Craig Reid’s Post

Excited to share that we're partnering with New Africa Impact Fund to elevate the launch of their latest book, "Funding Options for Businesses" by eric osei, now available on Dutch platforms! 📚 This essential guide is a game-changer for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and business leaders looking to navigate the complex world of capital raising. Whether you're just starting out or planning to scale, this book offers actionable insights to help you secure the funding you need at every stage of your journey. 🌍Our Role: We'll be positioning this valuable resource within the Diaspora community in the Netherlands, ensuring it reaches those who can benefit the most. 💡 Our Focus: - For the Book: We'll emphasize "Funding Options for Businesses" as the go-to roadmap for business owners seeking to master capital raising. - For the Training Course: We’ll highlight the SME Investor Readiness Course as a key tool for equipping entrepreneurs with the skills needed to attract investors. 🎯 Brand Positioning: Aligning the New Africa Impact Fund brand with entrepreneurial success and financial empowerment within the African Diaspora. We'll showcase testimonials, case studies, and expert opinions to reinforce credibility and drive impact. Ready to take your business to the next level? Get your copy today and start your journey toward financial empowerment! 🔗https://buff.ly/4cOURDl #Entrepreneurship #FundingOptions #SME #InvestorReadiness #AfricanDiaspora #BusinessGrowth #FinancialEmpowerment #NewAfricaImpactFund #Diaspora

Where is The Money? Come, let’s ask this and other questions, hear the answers and be part of the solution. #africa = Opportunity. #impactinvesting  #entrepreneurship

Championing #SustainableInvestment in youth entrepreneurship drives innovative solutions that generate positive environmental and social #Impact. De-risking #FinancingVehicles, such as the Financing Innovation Tool (FIT), are designed to deploy capital that unlocks transformative opportunities for the growth and resilience of young entrepreneurs, creating pathways for sustainable and inclusive #EconomicGrowth. #FinancialInclusion #YoungEntrepreneurs #EMW2024

🌍At a panel discussion on supporting young entrepreneurs at #EMW2024, Axel de Ville, ADA's Director of Strategy and Innovation, shared the NGO’s experience of and approach to working with young entrepreneurs in Africa and Central America.     💬He explained that “financing young entrepreneurs is an investment in a stable and innovative future - it’s not an option, but a necessity. However, supporting young entrepreneurs is challenging due to their limited technical and professional skills and lack of financing history. Reliable business records are also a barrier for obtaining funding. To address these issues effectively, we need to adopt a holistic approach and seek partnerships dedicated to backing the next generation.”     🤝In Africa for example, ADA is connecting incubators with business accelerators and microfinance institutions to not only provide young entrepreneurs with financing solutions but also with the necessary business management skills, including accounting and record keeping. This managerial support not only helps the entrepreneurs to build a profitable business but also de-risks their financing from the perspective of the microfinance institutions.    📢For more information about ADA’s programmes dedicated to young entrepreneurs, visit: https://lnkd.in/eHNPNCvp EBRD, ConsumerCentriX, e-MFP #FinancialInclusion #Youngentrepreneurs #EMW2024 #InclusiveFinance

Next up in our #GlobalEntrepreneurWeek series, we get to highlight Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs' ecosystem-building efforts in Ghana, a vibrant entrepreneurial landscape in Africa.  🇬🇭 Our collaboration with ANDE West Africa has revealed a robust ecosystem with 141 organizations offering 218 programs to support local entrepreneurs. The mapping shows strong support in Agriculture & Food, Financial Services, and ICT sectors, while identifying opportunities for growth in Health, Energy, and Environment. Our map serves as a vital resource, connecting entrepreneurs with investors, support organizations, and essential programs. It’s a living representation of Ghana’s dynamic ecosystem, evolving as the entrepreneurial landscapes grow and change. #EmpoweringEntrepreneurs #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek #GEW2024

In his latest article, our Chairman Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R highlights the urgent need to empower young African entrepreneurs to tackle climate challenges. He emphasises the need for stronger partnerships between governments, philanthropies, and the private sector to support these entrepreneurs and unlock Africa’s green potential. “To unlock the full potential of green solutions in Africa, we must nurture entrepreneurship — and this cannot be achieved by governments alone. We need to integrate government incentive schemes, with the opportunities presented by the private sector. It is imperative that we unite philanthropies, policymakers, and businesses. I refer to this movement as “Africapitalism”— a call for partnership led by the private sector, focused on fostering prosperity for all.” – Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R At Transcorp, we believe that sustainable economic development must be driven by African-led initiatives that not only generate wealth but also uplift communities. When we empower entrepreneurs and drive innovation, we can achieve inclusive and impactful progress. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dKidfUjA #Africapitalism #Entrepreneurship #TranscorpTransforms

