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 righ ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 fu ..read more

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. Quick 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 ..read more

?️ **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 ..read more

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 ..read more

In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, host Jason Delorie reconnects with Stephano Rose, an African diaspora entrepreneur based in Australia and the founder of Next Avenue. Join them as they delve into Stephano's journey, the growth of Next Avenue, and his valuable insights for success in the African market. Key Takeaways: 1. Building Structure and Agility: Stephano highlights the importance of balancing structure and agility as Next Avenue scaled. Maintaining lean operations while establishing key processes allowed the team to pivot and adapt to changing market needs. 2. Cultivating ..read more

The Rising Potential of Africa - A Conversation with Jason Delorie and Gabriel Delerue We met Gabriel for the first time  in March 2021, Season 5, Episode 10. In this episode we move from Mauritius to Morocco where Gabriel and his family now reside. Gabriel, co-founder and CEO of Fleeti, shares his growth, expansion ambitions, and challenges he faced over the last two years. Join us on this exciting episode of "Entrepreneurs Talk Africa", as we delve into a fascinating conversation with Jason Delorie and Gabriel Delerue. The dynamic duo discuss the evolving entrepreneurial landscape in ..read more

In this episode of Entrepreneurs Talk Africa, we catch up with Madvee Muthu, the founder of Bees with Stories, as she shares her journey over the past two years in the sustainable beekeeping industry. She discusses the challenges faced, milestones achieved, and the importance of personal touches in her business. Tune in to hear Madvee's insights and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction to Madvee Muthu, founder of Bees with Stories 02:03 - Recent challenges in the beekeeping industry, including security issues and weather conditions affecting the colonies 05:32 ..read more