Connect with us

Business

Meet the portfolio of the 2022 VC4A Venture Showcase Africa – Women founder edition

Published

on

VC4A

VC4A is proud to announce the 14 women founders selected for the 2022 VC4A Venture Showcase Africa

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, September 1, 2022/APO Group/ — 

VC4A (VC4A.com) is pleased to put the spotlight on 14 amazing founders selected from our flagship Venture Showcase (https://bit.ly/3w9Pk7T) program dedicated to women-led businesses this year. Each founder is building innovative solutions, bringing disruptive business models that seek to change access to vital services across critical industries – from healthcare to education, from peer-to-peer marketplace to transportation and financial services, these companies are transforming our society.

Each startup from the portfolio is looking to raise their Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A rounds ranging from $250K to $10M. Learn more about the businesses they are building and the impact they can have for your country or region.

Series A

Chefaa (https://bit.ly/3wIvzV5) (HealthTech, Egypt),

Bankly (https://bit.ly/3CQlfP2) (FinTech, Nigeria)

Dabchy (https://bit.ly/3RqyOsj) (Peer to peer Marketplace, Tunisia)

Seed

Buupass (https://bit.ly/3eiDDpy) (Transport, Kenya)

GATE Academy (https://bit.ly/3Rohx2Y) (EdTech, Nigeria)

HOJA (https://bit.ly/3wOp2sh) (Transport/Smart Cities, DRC)

Innovative CLAN (https://bit.ly/3ADNj5s) (EdTech, Cameroon)

Pivo Technology Limited (https://bit.ly/3B47smp) (FinTech, Nigeria)

Each startup from the portfolio is looking to raise their Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A rounds ranging from $250K to $10M

Taimba (https://bit.ly/3CQn9za) (AgriTech, Kenya)

Zuri Health (https://bit.ly/3cDaDIk) (HealthTech, Kenya)

PremierCredit (https://bit.ly/3KEDzMB) (FinTech, Zambia)

Rahet Bally (https://bit.ly/3wJwq8k) (Moms Community/SaaS, Egypt)

Pre-Seed

Emergency Response Africa (https://bit.ly/3AHSZv4) (HealthTech, Nigeria)

HerVest (https://bit.ly/3TJup5U) (FinTech/AgriTech, Nigeria)

Of the $4B invested into startups across Africa in 2021, the Africa: The Big Deal (https://bit.ly/3KzG6b8) report reveals that “7% of the funding went to start-ups led by female CEOs. That’s $1 in every $15 raised going to women-led businesses.

This is exactly why “beyond understanding the problem and creating awareness, VC4A decided to take action or the problems will never be addressed. The Venture Showcase Africa a Women founder edition (https://bit.ly/3w9Pk7Twas launched in April as a concrete way to engage investors and drive capital support to outstanding women led companies.”

Ben White co-founder and CEO VC4A

Speaking to the importance of spotlighting these companies – “Developing tailored financial tools for women business owners should be deliberate. If we treat it as a deliberate action, we recognize and understand the barriers that prevent women from accessing finance. If we don’t treat it as a deliberate action, it will be mere lip service”

Fadilah Tchoumba Secretary General at ABAN

Over the next two months, the selected startups will be mentored by top VC investors and receive access to the bespoke VC4A curriculum before delivering their pitch at the 9th edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (#AESIS2022) (https://bit.ly/3KAfg2D). This year the three-day hybrid summit, co-organized with ABAN (African Business Angel Network) will take place from 2-4 November 2022, with a mix of virtual and in-person components including Investor meetups in over 25 cities all over the world.

As an active player dedicated to supporting the development of startup ecosystems in emerging markets, VC4A worked closely with the Africa investment community and Entrepreneur Support Organizations to refer candidates to the Showcase, involving investors in the screening, selection and interview process. We take this opportunity to recognise our collaborators, Business Angels, VCs, Family Office and Corporate funds across the continent and beyond such as American University Cairo BA,  Aquarius Africa, Bond’innov, Katapult VC, NedBank Ventures, Compass Venture Capital, EAVCA, Enygma Ventures, Factor(e), FINCA Ventures, Five35 Ventures, 500 Startups, Flat6Labs, GSMA, Gray Matters Capital, HIMangel, HPE Growth, Impact DRC Angel, Kalon Venture Partners, Knife Capital, Launch Africa Ventures, Leapfrog Investment, Mercy Corps, Newtown Partners, Norrsken, Orange Ventures, Outlierz, Persistent Energy, Proparco, Rising Tide Africa, ShEquity, Shell Foundation, Seedstars, Total Energies, Ubomi and the Zambia Business Angels. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VC4A.

Business

Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

Published

on

Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

Continue Reading

Business

Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

Published

on

PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Continue Reading

Business

Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

Published

on

Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

Continue Reading

Trending