"We stand at a pivotal moment in Africa's economic journey—a moment marked by many opportunities and challenges. Africa has entrepreneurial talent, innovative ideas, and untapped potential. Yet, too often, these #entrepreneurs face barriers in accessing the financial resources they need to grow. In the face of this reality, it is important that we come together to forge stronger partnerships and collaborative efforts among financiers to support entrepreneurial success across the continent. Collaboration among financiers, #angelinvestors, VCs, SMES funds, should be very practical if we are to unlock the full potential of Africa's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. By pooling our resources, expertise, and #networks, we can create a more conducive environment for #entrepreneurship to flourish and drive sustainable economic growth." Fadilah Tchoumba - CEO, ABAN

🥳 Thanks Octerra Capital 💼 JokkoLabs had the exclusive opportunity to delve into the pitfalls to be avoided by project leaders and startups in the fundraising phase participating in the Entrepreneurship World Cup in a practical manner with fun examples to support it. 👍🏾 Thank you Jordy for this interesting session during which the finalists and our community members had the opportunity to dive into the new dynamics within the VC space. 🔎 Few highlights: - Valuation is not always the key: building a viable product, mastering every aspect of the company with a good interaction with its stakeholders while putting together a strong team seems to remain the best way to secure fundings. - You as entrepreneurs, are the one choosing your investors, by agreeing with them on this partnership according to the startup vision that the founding team defined.

Highlights of Harry 'Tomi Davies' keynote address on "The African Early-Stage Investment Opportunity" on Day 2 of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress+ Africa (GEC+ Africa) in Cape Town, South Africa. "This year, ABAN embarks on a thematic journey, under the banner "Consolidating Angel Investing Across Africa and the Diaspora." This theme is not merely a statement of intent but a clarion call for #unity, #collaboration, and strategic cross-border #investments that transcend geographical and economic boundaries. Our aim is clear – to weave a network of #angelinvestors that spans across Africa and its diaspora, creating a robust, inclusive, and sustainable ecosystem for #startups to thrive." Harry 'Tomi Davies - President, ABAN Small Enterprise Development Agency_gov 22 ON SLOANE UVU Africa Global Entrepreneurship Network

Summary The meeting began with Olivier Ngwe welcoming Jordy K. from Octerra Capital as the main speaker for the session. Jordy provided an overview of the firm's investment focus and portfolio, setting the stage for a comprehensive discussion on venture capital in Africa. He emphasized the importance of adding value beyond financial support and outlined six key aspects to consider when raising funds, including reasons for raising funds, sources of funding, engaging investors, investor expectations, successful investor engagement, and due diligence. Jordy also provided insights into the challenges and opportunities of raising funds in Africa, comparing it to the ease of fundraising in France. Jordy provided valuable insights on approaching VC investors, emphasizing the importance of being present in the right places and maintaining consistency and transparency. He also delved into common mistakes to avoid, such as not being aware of competitors, oversharing data, and overestimating market size. Additionally, he touched on the significance of being prepared for the due diligence process and the need for founders to have clear agreements and understanding of dilution when seeking investment. The discussion also touched on the preference for companies established in certain jurisdictions for investor protection and the need to establish a holding company in a suitable jurisdiction for foreign currency operations. The meeting also discussed the legal status of an establishment in Cameroon and its potential to raise funds from investors. Jordy explained the difficulties of attracting investors due to legal framework issues, emphasizing the importance of a solid legal framework and alignment with local regulations to attract investors, particularly venture capitalists. The discussion also touched on the significance of liquidity preference, explaining how it can impact the founders' ability to exit the company. The meeting concluded with Jordy delivering a compelling argument about the importance of exit valuation over initial company valuation. Using examples of companies whose valuations have drastically changed, he underscored the potential impact on investors and founders. Olivier Ngwe expressed gratitude for the discussion, and Jordy shared his willingness to support and share knowledge with others, drawing from his experience in a country with limited funding opportunities.