Jozi Angels

Announcement: Startups from Nigeria and South Africa have been selected to receive non-dilutive funding and technical assistance as part of the develoPPP Ventures programme. 🏆 The selection criteria for companies to qualify are that they must have raised at least the same amount in matching funding from commercial investors and that the business shows traction while generating social and/or environmental impact in their respective countries. Congratulations to the recipients of the catalytic matching funding from develoPPP Ventures: - Nigeria 🇳🇬: Yalo Technologies, Earthbond, CoAmana, and Cybervergent - South Africa 🇿🇦: Franc, Biocode Technologies, Michanic, Envisionit Deep AI® and Adagin Technologies The selected start-ups are redefining the landscapes and pushing the boundaries of innovation, from financial inclusion, to procurement and logistics solutions. At VC4A we are excited to support their growth and partner with the founders to maximise commercial opportunities and achieve impact. 🌍 Get to know the startups: https://lnkd.in/dMT5KaWv Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, these startups will also benefit from expert-led technical assistance to help them scale their businesses and deepen their positive impact in their communities. develoPPP Ventures expanded its reach in 2024 to include an inaugural cohort for South Africa and its third cohort in Nigeria. VC4A is proud to have supported the programme implementation in both countries together with two partners Jozi Angels and Diligence Africa. The program has also been selecting 14 companies in Ghana since 2022 and 10 other startup companies in Nigeria since 2023. VC4A extends its gratitude to BMZ the financing organization, the program implementer GIZ, and the project champions within those organizations, including GIZ’s Annabelle Söffing, Camilo Carrillo Wilisch, and Jonas Naguib. We also relied on "boots-on-the-ground" local experts Damilola Thompson, FRSA, Fisayo Durojaye, Keshni Morar, Sanjay Soni CA(SA) and Lundi Njomane, whose experience and market intelligence helped source and select these startups. We are also excited about the tailored technical assistance component of the programme where the portfolio companies will receive dedicated exposure to experienced technical partners. A special shout out to collaborators from the VC4A team who worked tirelessly to ensure the execution of this project was fit for purpose: Bertil van Vugt, Ayobamigbe Teriba, Abu Cassim, Thomas van Halen and Boyewa Abiodun-Adepoju. Want to be the next startup backed by #develoPPPVentures? The next cohort is now open for applications in Cote D’Ivoire 🇨🇮, Kenya 🇰🇪, Rwanda 🇷🇼 and Tanzania 🇹🇿. Visit the website to learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/dzJR_aVz

As this year draws to a close, we'd like to thank our angel investors for being part of our community. Jozi Angels was built on three pillars: Community, Education and an Investment Channel (syndication). We appreciate the energy and enthusiasm you have brought to the innovation economy. ✨ Reflecting on 2024, more than 600 startups applied for funding via our website, several new startups were sourced via online platforms, and we received referrals from our network. We short-listed 20 of these startups to meet with our sourcing committee. During the course of the year, 12 investment opportunities were shared with the network. Six deals were concluded, with another on the way. A big thank you to all the founders who took the time to meet with us, as well as the sourcing committee members who evaluated each startup's information and met with the founders. 🤩 We wish you a restful holiday and prosperous new year! With gratitude and peace, The Jozi Angels Team #joziangels #angelinvesting #southafrica #johannesburg #2024

📢 New report alert - Beyond the Noise: A roadmap to addressing the gender funding gap in Africa’s startup ecosystem 🚀 💡 This report by Briter, V54 Open Impact (the non-profit arm of Ventures 54), and the UK Government’s International Tech Hubs Network (ITHN) in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya dives deeper into the drivers of the gender gap in access to funding for startups in Africa and what can be done about it. ⭐ As part of Briter’s research, Viridian’s CEO, Alexandra Fraser was interviewed for her insights as a woman angel investor and supporter of women-owned businesses. The report also suggests Viridian as a recommended implementation partner for advancing gender-lens investing. 💫 💪🏾 This is a great read to go alongside our AEEI (Viridian’s non-profit arm) report on the barriers and enablers for women angels in Africa. If you haven’t checked it out yet, here you go: https://lnkd.in/d9YBTVVh ➡️ To access Briter’s Beyond the Noise report, you can sign up to download it here: https://lnkd.in/d3sh4fGq

"Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026, we expect to see greater diversification of investments into healthtech, edtech, and climate-tech, along with an increasing focus on impact investing." Fady Ismaeel See below article for more information. #angelinvesting #africa #trends

🚀 Looking to meet the next wave of innovative African startups? ✨ Join the African Angel Academy’s Self-Sponsored Cohort and get exclusive access to startup showcases. Connect with promising entrepreneurs actively fundraising and discover your next investment opportunity! 💡 This is your chance to support innovation, drive impact, and grow alongside Africa's brightest startups. 👉 Apply for the inaugural 2025 African Angel Academy Open (Self-Sponsored) Cohort! https://bit.ly/4fyazoG. Viridian| ViKtoria Ventures|David van Dijk| Claire Jowell| John Anyetei| Skye Moody| Stephen Gugu| Fiona Kiruja| Alexandra Fraser| Michelle Matthews. #AfricanAngelAcademy #AngelInvesting #StartupFunding #InvestInAfrica #Innovation

