I-venture Africa

We had a fruitful meeting today at the ministry of finance planning and economic development hosted by Mr Richard Ndyanabo a principal economist at the ministry who is also chairman of the Uganda microfinance regulatory authority.

Happy labour day celebrations our online family, and remember. In all labour there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. 

Apply for the
Social Entrepreneurship Competition in Tourism 2024
The Social Entrepreneurship Competition in Tourism is the first worldwide competition focusing on social innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality.

Ten finalists will receive invaluable 8-week business mentorship from our expert Mentors and will compete at the final Pitch Contest on 28 November 2024.

The winners in each category will receive marketing and business support from our partners, online trainings, feedback from industry experts, event exposure, and many more from our 2024 partners: booking.com, Amadeus, Lufthansa City Center, Travel Massive, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, SINA, ITB Berlin, Teejit, and WIIF.
https://socialtourismcompetition.com/

🚀 Navigating the Future: Insights and Reflections on Africa's Startup Landscape.

As we bid farewell to 2023, The Big Deal’s latest report unveils a captivating story of resilience within Africa’s startup realm amid a global funding ebb. 🌍💡 Despite an eyebrow-raising 39% YoY dip in overall funding, there's a silver lining worth celebrating. The stability in the number of startups securing at least $100k and the unswerving average deal size suggest that investors are maintaining their gaze on Africa's promising potential, even as belts are being tightened.

🌍💡 Sustainability in Startup Growth: A Debt-Driven Odyssey
While the 47% YoY surge in debt financing may raise a few eyebrows, constituting 38% of all funding, up from 16% in 2022, we must explore the sustainability of this approach. Are African startups embarking on a journey where debt is a trusted companion, or is it a fleeting romance?

🤔 Key Points for Discussion:
Is Debt the True North?
Debunking the sustainability of debt-driven strategies.
Balancing debt with robust business models and clear repayment plans.

⚖️ Navigating the Risks
The risks and challenges tied to debt financing.
Strategies for startups to sail through the unpredictable waves of economic changes.

💼 Business Models for Smooth Sailing
The importance of solid business models and diversified revenue streams.

📉 Venture Capital’s Hesitation: Decoding the Puzzle
Is the downward trend in equity funding indicative of venture capitalists embracing a more cautious stance? Is there a seismic shift, or are traditional VCs merely catching their breath in the face of global economic tremors?

Points for Consideration:
📉 Equity Funding Rollercoaster
Understanding VCs' growing risk aversion.
Showcasing innovation and profitability as a winning combo for startup attraction.

🚀 Struggles for Early Bloomers
The impact on early-stage startups seeking traditional VC funding.
The call for exploring alternative financing avenues and enhancing value propositions.

🌱 Cultivating Innovation
Fostering an environment supporting risk-taking and innovation.
The role of policies, mentorship, and industry collaboration in nurturing innovation.

💸 Alternative Financing: Beyond the Horizon
With debt funding soaring, what lies beyond for startups seeking diverse financial avenues? Angel investors, crowdfunding, and government grants offer promising landscapes.

Points of Interest:
👼 Angels Among Us
Roles of angel investors in capital and mentorship.
Crowdfunding and government grants as pillars of a diverse funding ecosystem.

🌐 Beyond Debt's Embrace
Creating an ecosystem for varied funding mechanisms.
The necessity of partnerships, investor education, and streamlined regulatory processes.

🚀🔮 Into 2024: Navigating the Unknown
As we set sail into 2024, envisioning a path for Africa's startup landscape:

💹 Profitability Takes Center Stage:
Startups prioritize sustainable businesses with robust economics.
Shift towards profitability and customer value as key success metrics.

🚀 Fintech and Blockchain Ascendancy:
Anticipating a surge in startups leveraging fintech and blockchain.
Innovations enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in financial sectors.

🌍 Regional Unity:
Embracing the benefits of cross-border collaboration.
Shared infrastructure, knowledge exchange, and partnerships to overcome resource limitations.
In the footsteps of the challenges faced in 2023, 2024 stands as a canvas for lessons learned and an opportunity for even greater strides in Africa's dynamic startup ecosystem. 🌱🌐 #2024 📸 at the AfriLabs gathering in kigali 2023with

We wish you a meaningful & Merry Christmas to you and a prosperous new year.

From Uganda to Cape Town: Waape Takes the Uganda Crown at the national GEC+ Africa Pitch Competition.

