Summary

In this episode, the host discusses the reasons why investing in African startups is interesting. She shares her personal experience of hiring African developers and the challenges she faced in finding talent and managing payroll. She then talks about how she discovered the African tech ecosystem and started investing in startups. The host explains the different categories of investors, including angel investors, incubators, accelerators, and venture capital funds. She also discusses the risks and opportunities of investing in African startups, highlighting the technological advancements and abundance of tech talent in Africa. The episode concludes with a call to early investment in the African tech ecosystem.

Takeaways

Investing in African startups can be less risky than commonly perceived, as many technologies have already been proven in other markets.

African startups have the opportunity to leapfrog technologies and build solutions that are adapted to the local market.

Africa has a talented pool of tech professionals who may transition from being employees to becoming founders in the future.

Early investment in the African tech ecosystem can provide unique opportunities for growth and returns.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Why Investing in African Startups is Interesting

01:12 Getting Started: Hiring African Developers

02:09 Challenges: Finding Talent and Payroll

03:07 Overcoming Challenges: Finding Solutions

04:04 Discovering African Tech Ecosystem

05:28 Transition to Investing in Startups

06:24 Opportunities in African Tech Ecosystem

06:44 Investor Categories: Angel Investors, Incubators, Accelerators, and VCs

07:43 Investment Options: Startups vs Other Asset Classes

09:05 Micro VCs and Institutional VCs

10:28 Corporate Organizations and Foundations as Investors

11:26 Risks and Reasons to Invest in African Startups

12:58 Technological Advancements in Africa

14:25 Leapfrogging Technologies

15:47 Abundance of Tech Talent in Africa

17:37 Early Investment Opportunity in African Tech Ecosystem

18:07 Conclusion

Make sure to connect with Eunice Ajim of various platforms:Ajim Capital Website: https://www.ajimcapital.com/Eunice Ajim Website: https://euniceajim.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/euniceajim/Twitter: https://twitter.com/euniceajim/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/euniceajim/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@euniceajim

Welcome to another episode of The Eunice Ajim Show! In this edition, Eunice Ajim sits down with Janade, one of the founding members of Launch Africa, a leading early-stage VC fund focused on Africa. Recorded live at GITEX in Dubai, the conversation delves into Launch Africa's journey, its unique approach to seed-stage funding, and its impact on tech startups across the continent.

Janade shares insights into Launch Africa's beginnings, highlighting their commitment to filling the gap in seed-stage funding during the challenging times of 2018-2019. With a focus on supporting startups for 12 to 18 months, Launch Africa became the largest seed fund in Africa, investing in an impressive 133 companies across 22 different African countries.

The discussion explores the significance of investing in non-traditional markets, such as Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon, and the potential for growth in Francophone Africa. Janade emphasizes the importance of being the first investor in emerging markets, citing the need for someone to take the brave step.

Notably, Launch Africa celebrates its first exit in Cameroon, marking a significant milestone in the fund's success. The conversation also touches on the future plans of Launch Africa, including the possibility of Fund II and the activation of a vibrant secondary market in Africa through securitization and internal M&A.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the economic opportunities in Africa, urging investors to recognize the continent's youthful population, vast arable land, and the need for innovative risk mitigation products for startups.

Join Eunice Ajim and Janade Du Plessis in this insightful conversation about Launch Africa's impactful journey and the exciting prospects for tech investment in Africa. Don't miss out on the valuable lessons and perspectives shared in this episode!

#LaunchAfrica #TechInvestment #AfricanStartups #GitexDubai #EuniceAjimShow #SeedFunding #AfricanTechScene

It’s taken me a couple of weeks to process our first #AWSxAjimCapital Women’s Demo Day, and I’m still not over it!!

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for the incredible experience we shared on November 8th.

The atmosphere that day is something I wish for every woman to experience. The depth of conversations and the overflow of passion, excitement, vulnerability, and joy in that room were exceptional.

My Ajim Capital Squad and I cannot thank you enough for the constant encouragement and inspiration. Specifically, I'd like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the AWS Startups team for lifting women in the startup ecosystem.

Thank you to our speakers and judges. Your voices and wisdom were a guiding light for all of us, and I'm genuinely grateful for your presence. You did what was necessary to elevate the women in the room, and I will forever be thankful for that.🤍

More importantly, to all the incredible women who pitched. Together, we achieved milestones, but it's not just about the pitch. It's about the bonds we formed, the knowledge we shared, and the unwavering support we provided to one another. I look forward to achieving even greater heights in the future.

I can’t get over the fact that God saw it fitting to allow me to serve my community this way, to have my life forever changed and enriched by so many incredible people as we do this work.

Thank you for believing in me; here's to many more beautiful moments and successes together.

Video by Papayas Studio

Join Eunice Ajim in another episode of The Eunice Ajim Show, where she delves into the often overlooked aspect of entrepreneurship – building and maintaining a resilient mindset. In this candid discussion, Eunice shares her personal experiences and insights on what it takes to stay motivated and determined through the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey.

Eunice emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, daily routines, and unwavering commitment to your vision. She acknowledges the challenges entrepreneurs face, including rejection, adversity, and moments of self-doubt, but she offers practical advice on how to overcome these obstacles and stay on course.

Discover the secrets to staying motivated, even on the toughest days, and how to maintain the unwavering belief that your entrepreneurial journey is your destiny. Eunice's message is a reminder that, like a rainbow after a storm, success often follows the most challenging moments. Tune in for an inspiring and encouraging conversation about the resilience required to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.

