Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2026

Wesgro, in partnership with the French Embassy and AESIS, invites you to participate in a pre-event session ahead of the 12th edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2025) - the continent's premier gathering of early stage investors, angel networks, venture capitalists and ecosystem builders. 

This pre event will bring together local stakeholders in the venture capital, incubator and academic ecosystem to share their experiences, insights and lessons learned with international VC delegates attending #AESIS2025. The session aims to showcase the vibrancy of the local startup and investment landscape, while fostering meaningful connections between local and global ecosystem players. 

Date: 26th November 2025

Time: 09:00 to 17:00

All sessions operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and we indicate the approximate group size for each option. Please note that the exact location will be shared once your registration has been accepted. If you do not receive a confirmation email, kindly assume that all available spaces have been filled.

You can sign up here.

In partnership with the Western Cape Government, the AESIS2025 Kickoff event will bring together investors, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to explore how local capital can be mobilised to strengthen Africa’s startup ecosystem amid a shifting global investment climate. We are honoured to welcome Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, who will deliver a keynote address as we set the stage for an impactful summit celebrating African innovation, investment, and growth. 

Venue: BDO Wealth Advisers - Cape Town, 119-123 Hertzog Blvd, Cape Town City Centre

Hamdiya Ismaila will unpack strategies to strengthen domestic venture capital markets, reduce reliance on foreign funding, and create sustainable pathways for African-led investment in African enterprises.

The speaker lays out a sharp case for why our current investment tools and fund structures simply aren’t built for the realities founders and communities face. She’ll show what becomes possible when we expand the toolbox beyond debt, equity, and grants; rethink portfolio construction beyond unicorn-chasing; and embrace a wider universe of exits, from structured liquidity to employee and community buyouts.

This session explores how investors can rewrite the rules of engagement. A closer look at African-led fund structures, shifting narratives around dependency, and how to get African Funds funded.  

Moderator: Mukami Kamau (Investment Manager, Chui VC)

Speakers: Tandazo Matanda (Co‑Founder & CEO, Musa Ventures) Tamim El Zein (Partner, Seedstars Africa Ventures), Johan Bosini (Partner, Quona Capital), Dr Dotun Olowoporoku (Managing Partner, Ventures Platform Fund)

Across Africa, a new generation of entrepreneurs is tackling energy access, food security, and climate resilience with bold, tech-driven solutions. Yet many of these innovations stall before reaching investable scale. This session brings together investors, ecosystem builders, and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of clean technology and capital mobilization. How can we build a pipeline that delivers both impact and returns?

Moderator: Milou Van Bruggen (Portfolio Manager, International Trade Centre)

Speakers: Nakami Walunywa (Regional Director Africa, Village Capital), Greg Brown (Co-Founder, MycoSure), Priaash Ramadeen (CEO, The Awareness Company), Mejda Elheni (Programme Manager, Open Startup)

Despite the growth of the African startup ecosystem, the disconnect between angel investors and venture capital funds continues to limit the flow of capital to promising founders. Angels provide the earliest, most risk-tolerant capital and deep local insights; VCs bring scaling expertise, structure, and access to institutional funding. Yet too often, these two investor groups operate in silos — duplicating due diligence, under-leveraging networks, and missing opportunities for co-investment. 

Moderator: Thomas van Halen (Senior Programme Director, VC4A) 

Speakers: Martin Warioba A (Founder & Managing Partner, Warioba Ventures), Zach George (Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures)

Dr. Lelemba Phiri (Co-Founder & Partner, ATG Samata), 

Keet van Zyl (Founding Partner, Knife Capital) 

This session explores how green innovation and climate finance are shaping Africa’s transition to a low-carbon, resilient future, highlighting opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs to scale sustainable solutions.

Moderator: Tate Crowards

Speakers: Seaidi Fares, Fadilah Tchoumba, Musset Kupakuwana, Susan Wanjiku W.

The conversation will explore how investors can expand access to funding for underrepresented founders and regions. Speakers will share insights on gender-lens investing, blended finance, and locally driven models that advance equity, inclusion, and sustainable growth in Africa’s investment landscape.  

Presenter: Elena Haba

Speakers: Dr. Lelemba Phiri, Stephen Gugu, Alexandra Fraser, Pauline Koelbl

Artificial Intelligence is more than a buzzword. It’s changing how we work - and - reshaping how we invest. From AI-assisted due diligence to smart portfolio analytics and ethical AI startups, this panel explores the investor opportunity at the heart of the current AI boom. 