Obugalo 👏👏👏👏and Drumroll, please! 🥁🥁🥁

We had the usual honorable duty and privilege to award the Uganda representative Global Entrepreneurship Congress + Africa pitch competition to the innovative Ugandan startup, Waape! 👏👏👏

Organized by Global Entrepreneurship Network Uganda 🇺🇬 , in collaboration with The Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC+Africa) and Enterprise Uganda, the + Africa Regional Pitch Competition sought out the brightest minds and most promising startups across Uganda. 💡💡💡

Eligible startups included pre-seed or seed-stage ventures with at least a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), as well as non-tech startups or post-revenue SMMEs. 💻📱📈

After a rigorous selection process, participating startups underwent a preparatory bootcamp and pitched their heart out to a panel of expert judges. 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Waape, the brainchild of a talented Ugandan team, emerged as the overall winner, captivating the judges with their innovative solution and promising future. 🏆🥇🏆

As the Ugandan champion, Waape has secured an all-expenses-paid trip to Cape Town, South Africa, for the GEC+ Cape Town event. ✈️🌍✈️

There, Waape will have the chance to pitch their groundbreaking concept to a global audience and compete for a share of a staggering $100,000 in investment! 💰💸💰

This is a remarkable achievement for Waape, and I couldn’t be more proud of their success. Their victory is a testament to the incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit that exists in Uganda. 🇺🇬💪🇺🇬

Congratulations once again to Waape, and I wish them the best of luck as they represent Uganda on the global stage! 🌎✨🚀

Hon Anite Evelyn AfriLabs KARAA Al Ananura Amos Wekesa Uganda Innovation Week Makerere University College of Computing and Information Sciences Harvard Business School Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

As draws closer, allow us to cheat for your exams!

Here is your marking guide to help you make that awesome pitch during the Deal Rooms session.
Register today - https://uiw.ug/deal-rooms/

🌟 Our managing director, Allan Ananura had an incredible opportunity to connect with Uganda 🇺🇬 State Minister for Finance and Investment, Hon Hon Anite Evelyn🤝 Along with other investor clusters they delved into the exciting scene, addressing our concerns, and brainstorming ways for the government to collaborate with Digital Innovation Hubs. Their goal? Not just job creation, but fostering sustainable economic growth. 🚀

🏛️ The Ministry of Finance is orchestrating a groundbreaking meeting with the Uganda Investment Authority, setting the stage for a pivotal dialogue with potential investors later this month. We're confident that this will pave the way for a more nurturing environment for to flourish and prosper. 💼💡

🌍💰👩‍💼🚀

AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2023,Highlights

Hon. Calvo Uyarra, European Union Ambassador to Rwanda, provided an outlook into AEDIB|NET 2.0, which aims to strengthen the African-European digital innovation ecosystem by supporting local digital innovation and start-up ecosystems in Africa and facilitating collaboration between European and African Digital Innovation Hubs.

AEDIB 2.0 has three concrete objectives that are vital in fortifying this innovation bridge:

1. Enhancing Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy and Regulatory Environment for Twin Digital and Green Transition: Guided by evidence-based policies, the ambition is to create an enabling regulatory environment conducive to innovation and private sector growth, ensuring a flourishing ecosystem.

2. Building, Strengthening, and Connecting Digital Innovation Ecosystems for Twin Digital and Green Transition: The initiative aims to equip Digital Innovation Hubs with the necessary skills and connections, empowering them to drive transformative change within the innovation ecosystem.

3. Promoting Innovative Financing for Twin Digital and Green Transition: The commitment is to facilitate financial support for ventures, establish links with investor networks and development banks, and foster the scale-up of enterprises to drive sustainable growth and development.

NET

I-venture Africa🌍🚀

We're thrilled to share that we were a part of the grand finale at the African European Digital Innovation Bridge Network (AEDIB|NET) Summit on October 9th, 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda. 🌟

AEDIB|NET is on a mission to strengthen the bond between African and European digital innovation ecosystems. Their dedication to supporting local digital innovation and start-up communities in Africa, while fostering collaboration between European and African DIHs, is truly commendable. 🔗

This summit marked the culmination of three years of hard work, where valuable partnerships between African and European innovation hubs were formed. It was a platform for stakeholders to reflect, exchange insights, and chart the course for AEDIB 2.0, launched during the last EU-AU Summit. This initiative is an integral part of the Africa-Europe Global Gateway Investment Package for Digital, Education, and Research. 🌐

Stay tuned for more exciting updates and collaborations from iVenture Africa as we continue to be at the forefront of innovation in Uganda and beyond! 🌍💡

Exciting times for Uganda's startup ecosystem! The annual Uganda Innovation Week back bringing together the nation’s leading innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders.