🌞 What an unforgettable day at Cape Point Vineyards! The sun was shining, the views were stunning, and the exclusive company was even better. Thanks to sponsors, partners, speakers and delegates of #AESIS2024 for showing up as their best selves and soaking in the beauty Cape Town had to offer. Gorgeous photos we captured, perfectly reflecting the magic of the day. 🍇📸 Here’s to many more special moments like this where drivers who believe in the promise of the African startup ecosystem can really take the time to make lasting connections. Until the next adventure! #AESIS2024 to #AESIS2025? Ben White Martin KARANJA, MBA Tegan George June Mukangula Vincent Hoogduijn Malloron Nair Alexandra Fraser Niklas Fischer Stephen Gugu Ido Sum Oswald Osaretin Guobadia Yannick Gayama Julie Mackey Ayobamigbe Teriba Thomas van Halen Julia Stausberg-Umuerri Abu Cassim Boyewa Abiodun-Adepoju

Meet your Finalists, South Africa! 🚀 With 202 entries, 12 categories, 25 esteemed judges, 5.1K public voters and in partnership with 20 leading stakeholders - it all comes down to this! Join us via livestream on 26 November, as we announce the winners of the 2024 South African Startup Awards. Register here: https://lu.ma/cql91jth. Startup Club ZA is honoured to host this ecosystem-wide initiative in tribute to South African startups, in partnership with FNB South Africa, Momentum Group Limited, E Squared Investments , Paystack, Guardrisk, MakeReign | A Customer Experience Company, Aions Creative Technology, Origen Software | A Product Building Company, ALX South Africa, Injini , South African Future Trust, Melon Mobile, Impact Capital Africa, HAVAÍC, Dommisse Attorneys Inc, Manjaro Marketing, Jozi Angels, OfferZen and Jonsson Workwear.

Interested in joining our first-ever self-sponsored cohort? Find all the details here: https://bit.ly/4fzfPbc. If you'd like to express interest in the cohort, please complete this form https://bit.ly/3ADCLHl. We’ll be in touch with more information soon! #SelfSponsoredCohort #LearningJourney #JoinOurCommunity #Africanangelacademy

So what’s going on in the African startup, tech & investment ecosystem? Here are a few announcements, opportunities & resources worth checking out. Week 47 (2024) Post #110 Links in 1st comment - reference emojis👇 SPOTLIGHT 🧐 According to Briter reporting in 2024, over 20 acquisitions have been recorded across African startups, with 68% of the deals concentrated in South Africa and Nigeria. South Africa stands out with major fintech acquisitions, including nCino, Inc.'s $75 million purchase of DocFox Africa, a banking solutions provider. These acquisitions highlight the increasing global interest in African tech ecosystems, particularly in fintech and software. NEWS & RESOURCES 🪙 Visa invests in four African fintech startups to boot financial inclusion. 🪸 The Earthshot Prize announce its Top 5 Climate Innovation Winners. 📊 Read about Africa’s emerging tech ecosystems and their main sectors. 💵 Kyocera Group eyes Africa in tech investment after $100 million fund. 🇸🇦 Wa'ed Ventures allocates $100 million for investment in AI. 🇿🇦 $15.6 million seed fund announced to support South African tech startups. 📖 Read about Secha Capital's operator-investor model. 👨🏽💼 Ahmad Farroukh, former MTN Nigeria CEO, appointed as Globacom’s CEO. 🌍 Startupbootcamp & Mara Group launch $250M fund for African startups. PROGRAMMES & OPPORTUNITIES 🏢 Madica is looking for their next Head of Portfolio Success. 💡 Village Capital is hiring a Senior Program Manager. 🚀 CV Labs Accelerator Batch 08’s applications are open. 🥇 Apply to the inaugural Africa Tech Summit Awards. EVENTS 📅 Tue 19th: Knife Capital - Catherine Young & Keet van Zyl AMA [Webinar]. 📅 Mon 18 - 21st: Unique Summit, Cape Town. 📅 Wed 20th: The Africa Digital Finance Summit, Johannesburg. 🇿🇦 Over the next month Cape Town will play host to the Pan-African Tech & Investor Ecosystem for several events & we put together a live calendar for it. 👉 To find out more about Africa Tech & Investment focused events then check out my annual African Tech Events Watchlist - 2024 Edition. 🔥 Person to Follow #76 - Abi Ajayi is an investment banker, computer scientist and qualified economist, with a focus on the African continent. Currently, he is the Head of Africa and Middle East Primary Markets at the LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) and holds an MBA from London Business School. Previously, he served as a director at Bank of America and a vice president of Sub-Saharan African Origination at Merrill Lynch SA. 🎙️ The No Ordinary Wednesday podcast is hosted by Jeremy Maggs and is one of the flagship podcasts within Investec Focus Radio SA network. The podcast explores global/SA Finance, technology & news. In episode 83, "Cybersecurity in the Age of AI," experts Nomalizo Hlazo & Nastassja van den Heever (nee Finnegan) discuss 2024's top cyber threats for Africa in an AI-driven world. #Startups #Tech #Investment #Africa

We're celebrating, develoPPP's turning 25! Over the past few months, my journey with develoPPP Ventures has taken me across Africa – from Nigeria to Kenya, Tanzania to Rwanda, and finally back home to South Africa. Each country has its own vibrant startup ecosystem, and with every trip, I've been able to dive deeper into the unique nuances that drive innovation in each market. I've seen firsthand how optimism bias can fuel bold visions while anchoring helps stay aligned with a long-term mission. The opportunity to learn from local founders, investors and ecosystem builders has been invaluable. Congratulations to the programme implementers DEG Impulse and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Excited to continue this journey and see how these experiences shape the future of African startups! I would like to invite Annabelle Söffing, Bertil van Vugt and Sanjay Soni CA(SA) to share their highlights of develoPPP. #25yearsdeveloPPP