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.

In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Jason Delorie interviews Abu Cassim, Lead for the Acceleration Team at VC4A, about their Venture Showcase program.

Brief

The VC4A Venture Showcase provides acceleration support including mentorship, training, and investor connections to growth-stage startups in Africa and Latin America. With deep investor involvement throughout the program, 65% of participating startups raise funding within a year.

Top Moments

- [1:20] Key differences between incubation and acceleration programs
- [5:26] VC4A Venture Showcase aims to increase early-stage funding in emerging markets   
- [8:11] Continuous investor engagement makes VC4A unique
- [12:25] 65% of startups raise funding within a year of participating in the program
- [15:41] Support provided for seed and Series A startups 
- [18:46] Focused on high-impact sectors like climate, agriculture, and cities
- [22:13] Access to top investors and mentors throughout Africa

Learn More

Get involved with VC4A programs and meet investors and mentors:
- VC4A Venture Showcase website: https://ventureshowcase.vc4a.com
- VC4A platform to connect: https://vc4a.com

Related resources

- Harvard Business Review - "What Startup Accelerators Really Do" https://hbr.org/2016/03/what-startup-accelerators-really-do
- INC Magazine - "Do Accelerator Programs Really Make Startups More Successful?" https://www.inc.com/magazine/201505/tom-foster/do-accelerators-work.html

In this episode, host Gerald Ami interviews Buntu Majaja, CEO of the South African Innovation Summit, one of the largest startup events in Africa. They discuss the innovation landscape across the continent, promising industries and solutions from African entrepreneurs addressing local needs.

Episode Summary

• Buntu shares insights on the industries receiving the most startup investment in Africa - fintech, healthtech, edtech and clean energy. He sees these as building critical infrastructure to enable further entrepreneurial growth.
• Examples of innovative African startups making an impact: off-grid IoT energy solutions in Malawi, growing oyster mushrooms in harsh conditions in Botswana, cybersecurity company expanding globally out of South Africa.
• The South African Innovation Summit on Sept 27-29 unites thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and thought leaders to grow African innovation. Buntu invites listeners to join and learn.

Episode Timeline

• [00:50] Welcome and introducing Buntu Majaja
• [01:46] How is Buntu feeling ahead of the Innovation Summit
• [03:28] Top startup investment industries in Africa
• [08:02] Examples of innovative African startups solving local problems
• [12:12] Overview of the South African Innovation Summit
• [15:01] Closing words

Resources Mentioned

• South African Innovation Summit: https://innovationsummit.co.za

Listen to Founder Joseph Rutakangwa Share His Entrepreneurial Journey on Entrepreneurs Talk Africa 

Summary

In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Gerald Ami speaks with Joseph Rutakangwa, founder and CEO of consumer insights startup Rwazi. Joseph shares his unique journey across Africa and into entrepreneurship, from early community development projects to launching a profitable startup poised for growth. 

Timeline Highlights

0:39 - Joseph introduces his background growing up in Tanzania and Uganda before becoming a student in the US. He started doing community development projects in Tanzania at 19. 

4:55 - Joseph pivoted from graphic design and videography to focus on sustainable community impact, leading him to launch Rwazi.

9:53 - He explains Rwazi's model of leveraging mobile technology and local consumers to capture granular consumer data and insights in African markets. 

14:45 - Joseph discusses the challenges faced by African startups, including lack of early funding and dependence on revenue versus external capital. 

19:52 - Rwazi is now growing quickly in the US, helping American companies export using hyperlocal data from emerging markets.

24:13 - Joseph shares advice for aspiring founders, stressing the importance of sales skills and focusing on revenue generation.

References

For more on emerging market consumer insights, listen to BCGTalks' episode on "The Human Cloud".

Joseph mentions benefiting from Google's AI Impact Challenge grant.

Rwazi's data-driven approach connects with principles in the book "Data-Driven Business Decisions" by Sharda, Delen, and Turban.

🎙️ **Entrepreneurs Talk Africa: Investor Readiness with Ismael Belkhayat**

In this engaging episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Jason Delorie kicks off an investor readiness series with special guest Ismael Belkhayat, a successful entrepreneur behind several ventures, including the innovative e-commerce and fintech app, Chari.

