VC4A - Afrikan Heroes

VC4A Calls On African Startups Looking To Raise Between $150k-$1m To Apply

July 30, 2020

VC4A is calling for African startups looking to raise between $150K and $1M. In proud collaboration with technical partner AWS Activate, and network partners AfriLabs and ABAN, VC4A will be hosting the exclusive ‘Venture Showcase — Seed’ in November as part of a virtual gathering of Africa-focused early-stage investors.

Ben White, founder and director at VC4A — **Ben White***, founder and director at VC4A*

“Based on investor demand we have added a Seed track to the Venture Showcase — now in its 4th year. This exciting addition opens the door to up and coming companies looking to connect with leading investors active across the continent. The Seed track targets ventures with highly scalable business models demonstrating strong traction. We put a spotlight on the innovation coming up across the continent with the aim to capitalize the next generation of great African startups,” says Ben White, founder and director from VC4A.

Here Is What You Need To Know

Via this campaign VC4A will select 10 innovative early-stage startups to showcase their business to the world. A requirement is that you are based in Africa and your tech-enabled solution is already on the market, you are able to show some traction and you have expansion plans in mind.
Since 2017, VC4A has showcased growth-stage startups as part of the annual Africa Early Stage Investor Summit, resulting in a number of Series A deals totaling over $100M.
Building on this success, the ‘VC4A Venture Showcase — Seed’ track positions deal ready companies as a central component VC4A offers to its Africa focused network of over 150 early-stage investment firms built up over the years. This is an exclusive opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to introduce their companies at once to everyone who’s anyone in Africa’s early-stage investment space.

A Look At What This Year’s Edition Holds

This year cloud platform Amazon Web Services (AWS Activate) joins the Venture Showcase as a technical partner.

“Through VC4A’s partnership with AWS we offer startups direct access to unparalleled expertise and a global infrastructure for growing and scaling business. The companies in the ‘VC4A Venture Showcase — Seed’ track are well positioned for growth and stand to benefit from our growing networks of partners and capital,” says Ben White.

VC4A works closely with the African early-stage startup community involving investors and incubators in both the referral, screening and selection process.
Through the partnerships with AfriLabs — representing 202 innovation centers across 46 African countries — and ABAN — representing 60+ angel investor networks — the Venture Showcase promotes (co-)investment opportunities for their members. Participating investors will work with the selected companies to prepare their participation in the showcase, and to ensure the companies are representative of the best investment opportunities.

The 10 selected startups get:

To participate in the VC4A Venture Showcase deal room, including 150+ early-stage investment firms.
Professional edited 3-minute virtual pitch videos.
30-minute deep-dive sessions with investors in a private room.
Mentorship and pitch training by early-stage investor organizations.
Amazon Web Services credits from AWS Activate worth $10,000, as well as tools, resources, and more to get started quickly on AWS.
To join the Showcase alumni network and gain exclusive access to fundraising opportunities.

How To Apply

Interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply before 11 September 2020. Investors who wish to refer to a company can contact Thomas van Halen at thomas[at]vc4a.com.

The Venture Showcase program consists of 2 tracks this year. The Seed track and a Series A track. More information on the Series A track here: vc4afri.ca/d5v.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

African Startups Called On To Apply And Get Up To $10m At Virtual VC4A Series A Venture Showcase

June 21, 2020

Startups in Africa interested in securing between $500,000 to $10,000,000 in funding have been invited to apply to VC4A ’s annual Venture Showcase – Series A, which will take place virtually in October, 2020.

“We’re looking for 10 innovative, high-growth scale-ups to showcase their solutions to the world. Are you operating in Africa, generating revenue and looking to raise your Series A round in the range of $500K and $10M? This is the opportunity you’ve been looking for!” VC4A announced in a press release.

Here Is What You Need To Know

Organised through a partnership with technical partner AWS Activate, the Venture Showcase – Series A holds in October, 2020 as part of a virtual gathering of Africa-focused early-stage investors. This edition would be the fourth of the showcase, which has so far enabled Series A deals totaling over US$100 million.

“In 2017–2019, we selected 60 scale-ups from across the continent as part of 4 showcase programs, resulting in a number of Series A deals totalling over $100M. Building on this success, the ‘VC4A Venture Showcase — Series A’ — in collaboration with AWS Activate — is now a central component of our efforts to support investors connecting with high-quality deal flow. This is an exclusive opportunity to introduce your company at once to everyone who’s anyone in Africa’s early-stage investment space,” the company further stated.

Selected companies will meet online and engage leading VC funds, impact investors, accelerators, corporate venture divisions, industry associations, and public sector agencies. The 2019 edition welcomed over 300 investors from prominent VC funds and African angel networks.

