innovation. The discussion featured five distinguished speakers— Shaun Richards, Maps Maponyane, Dr Adam Pantanowitz, Pumla Maswanganyi, and Monika Bielskyte—each bringing unique perspectives from their respective areas of expertise. Our mission at Platform45 is to establish Africa as a global technology leader! 🇿🇦 We’re shifting the conversation from sustainable tech to regenerative tech—solutions that don’t just sustain but actively transform lives. Regenerative tech is about curiosity, asking the right questions, and putting humans at the very center of every solution we design. It’s about creating a future where innovation isn’t just about progress but about thriving, for everyone. As proud advocates for South Africa, we believe this country has the skills, talent, and capacity to take the lead in disruptive innovation while drawing on global collaboration. Let’s embrace Alvin Toffler’s challenge: "The illiterate of the future are not those who cannot read or write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and contributed to making this day an incredible success!

Hello Friends, As we continue to build excitement and momentum for the launch of the Axcel Africa Community, we are thrilled to share with you how our platform will be the catalyst for groundbreaking collaborations and innovative ventures between Africa and Japan. The Axcel Africa Community is poised to become more than just a networking platform. It will be a catalyst for groundbreaking collaborations and innovative ventures between Africa and Japan. We'll go beyond connections. We'll create a synergistic environment where ideas transform into impactful actions that drive sustainable growth and development across both regions. Here's what you can expect: ⏹ Virtual Collaboration Spaces: 👉 Co-Create Projects: Work together on initiatives that leverage the strengths of both African and Japanese expertise. 👉 Idea Incubators: Nurture innovative ideas into viable business solutions. 👉 Resource Sharing: Access a wealth of resources like research papers, market analyses, and tools tailored for cross-continental ventures. ⏹ Success Stories & Training Programs: 👉Learn from the Best: Get inspired by real-world examples of successful Africa-Japan collaborations (once the community launches). 👉Develop Your Skills: Boost your cross-cultural intelligence, leadership abilities, and industry-specific knowledge (e.g., technology, agriculture, healthcare). ⏹Building a Sustainable Future: 👉We will actively promote, and support initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 👉Engage in projects that address societal and environmental challenges, from renewable energy to social entrepreneurship (opportunities will be available once the community launches). Join the Movement (Soon): Be part of a community that bridges continents and creates a brighter future. Together, we can foster impactful collaborations, drive innovation, and achieve mutual respect between Africa and Japan. Stay tuned! We'll be announcing the official launch of the Axcel Africa Community very soon. Follow us for updates on the launch date, WhatsApp link, and exciting announcements! #AxcelAfrica #AfricaJapan #Collaboration #Innovation #Sustainability

Hello Friends, I am thrilled to share that my company has entrusted me with the exciting mission of bridging Japan and Africa. How, you may ask? By building a dynamic community - The Axcel Africa Community. Over the course of the week, we'll be launching a new community that we envision to use in our quest to bridge the two regions. We intend to leverage our extensive network in both regions to create a unified platform where professionals, SMEs, investors, startups, national and international organizations, and government entities from Africa and Japan can interact and collaborate effectively driving  impactful business ventures and social initiatives that benefit both regions. Why Join the Axcel Africa Community? 🌍 Enhanced Networking: Connect with professionals, SMEs, startups, investors, and government entities from both regions. 📚 Knowledge Sharing: Gain access to regular updates, articles, reports, and insights on market trends, business practices, and cultural nuances. 🤝 Business Opportunities: Explore potential partners, collaborators, and investors to initiate cross-continental ventures. 🌟 Market Entry Support: Receive guidance and support for market entry strategies in both Japan and Africa. 💡 Social Impact Initiatives: Engage in projects that address social challenges through innovative business solutions. Key Features of the Axcel Africa Community Virtual Events: Participate in expert-led sessions on business development, technology adoption, and cross-cultural collaboration. Monthly Discussions: Engage in moderated discussions on relevant topics, market trends, and business strategies. Content Sharing: Stay informed with regular updates and insights relevant to both regions. Consultancy Services: Access consultancy services to bridge business opportunities between Japan and Africa. To kickstart this exciting journey, we will be sharing a WhatsApp link this week to officially launch the community. Stay tuned! Join us in creating a unified platform that not only bridges continents but also drives meaningful impact through collaboration and innovation. #AfricaXjapan #sustainablefuture #collaboration

The rise of African tech communities by TechGist Africa The rise of tech communities in Africa represents a dynamic and rapidly growing sector that is transforming the continent’s economy, fostering