This year, the focus is on dynamic networking, strategic partnerships and relationship building.

If you're an investment-ready entrepreneur and would like to be part of the Investor Lounge, you can fill out the form below.

👨🏾‍💻 Tech Company: forms.gle/TjTmGc2e3hyq8d…
🕴🏾SME: forms.gle/yZKkdyBbP4EtTR…

🌍✨ Exciting times to be alive, last week from the 11th to 14th October in Kigali at the 2023 AfriLabs gathering, We had the honor of moderating the Start Investment Pitch, and I rightly think it was the best track to attend but that just my opinion 😅.

Here are some highlights of the event overall.

🚀 Our theme this year was “Accelerating Africa's Digital Economy", bringing together entrepreneurs, some of the brightest minds and innovators from across the continent for 3 days of Panel discussions, workshops, and incredible networking opportunities left us all with valuable insights.

Under the investor track, iventure Africa startup cup final finalists KARAA and dietitian App pitched their businesses to a panel of judges Kizihira the COO of tap and go Rwanda and Prof. Isidore Bikoko manager of Intellium a business incubators in Cameron who gave the startups much needed feedback on their path to investment.

📣 2.0's launch 🚀 got the spotlight. This groundbreaking initiative is set to transform connectivity and collaboration across Africa, fueling innovation in the entrepreneurial landscape.

🤝 Strong partnerships across the continent were forged, reaffirming our commitment to driving positive change in Africa's digital ecosystem. 🌟

🙌 But the value in my opinion was in the connections made. AfriLabs members from across Africa came together, exchanging ideas and planning for the future.

💪 Again, what a time to be alive. 🌍🌟

.0 🚀🌟

@ The Ministry of Youth and ICT, (MyictRwanda) Africa AFRICA K***a Ingabire Uganda

It’s our conviction that Africa is the on the verge of something great in regards to and development in the African context.

Startups here are building truly Afrocentric innovations that solve for our challenges ranging from you name it.

And we are thrilled to make those connections to other entrepreneur support organizations across the continent.

🚀 The AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2023 kicks off in , . 3 days of innovation, collaboration, and insightful discussions. An extraordinary event shaping Africa's tech future!

FUNDING ALERT!
ADVOCACY FUND CALL FOR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
August 14, 2023

The Healthy Food Policy Advocacy Fund, part of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), is currently accepting new applications through Monday, September 4th, 2023.

About the Healthy Food Policy Advocacy Fund

The Healthy Food Policy Advocacy Fund provides critical support to help advance promising legislative or regulatory efforts on healthy food policy. The purpose of the Advocacy Fund is to support the adoption of evidence-informed healthy food policies by investing in timebound and strategic campaigns, and in doing so, grow both the food policy evidence base and a global network of advocates. Advocacy Fund grants are intended to support urgent, short-term campaigns in response to needs and opportunities related to healthy food policies.

Areas include

Taxes on sweetened beverages and/or ultra-processed food
-Front-of-package warning labeling (FOPL)
-Restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food and beverages
-Healthy food environments and food procurement and service policies in the public sector, including schools
The Advocacy Fund may also be used to block harmful policies that are not informed by the best available evidence and/or free of conflict of interest and that would set negative precedents and undermine effective food policies.https://www.advocacyincubator.org/what-we-do/our-public-health-advocacy-programs/food-policy/healthy-food-policy-advocacy-fund

Call for applications: Impact-Linked Loans
PUBLISHED: 7TH AUGUST 2023
The first call for applications for Impact-Linked Loans is open!

Impact-Linked Loans are available for water and sanitation enterprises operating in Eastern or Southern Africa.

Impact-Linked Loans are the newest financing instrument offered through the Impact-Linked Fund for WASH. These uncollateralised loans allow impact enterprises to access capital at concessional conditions, by connecting the impact generated with better terms.

Interested? More information on the application process, timeline and the Impact-Linked Loans is available in the “Call for applications” brochure and FAQ. You can also join the webinar on 30 August at 12:00 pm (CEST) to learn how Impact-Linked Loans work and to ask any questions on the loans or the application.

To join the webinar, you have to first register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9ew_nlXcRyGA1mBW6sYqtg

If you have other questions, please contact us at: [email protected]

The application deadline is 10 September 2023 at 23:59 (CEST).



Apply here!