Applications are welcome from all African countries from the following areas: Agribusiness, Business services, Clean technology and energy, Utilities, Construction and manufacturing, Manufacturing, Creative, media and entertainment, Education, Financial services, Healthcare, ICT, Leisure and travel, Retail and wholesale, Consumer non-durables, Transport and logistics, Water, sanitation and hygiene, Cars, Household appliances, Luxury goods and jewelry

Application for the second track of the showcase, code-named VC4A Venture Showcase — Seed track, dedicated to startups raising seed rounds ranging from US$150,000 to US$750,000 will open in July, 2020.

What Are Expected of Startups Applying?

Applying startups must:

Be for-profit and registered as an independent legal entity;
Have a product or service available on the market and generate revenue;
Have a product or service that is clearly innovative and/or a business model that is new, disruptive and designed for scale;
Have a very strong management team of at least 3 people;
Have its team based in one or more countries on the African continent;
At least one of the founders has an African nationality;
Be seeking Series A investment in the range of $500K — $10M*;
While there will be exceptions, most likely your startup has already received external investment, structured as either debt or equity, or received grants from donor organizations.

(For those looking to raise their Seed Rounds in between $150K — $750K, they should consider applying to the 2020 VC4A Venture Showcase — Seed track. Applications open in July)

For further details on the criteria for selecting startups, click here.

Deadline For Application

Application for this edition opens on Jun 16, 2020 and ends on August 14, 2020.

To apply click here to start.

About VC4A

Founded in 2007, VC4A is one of the foremost African platforms for startup funding, VC4A (Venture Capital for Africa) The company is a fast growing community of business professionals present in 159 countries dedicated to building game changing companies on the continent. It works closely with the African investment community to refer candidates to its showcase programs, involving investors in both the screening and selections process. Participating investors work with the selected companies to prepare their participation in the showcase, and to ensure the companies are representative of the best investment opportunities coming up from across the continent. The showcase sets the stage for deal-making with Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and investors coming together to scale up the best companies.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer.

Venture Capital For Africa (VC4A) Announces Showcase to Promote Startups in Africa

June 17, 2020

Ben White, founder and director from VC4A

In what observers describe as an exclusive opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to introduce their companies at once to everyone who’s anyone in Africa’s early-stage investment space, the Venture Capital For Africa popularly known as VC4A is calling for disruptive African scale-ups looking to raise between $500K and $10M as part of its venture showcase series in the continent. In collaboration with technical partner AWS Activate, VC4A will be hosting the exclusive ‘Venture Showcase – Series A’ in October as part of a virtual gathering of Africa-focused early-stage investors.

Since 2017, VC4A has showcased growth-stage startups as part of the annual Africa Early Stage Investor Summit, resulting in a number of Series A deals totaling over $100M. Building on this success, the ‘VC4A Venture Showcase – Series A’ positions deal ready companies as a central component VC4A offers to its Africa focused network of over 150 early stage investment firms built up over the years. This is an exclusive opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to introduce their companies at once to everyone who’s anyone in Africa’s early-stage investment space.

Ben White, founder and director from VC4A adds: “The Venture Showcase – now in its 4th year – has established itself as the premier platform for presenting the best companies ready for Series A from across the continent. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need to come together virtually as an industry and to collaborate on deals is more necessary than ever. Especially now, the world needs to recognize the quality of innovation and entrepreneurship taking up across the continent and the unique opportunity to be part of major success stories.”

VC4A works closely with the African investment community to refer candidates to the showcase, involving investors in both the screening and selections process. Participating investors work with the selected companies to prepare their participation in the showcase, and to ensure the companies are representative of the best investment opportunities coming up from across the continent. The showcase sets the stage for deal making with Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and investors coming together to scale up the best companies.

This year cloud platform Amazon Web Services, through its AWS Activate program, joins the Venture Showcase as a technical partner. “We’re very pleased to see AWS join in the shared mission to grow and help scale Africa’s best startups. AWS brings unparalleled expertise and global infrastructure into the mix, and where the Showcase companies receive direct access,” says Ben White.

Selected companies of the 2020 edition will digitally convene and engage the leading VC funds, impact investors, accelerators, corporate venture divisions, industry associations, and public sector agencies. The 2019 edition welcomed over 300 investors from prominent VC funds and African angel networks, such as EchoVC, Greentec, I&P, Proparco, Accion, Knife Capital, Ventures Platform, TLCom Capital, Blue Haven Initiative, VBAN, 4Di Capital, Lagos Angel Network, Total Ventures, AngelHub Ventures, Teranga Capital, Outlierz Ventures, HIMangel, Tencent, Silvertree Capital, GSMA, Orange Digital Ventures, among many others. The 60 Venture Showcase alumni companies like Aerobotics, Coin Afrique, FinChatBot, FlexClub, 7Keema, Lifebank, MAX, Mobiz, Nawah Scientific, Rensource, Sendy and Shezlong raised the astonishing amount of over $100.000.000.

