Building a Venture in Africa

High interest rate, climate change, debt crisis and geopolitics - African economies are subjected to many complexities in raising capital. We will delve into the strategies for harnessing the power of local capital while attracting foreign investment in a world marked by shifting dynamics. Participants will gain insights into investor engagement, collaboration, regulatory support, and risk management. This session will provide a forward-looking perspective on how African economies can thrive amidst the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities of the complex global landscape. 

Although Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA)— where entrepreneurs search for and acquire stable, cash-flow positive businesses to grow them over time—is growing in popularity across North America, few “search funds” have been established in Africa. Indeed, there has been limited data to support the case for investing in African search funds and the benefits of this novel asset class. 

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Still, ETA remains uniquely positioned to unlock value, attract talent, and accelerate the growth and development of SMEs—particularly family businesses—across the continent. This panel will focus on three key questions: 

(1) Is Africa ripe for the growth of search funds? 

(2) How can the traditional search fund model be adapted to work in/for the African context? 

(3) What other models can we leverage to see more African ETAs? 

(4) Share some success stories and what we can learn from them.

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The panel will explore the intricate dynamics and economic considerations involved in bringing large African cultural movements to the global stage. The panelists will shed light on the impacts of these movements, including notable events like AfroNation, Afrofuture, AfriconLA, Afropunk, Afrotech, and more, with a particular focus on their influence on diaspora relations. We will delve into the impact on remittances, travel and tourism, investment, and cross-cultural exchange, and seek to understand how these movements are reshaping connections between the African diaspora and the continent. Additionally, we will discuss strategies to harness the momentum generated by these cultural phenomena for the purpose of fostering long-term engagement and investment in Africa. The panel will provide valuable insights into the intricate economic and cultural web woven by these movements and their potential to shape the future of diaspora relations with Africa.