This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the drive to deepen local capital participation in Africa’s innovation ecosystem, particularly across Nigeria’s South-East region.

The event will also be a flagship feature of #StartupSouthX, the 10th convening of the #StartupSouth ecosystem billed for October 2-3, and is expected to bring together a powerful mix of angel investors, founders, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders.

The partnership will catalyse efforts to:

• Mobilise local and diaspora capital to support high-growth African startups

• Launch the Imo Business Angel Network (IBAN)

• Showcase investment-ready ventures from South-East Nigeria and beyond

• Foster cross-border collaboration among investors and ecosystem enablers

• Position Imo State as a leading model for sub-national, innovation-led development

• Contribute critical insights and momentum to the main ABAN Congress on 17 – 18 October 2025

Uche Aniche, #StartupSouth Convener, expressed his excitement in partnering with ABAN in this historic effort to build the investment infrastructure in South-East Nigeria. He emphasised that Owerri is a fitting stage for this gathering, and looks forward to welcoming Africa’s investor community.

“This partnership with ABAN and the hosting of the African Business Angel Investment Roundtable in Imo State represents more than a milestone; it is a clear signal of the growing maturity and strategic depth of Africa’s startup and investment ecosystem. By convening this high-level conversation in the South-East, we are elevating the region’s role in shaping the future of innovation and entrepreneurship on the continent. More importantly, it creates a timely platform to catalyze local capital participation and deepen the investment pipeline for founders across the South-East and South-South. It’s a bold and fitting way to commence #StartupSouthX Sessions.” 

Speaking on the strategic importance of regional engagement and inclusive capital mobilisation, Yemi Keri, President of ABAN, emphasized the importance of this partnership:

“This partnership with #StartupSouth is a clear demonstration of ABAN’s commitment to deepening local capital participation across all regions of Africa. By co-hosting this roundtable in Owerri, we’re not only expanding the reach of angel investing but also celebrating the innovation potential of Nigeria’s South-East. It is essential that every founder, no matter where they are based, has access to smart capital and supportive networks.”

Also speaking on the significance of the partnership and its alignment with the broader goals of ABAN Congress 2025, Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, stated:

“ABAN is committed to amplifying early-stage capital mobilisation across the continent. Our partnership with #StartupSouth is a strategic step towards democratizing access and ensuring that angel investment reaches founders and regions often overlooked. The Owerri roundtable sets the tone for ABAN Congress 2025, where we will reflect on a decade of impact and activate bold, Africa-led capital solutions for the next. We are excited to build with partners who share our vision.”

The event will feature curated startup showcases, investor-founder dialogues, ecosystem conversations, and the unveiling of the IBAN Framework.

Outputs from the roundtable will feed into the main ABAN Congress 2025, taking place in Lagos, this October 2025.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building stronger sub-national investment ecosystems and ensuring that insights from regional innovation hubs help shape continent-wide investment strategies. 

For partnership opportunities and general inquiries, contact secretariat@abanangels.org

To celebrate 10 years of building the continent’s early-stage investment ecosystem, ABAN will host its Annual Congress 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, the beating heart of Africa’s innovation capital.

Under the bold theme “Accelerating Local Capital Participation,” the two-day Congress will bring together a dynamic mix of investors, policymakers, startup founders, fund managers, and ecosystem enablers to chart a future where Africa funds Africa.

A Decade of Impact, A Future of Possibility

Since its inception in 2015, ABAN has mobilised over $35 million in early-stage investments and nurtured a pan-African community of more than 5,000 business angel investors spanning 37 African countries and the diaspora.

But the 2025 Congress is not just a celebration, it’s a strategic inflection point.

“Africa’s greatest resource is its people, and their willingness to invest in one another,” said Yemi Keri, president of ABAN. “This Congress is not about looking back. It’s about looking forward with boldness, intention, and action.”

Four Strategic Pillars Driving the 2025 Congress Agenda:

1. Scaling Local & Diaspora Participation: Unlocking domestic and diaspora capital to fuel inclusive innovation and keep value creation on the continent.
2. Sector-Focused Investment: Prioritising high-growth sectors like agritech, fintech, health-tech, cleantech, AI, edtech, sports, and the creative economy.
3. Policy Advocacy: Advancing enabling policies that de-risk early-stage investing and increase investor confidence.
4. Cross-Border Syndication: Strengthening pan-African investment networks to enable smarter syndication and shared deal flow across regions.

Why Lagos? Why Now?

As Africa’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem, Nigeria, and Lagos in particular, has shown the world what happens when local capital meets local ingenuity.

Hosting the Congress in Lagos sends a clear message: African investors must lead the charge in shaping Africa’s innovation economy.

Voices from the Vanguard

“We’ve seen how local capital transforms ecosystems by backing underrepresented founders and building solutions for local problems,” said Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN.

“It’s time to scale what works—through smarter syndication, policy innovation, and investor education. This Congress is where that vision takes flight.”

What to Expect at ABAN Congress 2025

High-Level Keynotes & Fireside Chats
Startup Showcases & Pitch Rounds
Thematic Investment Panels (Health, AI, Climate Resilience, Digital Trade, etc.)
Roundtable Strategy Labs for policy and syndication innovation
Catalytic Africa 2.0 Launch – A new investment vehicle for diaspora-local syndication
Release of the ABAN Angel Investment Report 2025
ABAN Gala Awards Ceremony – Honouring trailblazers in Africa’s angel investing movement

A Call to Action: Africa Must Fund Africa

The 2025 Congress represents more than a milestone, it’s a catalytic platform to align capital with purpose, connect pan-African strategies, and activate the next generation of angel investors.

“This is not the time to sit on the sidelines,” said Keri. “Africa’s future will be built by Africans who believe in it, and who back that belief with capital, courage, and collaboration.”

Get Involved

• For partnerships and participation: secretariat@abanangels.org
• For media inquiries and interviews: amimo@abanangels.org

Visit ABAN’s Website to explore membership, networks, and investment opportunities.