VC4A Venture Showcase Mini-Series - Episode 4: The Investor Perspective 

Want insider tips on raising investment in Africa? Tune into this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa as we speak with Kenza Lahlou, founder and managing partner at Outlierz Ventures. 

Kenza shares her unique perspective as an investor in African startups. She provides valuable insights into what investors are looking for and how programs like the VC4A Venture Showcase can help entrepreneurs get investor-ready.

## Key Takeaways

- Understand which acceleration programs add value and carefully choose the right one for your startup (00:03:06) 

- Exposure and connections to investors are a huge benefit of programs like the VC4A Venture Showcase (00:04:51)

- The VC4A program is structured to provide value to both entrepreneurs and investors (00:06:01) 

- Investor interest breeds investor interest - having the backing of other investors adds confidence (00:11:48)

- Focus on execution, metrics and unit economics to attract investors even in tough times (00:20:37) 

- Valuation corrections happening - raise at sensible valuations that bring the right investors (00:21:08)

## Referenced in the Episode

- [VC4A Venture Showcase](https://vc4a.com/venture-showcase/) - learn more about this flagship program for African startups 

- [Y Combinator](https://www.ycombinator.com/) - top US accelerator 

- [500 Startups](https://500.co/) - global seed fund and accelerator

Emata: Building Fintech Solutions for African Farmers - Entrepreneurs Talk Africa

**Summary**: In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Jason Delorie interviews Bram van den Bosch and Lillian Nassanga Musoke, founders of Ugandan fintech startup Emata. They discuss Emata's journey building digital financial services for smallholder farmers in Africa, from its early days gathering data to predict creditworthiness all the way to launching partnerships with banks and agricultural companies. Bram and Lillian share insights on the value of startup accelerators, the resilience required as a founder, and their experience in VC4A's annual Venture Showcase program.  

**2:30** - Bram and Lillian introduce themselves and their backgrounds before starting Emata. Lillian was passionate about designing solutions for everyday Africans while Bram wanted to move beyond just shuffling money between the wealthy. 

**5:07** - The origin story of Emata - realizing banks weren't financing farmers and building a data-driven solution.

**7:14** - On the value of startup accelerators for constant learning, expanding your network, and discovering unknown challenges on the horizon. 

**10:18** - Why Emata applied for many accelerators early on, but has gotten more selective over time. There's always a new level to reach.

**15:02** - For startups in nascent ecosystems, the exposure and learning accelerators provide is crucial. 

**18:46** - Expectations for the VC4A Showcase: learning from other founders, meeting investors, and bringing conversations to the next level.

**23:05** - The relationships and "emotional support" between cohort founders last long after programs end. 

**25:01** - Don't do it alone - keep going and keep putting yourself out there until you find the right programs and supporters.

**27:26** - Behind the success are often many rejections - persistence pays off.

**28:40** - A message to VC4A: thank you for building the African startup ecosystem and keep going!

**References**:

- Emata website: https://www.emata.ug

- VC4A Venture Showcase: https://vc4a.com/ventureshowcase/

- Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AES): https://vc4a.com/aes/

Get inspired by the resilience and vision of African startup founders like Bram and Lillian. Tune in to Entrepreneurs Talk Africa to hear more startup journeys, lessons learned, and tips for aspiring founders across the continent.

In this episode, host Jason Delorie interviews Daisy Isiaho, co-founder and CPO of Zuri Health, a healthtech startup in Kenya. Daisy shares her experiences participating in the 2022 VC4A Venture Showcase Women's Founder Edition program.

Key topics covered:

• Daisy's background and mission with Zuri Health
• The importance of accelerator programs for African startups
• Key benefits Daisy gained from VC4A and other accelerators: mentorship, peer learning, funding access
• Unique aspects of the VC4A Women's Founder Edition
• Tips for entrepreneurs considering applying to accelerator programs

Timeline

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:33 - Daisy introduces herself and Zuri Health
• 3:09 - Daisy shares her journey into healthtech and starting Zuri Health
• 4:50 - Overcoming obstacles as a female founder in Africa
• 5:49 - The value accelerator programs brought Zuri Health
• 8:06 - Specific benefits: knowledge, mentorship, peer learning, partnerships
• 9:38 - The importance of tailored mentorship
• 12:48 - What makes VC4A Venture Showcase unique
• 15:06 - Supporting female founders in Africa
• 16:59 - Tips for getting the most out of accelerator programs
• 19:53 - Key takeaways and encouragement to apply
• 22:40 - Final advice: go for it!

References

• Zuri Health: https://zurihealth.co.ke/
• VC4A Venture Showcase: https://vc4a.com/ventureshowcase/
• Anthropic, creators of Claude AI: https://www.anthropic.com

The shownotes provide a quick engaging overview of the podcast episode, highlighting Daisy's journey building Zuri Health and her experience in the VC4A accelerator program. The timeline marks key parts of the discussion to help guide listeners. Additional references give context and links to learn more. Overall, the shownotes serve as a valuable companion to summarize and promote the podcast episode.