This years discussion pillars
Innovation in Action
A spotlight on frontier sectors—from AI and climate tech to cultural innovation and manufacturing. This pillar unpacks how African-led innovation is shaping investment thesis. It showcases the bold ideas, indigenous technologies, and market-specific adaptations that are pushing Africa from a consumer to a creator economy.
Inclusive Investing
This pillar focuses on shifting capital to overlooked geographies, women-led businesses, and historically marginalized communities. Gender lens and inclusive investing remain front and center. We’ll examine the data, the deal flows, and the systemic shifts required to embed equity into the DNA of Africa’s investment ecosystem.
Catalytic Partnerships
Exploring how diaspora, public-private partnerships, DFIs, and local stakeholders can synergize to amplify outcomes, mitigate risks, and support market expansion. This pillar seeks to uncover how trust-based networks and shared vision can unlock new capital flows and scalable infrastructure for African enterprises.
From Startups to Scale
How do we move beyond access to capital and toward intentional ownership? This pillar explores long-term investment vehicles, blended capital, and models of ownership that build African wealth and power. This pillar challenges investors and founders to rethink not just how capital is raised—but how it’s retained, circulated, and leveraged to entrench African equity in global markets.
From Startups to Scale
African markets require flexible investment strategies. This pillar will explore smart exits, secondary buyouts, and pathways to scale through regional collaboration and policy reform. It will also interrogate what it takes to build resilient companies in volatile environments—and the investor mindsets needed to see the long game through.
#AESIS2025 audience
● Established Investors – angel networks, VCs, family offices.
● Emerging Investors – aspiring angels, fund managers.
● Investing ESOs – accelerators and support orgs investing directly in startups.
● Investors of Investors – DFIs, fund-of-funds, pension funds, HNWIs.
● Supporting Stakeholders – policy makers, think tanks, media, consultants.
● Startup Founders – portfolio companies and high-potential startups curated for deal visibility.
What happened last November...
Here’s what to happened at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2024, in Cape Town. The event was the premier gathering for investors passionate about Africa’s startup ecosystem.
- 2 full days of engaging masterclasses and breakaway sessions
- Custom investor experiences
- Deal morning including Venture Showcase and LP/GP Office Hours
- Networking cocktail, breakfast and lunches
- Exit series, gender series and impact series
- Awards ceremony
Last years speakers
Scroll across to see this years confirmed speakers.
Investor Experiences
On Thursday evening of #AESIS2024, we brought back our popular investor experiences! Our attendees stepped out of the conference for a unique, casual networking opportunity. Check out some of the highlights below.