Belkhayat delves into the investor readiness mindset, discussing how expectations have changed over time, from fast growth to a focus on sustainable, profitable business. He also outlines the key differences between seed and Series A stages of funding, emphasizing that investors look for strong founders in the seed stage, whereas they shift their attention to the company's performance in the Series A stage.

Delorie and Belkhayat dig deeper into the complex criteria involved in Series A funding, including due diligence, valuation, investment memos, and business proofs of concept. And as an entrepreneur who applied twice for the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator, Belkhayat stresses the importance of resilience and learning from failure.

A fascinating aspect of this discussion is the unique challenge of co-founding a startup as a married couple. Belkhayat candidly shares his perspective on balancing work and personal life, arguing that being a married couple can in fact be a strength in entrepreneurship.

With nuggets of wisdom and engaging dialogue, this episode is a must-listen for all current and aspiring entrepreneurs!

**Podcast Timeline**

- 0:00 - Jason Delorie introduces Ismael Belkhayat and Cherry

- 2:04 - Belkhayat clarifies a fact about North African startups

- 3:14 - Discussion about how investor readiness has evolved

- 4:49 - Delorie asks about differences between seed and Series A stages

- 5:10 - Belkhayat explains the differences between seed and Series A stages

- 7:49 - Delorie summarizes the key distinctions between these stages

- 9:16 - Belkhayat provides an in-depth view of seed and Series A funding

- 13:38 - Delorie emphasizes the importance of passion and effective fund utilization

- 15:25 - Belkhayat shares his experience of applying for Y Combinator

- 19:40 - Delorie on the importance of keeping investors updated

- 20:58 - Belkhayat discusses the challenges of being co-founders and a married couple

- 24:21 - Belkhayat's final advice for entrepreneurs (stay tuned!)

**References**

1. Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE)

2. Y Combinator

3. Chari: Ismael's startup

4. Yassir Algerian ride-hailing company

Check out this enlightening episode and gain insights from a seasoned entrepreneur on the ever-changing landscape of investor readiness.

Welcome to the "News of the Entrepreneurs Talk Africa" podcast where our founders Marc, Jason, and Gerald explore the dynamic world of African entrepreneurship. They kickstart the series by delving into the current state of startup funding, the rise of generative AI, the shift in venture capital mindsets, and the impressive surge in female entrepreneurship across the continent.

Timeline

• 00:00:06 - Introduction to the podcast and hosts.
• 00:00:57 - The trio begins their discussion on the current funding situation for startups in Africa.
• 00:11:07 - Jason emphasizes the importance of investment opportunities for growth in fragmented ecosystems like Africa.
• 00:12:34 - Gerald introduces a paradigm shift in companies' utilization of investment funds.
• 00:13:47 - Jason points out investment opportunities from grant-giving organizations.
• 00:16:39 - Marc shares details about the Africa Business Heroes program from the Jack Ma Foundation.
• 00:19:04 - Gerald explores the expanding presence of tech hubs and incubators in emerging African markets.
• 00:21:55 - The team dives into the importance and utilization of generative AI for African entrepreneurs.
• 00:26:40 - Jason argues that AI has become a necessary tool for all businesses.
• 00:28:04 - Jason provides insights into investment trends and prospects in Africa.
• 00:30:46 - The hosts discuss the rise of female entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa.

References

• Generative AI: Explore further about AI on OpenAI and Technology Review's Article on GPT-4, as well as AI initiatives by Google and Microsoft.
• Discover thriving African entrepreneurs at FCB dot AI, She Leads Africa, Lionesses of Africa, and African Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative.
• Venture Capital: Know more about Savvy, Fred Swaniker from ALU, and African tech hubs.
• Female Entrepreneurship: Learn about it from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and Soul Rebels.
• Additional resources: African Business Angel Network, DEG Developed PPP Ventures program, Go-Getters Agri Prize, Agri Hack, Africa Business Heroes program, Rwanda tech hubs: KLab, [Impact Hub Kigali](https://impacthub.rw

Enjoy! And let us know what you think about this new season!