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Day Two: The Funding Equation – Africa Tech Festival’s AfricaIgnite unpacks top tips for start-ups

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Africa Tech Festival

Chemistry, then brain power and proof of concept, the key to unlocking investment

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 17, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Delegates at Africa Tech Festival 2023 (https://apo-opa.co/473ZEif) in Cape Town were given a master class on the dos and don’ts of fundraising on Wednesday 15 November, during several sessions at AfricaIgnite, the festival’s dedicated start-up zone. And surprisingly, establishing a good rapport with potential funders came out as the top tip.

Africa is an intellectual property factory – DERRICK ASHONG, CEO, TBTM

Said Eric Osiakwan of Chanzo Capital: “Investors look for chemistry and that comes from your storytelling.  Ask yourself, how do I make a connection with a person which is less transactional? Tell them what you are doing and why you are doing it. After the initial connection, the rest becomes easier. But you have to tell your investor something that sticks out and stays in their mind, something unique.”
 
Joining the list of reasons why investors say “no”, is not having enough information at hand. “Last year I spoke to over 100 start-ups who complained they were just not getting funding. I went on a road show to find out why, and investors say they just aren’t getting enough information during pitches. You have one shot in that room to present. There is no harm in, before your pitch, sending an email to see what they require from you,” said Lara Rosman of UVU Accelerate.
 
Keshni Morar, of Investable outlined the different types of funding. “Angel funders usually take the first level of risk, so they expect a lot, while VCs will first have a talk with LPs [limited partners] to see if there is potential for growth. Private equity investors look for a company that is stable, is growing and has a good income. The important thing is you have to choose the appropriate fundraising for the stage that your company is in.”
 
Sherif Nessim, of Jedar Capital, says timing is imperative. “You need to know when to start raising funds, what type of equity and value. And don’t raise more than you need. Also consider what amount you want to raise and how much equity you want to give away.”
 
Painting a picture for tomorrow requires investment today
Africa’s burgeoning creative economy was also spotlighted on Wednesday, with Felix Orevoghene Alaita, noting that a lack of funding for Africa’s creator economy is due to investors not believing in content made in Africa.  Alaita, who is a retired army colonel, now turned tech start-up founder who also owns a creative hub, movie, and music studio in Nigeria, said: “The value you bring to government coffers is minimal. We must push to make the industry more visible.  We can’t rely on government to assist so we need to align ourselves to the right people.”
 
But another hurdle for Africa’s creative economy to overcome, is convincing those with the deep pockets to see this sector as a viable and sustained industry that can deliver returns.  “The creative industry is created by perception like how successful it will be, potential income… So, it’s difficult for people to believe in this. It’s not like a tangible thing like a toll road that you invest in,” said Derrick Ashong, CEO of TBTM.
 
During the panel discussion, Funding Gaps in the African Creator Economy, Ashong said all aspects of Africa’s creator economy are underfunded. “What you are in fact selling is your intellectual property. There’s a lack of capital overall because there’s a lack of understanding that investors are investing in intellectual property,” Ashong said.
 
Guy Kamgaing, StarNews Mobile CEO, agreed: The essence of entertainment comes out of Africa. Once you understand just how much is coming from Africa, you’ll realise we have to create a lot of instruments (to highlight the industry).”
 
Ashong suggests that African creators are too “hyper-local”. “One of the biggest missing elements, is the inability to create content that appeals globally. We have to make it more relatable, so we can aggregate enough audiences. You can’t tell me African creators don’t have the wherewithal to stand up globally …. Africa is an intellectual property factory.”
 
Kamgaing countered that it was important for creators to first make money in Africa before doing so abroad. “They need to make money in Africa first. Americans make their money there and the Koreans make their money in Korea,” he said.  
 
Africa Tech Festival continues Thursday 16th November with yet more incredible content including the exciting AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition, which will see one lucky winner make their way to the USA to battle it out for USD 1 million investment in the final of the Pegasus Start-Up World Cup.

For more information about Africa Tech Festival, please see website here: Africa Tech Festival 2023 – The Home of AfricaCom & AfricaTech (https://apo-opa.co/473ZEif)

View all ticket options for Africa Tech Festival, including start-up passes, here: https://apo-opa.co/49mTtau

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 

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Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

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Etu Energias

As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

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Energy

The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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