Subscribe to The Eunice Ajim Show for more insightful content about entrepreneurship, tech startups, and investing in African tech companies.

Join Eunice as she encourages you to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles you may face.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe for more motivational content.

Thank you for tuning in to The Eunice Ajim Show, where we're all about helping you live your best version of the African dream. Have a blessed day!

In this podcast episode, I go through a very detailed step by step guide on how to analyze you finances to determine if investing in the private market and specifucally in tech startups or venture capital the right opportunity for you as an investor or African in the Diaspora.

If you'll like to discuss on a one on one basis, here's how you can reach me:

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

I’m excited to announce that Ajim Capital is hosting the first-ever AWS Startups Women’s Demo Day in Lagos, Nigeria on November 8th, 2023.

The event in Lagos will take place at the Zone Tech Park on the 8th November 2023 and it’s FREE. REGISTER HERE AND SHARE WITH A FRIEND!!

This event holds a special place in my hearts. It's not just about business; it's about empowering incredible women-led startups in Africa. 🌍

The numbers don't lie - the funding gap has been widening, and we're determined to change that narrative. Our goal is to connect these inspiring women founders with the support they deserve - investors, partners, and customers.

Together, we'll be part of a movement that unlocks access to capital and ignites innovation within the African tech ecosystem. 🔥

As an attendee, you have the opportunity to join us in celebrating and supporting the achievements of startup founders who are driving innovation and growth in the tech industry.

The event will feature keynote speakers, women founder demos, and networking opportunities with investors and industry experts. Our goal is to create a supportive and empowering environment where attendees can learn, network, and be inspired.

But that's not all - as an attendee, you'll also have access to exclusive benefits designed specifically for founders. These include:

$1k AWS Activate Credit Package | Underrepresented Founders: Founders who attend the event, and are tech-enabled, will receive $1k in AWS Activate Credits

AWS Reach | Underrepresented Founders: AWS Reach is an exclusive global community for startup founders from underserved backgrounds. As a member founders will have access to special networking events, $5,000 in AWS Activate Credits (for eligible members only), training resources, webinars, technical support, marketing opportunities, and connections to investors and industry leaders.

Program | AWS Fundraising Lab: In partnership with Graham Walker, AWS is bringing back Fundraising Lab, a 4-week program to prepare underrepresented startup founders to raise venture capital. The cohort of women founders will learn how to create a fundraising strategy in four 90-minute weekly sessions covering a range of themes important to raising a seed or series A round, including how to combat unconscious bias and navigate terms sheets.

Space is limited, so make sure to register HERE by October 30th, 2023 to secure your spot at this exciting event. We can't wait to see you at the AWS Startups Women's Demo Week in Lagos!

I get this question a lot “Are there even exits in Africa?”

How do investors generate returns for their investment in African startups since they are not publicly traded entities?

Africa has a record number of exists.

Just like every other startup ecosystem, African founders understand how important it is to generate returns on investment for their investors 

In Africa, we see a lot of these exits happening as acquisitions, while IPOs occur less frequently.

Another reason driving the many acquisitions in Africa is that global companies who have an interest in Africa see acquisition as a way to enter these new markets, or gain access to new talents.

To demonstrate the magnitude of mergers and acquisitions taking place in Africa, the value of disclosed mergers and acquisitions in Africa grew from over $500 million in 2018 to around $57 billion in 2021. And by 2022, the value of M&A in the African market had surpassed 97.8 billion dollars.

Let’s take a look at some of these amazing M&A deals in Africa.

Paystack was acquired for nearly 20x of the total funding it had raised.

Founded in 2016, paystack raised a little over $10M before they were acquired by Stripe for over $200 million in 2020. 

A 20 to 100x return from a startup sale or Initial Public Offering (IPO) is generally considered a good deal. 

Interestingly, Paystack is not the only African startup to have done an exit of this magnitude

The list goes on and on …

These acquisitions and exits should serve as a wake up call for more investors to consider startup equity as an asset class. 

You too can be a part of the next success story in Africa so you do not look back five years from today and say “Oops... I should have invested in these African startups in 2023."

Let me blow your mind even further

A decade ago, no African startup had attained unicorn status, making Africa's emergence on the spotlight even more intriguing. 

And what do these startups have in common with those we have seen in other emerging markets - India, China, LatAm?

They are products of proven business models that have worked in developed markets.

Flutterwave is the Stripe of Africa

Interswitch is the Square of Africa

Jumia is Africa’s Amazon

Opay is Africa’s Revolut

Again, this shows that looking at what has worked before can be a powerful strategy for success.

Investors who are looking for the next big thing after China, India or want to diversify away from the highly competitive and already saturated Silicon Valley, can begin to turn their attention to Africa.

In today's episode, I answer this questions: How many businesses have you funded and how are they faring, Which market do you Raise Funds from as a VC, How To Deal With the Negative Africa Narratives, Do you think BRICS is gonna make Africa a more attractive marketplace for investment, How did you start your venture capital journey, what are the Biggest Challenge as a VC, How to get funded as a business which is not tech, what does it take to be part of a venture capital firm, How to raise capital for a founder just getting started & More

In today's episode, I answer this questions: How To Pitch, Industries Focus, What is The Biggest Advantage To Invest in Africa vs the US & More

In today's episode, I answer this questions: How to Break Into VC, What Motivates You, What are Your Top 5 Books & Advice on Self Doubts.

Comment with any idea content you're want me to answer and I'll add it to my content list!