2021 was a record-setting year for African tech investment, with over 564 African start-ups raising just over US$2 billion in funding—and this despite the continued uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend continued in 2022, with VC funding hitting $3.5 billion in the first six months, nearly 90 percent of it tech related. Investors are coming to realize that Africa's economic landscape is highly vibrant and diversified, going far beyond a few "unicorns". This session will explore how new investment trends in Africa translate across geographic boundaries and attempt to answer investors' important questions. Where is the greatest entrepreneurial activity? How should investors assess and mitigate risk? What are the challenges to specific regions? How do trends, and thus opportunities, differ between the emerging versus developed markets on the continent? How does sustainability factor into the assessment of opportunities?

Opening Remarks

Carole Biau
Director, Global Market Development, Milken Institute

Patrice Motsepe
Chairman and Founder, African Rainbow Minerals

Moderator

Abi Mustapha-Maduakor
CEO, African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association

Speakers

Colin Buckley
Managing Director and General Counsel, British International Investment

Tokunboh Ishmael
Co-Founder and Managing Director, Alitheia Capital

Ziad Oueslati
Founding and Co-Managing Partner, AfricInvest

Daniel Yu
Founder and CEO, Wasoko