Moderator: Yemi Keri*

Speakers:Malloron Nair, Melvyn Lubega, Rahil Rangwala Vinny Lingham

As USAID and other traditional donors freeze or redirect funding in line with shifting global priorities, Africa’s innovation ecosystem faces a defining moment. Speakers will unpack the opportunities and challenges of this funding realignment, while spotlighting emerging sources of capital—from diaspora investors and corporate venture funds to regionally anchored capital pools. 

Moderator: David van Dijk (Team Leader, Boost Africa TA)

Speakers: Aisha Pandor (CEO, Pandora Health)

Moses Sitati (Kenya Country Director, Eastrise Group)

Gabriel Aissou (Senior Investment Officer, Proparco) 

Gregoire de Padirac (CEO, Digital Africa)

The AESIS Awards Dinner is a night of celebration, recognition, and connection - honouring the bold founders, visionary investors, and transformative partnerships driving Africa’s growth story. Set against the backdrop of Cape Town’s vibrant skyline, this evening brings together leaders from across the continent’s innovation and investment ecosystem to acknowledge outstanding contributions to early-stage investing.  

Venue: Duncan Rd, Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town

We’ll kick off the first pitching session of the Deal Flow Lab, where nine startups from GIZ and NEPAD Akli will take the stage to deliver impactful three-minute pitches, each followed by a quick one-minute Q&A.

GIZ will open the session with an introduction to their program, followed by three venture pitches. NEPAD Akli will then provide a brief overview of their program and present six venture pitches.

You can learn more about these ventures in the Featured Ventures section of the app.

Next up, we’ll dive into the second pitching session of the Deal Flow Lab, featuring nine exciting startups from OST and Meta. Each founder will deliver a sharp three-minute pitch, followed by a quick one-minute Q&A.

NEPAD Meta will kick off the session with an introduction to their program and six venture pitches. OST will then take the stage to share a brief overview of their program and present three venture pitches.

You can learn more about these ventures in the Featured Ventures section of the app.

An engaging demonstration by NEPAD and Akili AI, showcasing how artificial intelligence is transforming support systems for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa

The demo will be followed by brief remarks from VC4A and ABAN, highlighting synergies between their platforms and the growing role of technology in strengthening Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Join us for a moderated, interactive discussion bringing investors and founders together for an open conversation on what drives successful partnerships. Investors will share what they’re currently looking for, while founders reflect on the challenges and opportunities they face in scaling their ventures. The session will conclude with an open floor for quick questions and spontaneous matchmaking — a great chance to spark new connections and insights.
Speakers: Gabriel Assou, Mazvita Maradzika

Join Jason as he shares practical ways to stay connected and continue building momentum after the session. He will outline clear next steps for engagement, including how participants can plug into upcoming residency programs and explore new partnership opportunities. 

As Africa transitions from building digital infrastructure to harnessing data-driven intelligence, Artificial Intelligence presents a transformative opportunity for growth across sectors. This keynote will explore how the continent can move beyond connectivity to unlock the full potential of AI. 

Speaker: Melvyn Lubega (Partner, Breega)

What if investment vehicles correspond to both investors’ requirements and the financing needs of early-stage businesses in Africa? GIZ officially launches the Innovative Capital Mobilisation in Africa (ICAMA) Initiative with the aim to mobilise more capital for African startups and growth firms by designing and scaling innovative investment vehicles that address key barriers in the market. 

During this keynote session, Ulrich Hess will share ICAMA’s vision to strengthen Africa’s early-stage investment ecosystem, emphasize the need for domestic capital mobilization, highlight three catalytic investment vehicles supported by the ICAMA Initiative.

What truly makes Africa investable in 2025 and beyond? This high-level panel brings together leading limited partners (LPs) and fund-of-funds to share how they evaluate Africa’s evolving risk-reward landscape. Speakers will unpack shifts in global and regional investment mandates, highlighting the factors driving confidence in African markets. 

Moderator: Daisy Liech

Speakers: Andrew Darge, Martin Warioba, Sunga Mkwezalamba, Wakiuru Njuguna

This session spotlights real exits, with M&A deals, secondary buyouts, and investor journeys from seed to exit. What’s working? What’s failing? What patterns can be learned? 