The 10 selected scale-ups of the 2020 edition will get to participate in the VC4A Venture Showcase deal room, including 150+ VC investment firms, professional edited 3-minute virtual pitch videos,30-minute deep-dive sessions with investors in a private room, and mentorship and pitch training by partner VC investors. Also inclusive is Amazon Web Services credits from AWS Activate worth ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, as well as tools, resources, and more to get started quickly on AWS. To join the Showcase alumni network and gain exclusive access to fundraising opportunities, interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply via this page (https://bit.ly/2UTmrtU) before 14 August 2020. The Series A program will be followed by a ‘VC4A Venture Showcase – Seed’ track dedicated to startups raising their seed round ranging from 150K-750K USD. Keep an eye out on the VC4A platform for the launch in July 2020.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A) and African Business Angel Network (ABAN) announce the 6th edition of its Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2019)

July 20, 2019

VC4A and ABAN are pleased to announce the 6th edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2019). The Summit will take place from 13-15 November at Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference brings together leading investors from Africa and beyond to network, exchange insights, create partnerships and make deals. This event is designed ‘for investors, by investors’.

What’s in store at #AESIS2019

The Summit’s speakers and guests hail from the leading angel networks, venture capital (VC) funds, impact investors, accelerators, corporate venture divisions, industry associations, and the public sector.

The number of Africa-focused angel investor networks and investment funds are rapidly growing and maturing, bringing both critical challenges and greater opportunities for venture capital funding on the continent. Summit delegates will explore developments in Africa’s early-stage investment space and will set the agenda for the coming years.

Day 1 on 13 November is ‘Academy Day’, which includes a series of interactive masterclasses and workshops, ending with a welcome cocktail reception. Day 2 on 14 November is the main Summit Day and will include inspiring keynote presentations by industry leaders and roundtable discussions, and it will end with an Investor Dinner.

Day 3 on 15 November is the optional Innovation Tour featuring insightful visits to key start-up hubs, accelerator programs and scaled up start-ups in the Cape Peninsula area. The detailed program is being finalized.

Announcing Naspers Foundry’s 2019 partnership

Naspers Foundry will be sponsoring the Summit’s main cocktail reception on 14 November and will be contributing to the Summit’s program development. Naspers Foundry is an R1.4 billion start-up funding initiative aimed at boosting the South African technology sector. As well as providing much-needed funding, Naspers Foundry helps talented and ambitious technology entrepreneurs develop and grow businesses that improve people’s daily lives.

“At Naspers, we believe in backing local entrepreneurs in growth markets and helping them by leveraging our global scale and experience. The Africa Early Stage Investor Summit provides a unique opportunity for Naspers to engage with like-minded investors and ecosystem partners from across the continent as we build out Naspers Foundry, and our broader investment ambitions”, said Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO South Africa, Naspers.

Building on the success of 2018

The 2018 edition brought together over 300 investors from prominent African angel networks and VC funds to identify and address the critical gaps in the early-stage investment space going into 2019.

At the 2018 Summit, a number of successful partnerships were created, including a new partnership between South Africa’s Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), a public entity and the South African angel investor networks, Dazzle Angels and Jozi Angels. ABAN also signed an MoU with the African Union to deepen their collaboration to support entrepreneurship across the continent.

Additionally, L’Afrique Excelle, the Francophone edition of the World Bank Group’s XL Africa post-accelerator, formally launched at the 2018 Summit. The programme brought an unprecedented spotlight and momentum to French-speaking African growth stage start-ups. Over 30 VC funds including the IFC, ODV, Proparco, Outlierz Ventures and Compass VC formally signed up as investment partners for the program, with most of these partnerships formed over the two days of the Summit.

VC4A Venture Showcase – Series A

In 2017 and 2018, the Summit also featured a venture showcase of leading African digitally-enabled scale-ups from across the continent, resulting in a number of series A deals totaling over $15 million.

In the 6th edition, ten growth-stage companies that have been selected and vetted by Africa’s leading VCs will be introduced in the showcase. These companies represent a new class of investment opportunities across the continent.

The selected ventures have strong revenues, are well-positioned for regional and international expansion, and demonstrate important innovations that are disrupting industries like agriculture, healthcare, housing, transportation, and finance.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

Afrikan Heroes

Tag: VC4A

VC4A Calls On African Startups Looking To Raise Between $150k-$1m To Apply

Here Is What You Need To Know

A Look At What This Year’s Edition Holds

The 10 selected startups get:

How To Apply

Charles Rapulu Udoh

African Startups Called On To Apply And Get Up To $10m At Virtual VC4A Series A Venture Showcase

Here Is What You Need To Know

What Are Expected of Startups Applying?

Deadline For Application

About VC4A

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Venture Capital For Africa (VC4A) Announces Showcase to Promote Startups in Africa

Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A) and African Business Angel Network (ABAN) announce the 6th edition of its Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2019)

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Afrikanheroes/