2:00 pm today 15/11/2022 on twitter spaces

https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1LyxBqmAoqaJN

📢 Coming Up!!

Don't miss out on this immersive conversation on intellectual property hosted by
I-venture Africa , happening today afternoon from 2:00pm.

How do you join? You can follow this conversation in real time on Twitter spaces via https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1LyxBqmAoqaJN

There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others.The more common types include , , , and secrets.

It is not uncommon for innovators to lose revenue simply because they don’t secure intellectual property redress or the laws are simply unenforceable.

Next week: We will be hosting a pre-Uganda Innovation Week panel discussion themed:
*Intellectual property and redress: Enhancing policies that support Innovation*

Specifically, we would like to discuss how enforceable intellectual property laws are in the African context and what can be done to strengthen the laws.

What does the future look like in light of new technology?

Date: 15th November 2022
Venue: Innovation Village Opposite St. Luke Church Ntinda
Time : 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

The Uganda Innovation Week will be executed in partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) the National Social Security Fund the International Trade Center ITC and Capital to hold the event.

What are some interesting questions might you have for this rich panel ?


#




Emmanuel Mugabi Damalie Tibugwisa Baguma Richard Tinkasimire Patrick Joram Mugisha (MOOGY) Olivia Kyarimpa Matovu - MCIArb

We Arrived at the National Science Week . Science Technology & Innovation to make Uganda .

We utterly liked the idea of making Uganda the best because at first listen the thought sounds utopian.

Which is hardly true, Uganda can and should achieve its best potential if each one of us do our part.

We pledge to do our part.

Are you a start-up that is actively raising capital right now? Join the investor matchmaking at the Investment Guide Uganda launch in Kampala. On 19th August 2022.

Only 10 spots are available. Register to submit your interest: www.starthubafrica.org/investor-matchmaking

Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) from Global Entrepreneurship Network.

Program Description:
The national finals will take place between June and September in 200 countries. In October, global finalists will be invited to participate in an intensive Startup Bootcamp.
The top 100 startups will advance to the quarterfinals and compete for a chance to pitch at the Global Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November.
Eligibility criteria:
There is no entry fee
Any startup from around the world is welcome to apply and be an applicant.
Applicant(s) must be legally registered or planning to register in their country of residence.
Applicants must be under seven (7) years of age as on the date of the Global Finals.
EWC Global winners from previous editions are not eligible to participate in EWC 2022 again.
Employees of the Organizers, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotional agencies, suppliers, and immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the Contest.

Prize: USD $1 million in cash and/or investment total and one combined for global winners USD $75 million worth of in-kind support Not to mention investment opportunities and awesome resources and perks from our key partners, for the top 100 global finalists.
In addition to these global awards, several national competitions offer their own awards at the EWC Qualifier stage.
Benefits:
All applicants will have access to EWC Accelerates, a virtual training program that helps entrepreneurs hone their skills and increase their chances of winning national competitions and advancing to the Global Finals.
The EWC online platform also provides all contestants who start the application access to $1,000 worth of perks.
All founders who complete an application will have access to more than $25,000 in perks.
The top EWC100 will receive $100,000 in in-kind services from partners such as AWS, FreshWorks, Google Cloud, HubSpot, Stripe, Zoom, and more.
All global finalists will receive an additional package of perks and in-kind support services and automatic admission to the General Starters Club, an invitation-only community of talented founders.

Competition rules:
https://www.genglobal.org/ewc/about/rules

Join us today the 21st of July 2022 at 14:00 GMT | 15:00 WAT | 16:00 CAT | 17:00 EAT where the fabulous Erskine will host our distinguished guests from the Global Initiatives.

This session will give you insights into the benefits of a digital transformation, and some tips on how to start your business transformation journey – tailored for the African continent

The session will feature:
Yong, Secretary-General, Digital Talent Network , Founder & CEO of M2C Co.

Chandee Zhuang, Senior Advisor, Alibaba Global Initiatives, Alibaba Group

Andargachew, Founder & CEO of Management & Technology Solutions, President of Digital Transformation Ethiopia Association

Obianuju Uzo-Ojinnaka, Founder & CEO of of Africa

Aboubakar Karim, Founder & CEO of Investiv

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BKKQfT3PSbaTBnNVyf3law
see you there

The slides say it all we are “Better off together indeed.” Innovationhubs in Africa and the world at large are better off working together since our ultimate goals are aligned.

Pleased to have met from the monitoring and evaluation team at this afternoon. cc