Moderator: Zach George 

Speakers: Marieke Roestenberg, Ido Sum, Aaron Fu, Lewam Kefela

Later in the morning, we’ll kick off our first pitching session — an exciting showcase of some of the most promising ventures in the ecosystem. Nine dynamic startups will take the stage to deliver powerful three-minute elevator pitches, each followed by a quick one-minute Q&A.

Digital Africa, ITC (Intracen), and UNDP Malawi will each present three inspiring companies, beginning with a short introduction to their respective programs.

Get ready to discover fresh ideas, bold solutions, and passionate founders driving change across the continent. You can learn more about these ventures in the Featured Ventures section of the app.

We continue with our next pitching session, featuring the top seven ventures from Day One’s Deal Flow Lab. These startups were selected based on your votes -  highlighting some of the most impressive and high-potential teams from the day.

The session will showcase ventures supported by Open Startup, GIZ, NEPAD Akli, and Meta. Each organization will start with a brief introduction before their selected founders take the stage to deliver three-minute pitches, followed by a one-minute Q&A.

This is a great opportunity to see the ventures that stood out and to get another glimpse into the incredible entrepreneurial talent driving innovation across the continent. 

Jury Panel: Russel Mark Julius and Gustavo Rojas

You can read more about these companies in the Featured Ventures section of the app.

With equity markets under pressure, venture debt is gaining ground as a vital—but often misunderstood—financing tool. This session explores how debt can accelerate growth without heavy dilution, the risks founders must manage, and how investors are structuring products for African realities. Speakers will share practical lessons from both sides of the table and debate whether venture debt can scale sustainably across the continent.

Moderator: Pim Engels

Speakers: Biola Alabi, Mariam Kamel, Alex Simuyandi, Lesego Tladinyane

Presented by The Big Deal

While Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa continue to dominate Africa’s funding landscape, emerging ecosystems are quietly gaining traction. This session unpacks the data behind Africa’s capital flows—who’s investing where, which sectors are breaking through, and what signals point to a more geographically diverse future.

Moderator: Martin Karanja

Speakers: Maxime Bayen, Janade Du Plessis, Henok Assefa, Hangyul Song

Please note registration is closed 
NEPAD is hosting a sunset ocean cruise with Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain as the backdrop to showcase their portfolio companies. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the startups, enjoy locally sourced snacks and beverages, and perhaps even spot a whale or two. It’s the perfect way to wrap up AESIS 2025.  

Meeting point: Boat Name is Tigresse - Quay 5. The vessel is parked directly opposite Sevruga Restaurant 

Transport will be provided from the summit venue to the boat.

If you have any problems finding the location please contact Thomas on +31 6 51 33 76 91 (whatsapp only). 

Please note that registration is now closed 

Join Intracen, UK SA Tech Hub, and Ventures 54 for a relaxed evening of networking, bowls, and braai! Unwind after a productive day, enjoy friendly games on the lawn, savor delicious food, and connect with fellow investors, founders, and innovators in a laid-back setting. 

Location: Gardens Bowling Club (Upper Wandel St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa)

Transport will be provided from the Summit venue to the bowls venue.

Please note registration is closed 

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at FMO Ventures’ Rooftop Drinks & Braai! Relax with refreshing drinks, take in the stunning city views, and mingle with a vibrant mix of investors, founders, and innovators. It’s all about great vibes, good food, and unforgettable connections. 

Location: Radisson Red, V&A Waterfront

Transport will be provided from the summit venue to the rooftop.

Please note registration closed

Join Digital Africa for a relaxed Padel & Pizza evening in Camps Bay! After a productive day, unwind with friendly games on the padel court, enjoy engaging conversations, and savor delicious pizza. With a stunning sea view as the backdrop, it’s the perfect opportunity to connect, recharge, and have fun in a laid-back, social setting.

Please bring appropriate sportswear for the games. Transport will be provided to the summit venue to the padel venue.

Venue: The Rotunda, A F Keen Dr, Camps Bay, Cape Town, 8005

Discover how develoPPP Ventures supports early-stage startups with non-dilutive capital, matched investment, and tailored technical assistance. Operating across seven African markets with a portfolio of 100+ companies, the programme provides a de-risked, investment-ready pipeline across sectors such as HealthTech, Agritech, CleanTech, and FinTech.