Focused on strengthening local capital participation across the continent, the partnership is designed to bridge long-standing gaps between early-stage startups and local investors, focusing on three critical areas, including pipeline sharing, market knowledge exchange, and ecosystem development. 

Together, both organisations aim to build a stronger foundation for sustainable startup growth driven by African investors and African capital.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Yemi Keri, president of ABAN, said, “The future of Africa’s innovation economy depends on how effectively we can mobilise local capital and empower local investors. Our collaboration with Madica helps bridge the gap between angel investors and institutional capital, ensuring that more funding comes from within the continent, and that startups everywhere in Africa can access the right type of support to scale.”

Under the new MoU, ABAN and Madica Ventures will share access to curated, investment-ready startups, focusing on underserved regions that usually fall outside major investment hubs. 

Both parties will also facilitate direct learning between African angel investors and Madica’s global investment experts, a move expected to boost investor trust and improve deal quality across the board.

Emmanuel Adegboye, head of Madica, reinforced the partnership’s mission to go beyond funding:

“Early-stage founders in Africa need more than just capital. They need a community of investors who understand their context and champion their growth. We have seen firsthand that remarkable founders exist in every corner of the continent, yet too many remain disconnected from the capital and networks they need to thrive. 

“Through this collaboration with ABAN, we are closing that gap, aligning angels and institutional investors to work in sync, expand early funding pathways, and ensure that high-potential startups, wherever they are in Africa, have a real shot at scale.”

The agreement, which will remain active for two years, sets a foundation for more collaborative initiatives aimed at aligning local wealth with Africa’s rapidly growing startup scene.

Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, noted, “This collaboration reinforces our belief that Africans must finance Africa’s growth. By working with Madica, we are amplifying local capital participation and creating new pathways for investors to engage more meaningfully with the continent’s most promising ventures.”

Beyond the signatures and formalities, the ABAN–Madica partnership goes beyond capital mobilisation, it focuses on ownership, influence, and redefining the flow of investment power back to the continent.

In merging ABAN’s extensive angel network with Madica’s venture-building expertise, both organisations are bolstering how Africa’s startup ecosystem can evolve, prioritising sustainability, inclusivity, and local empowerment over dependency on foreign capital.

Africa’s next wave of innovation will be financed by Africans themselves.

The post ABAN, Madica Ventures Partner to Anchor Africa’s Startup Funding in Local Hands appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The result has been brilliant ideas birthed on the continent, frequently shaped to suit external expectations, while local investors watched from the sidelines. But things are changing.

In just a decade, the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) has proven that Africans are not only capable of calling the tune but of owning the entire orchestra. 

Coming from a handful of angel investors in 2012, the network has grown to over 7,000 across 37 countries, mobilising more than $35 million in early-stage investments. Its impact includes over 2,000 jobs created, 500,000 women reached through inclusive innovations, and nearly half of all angel investors now engaging in cross-border deals.

These statistics reveal a maturing ecosystem where local and diaspora investors are beginning to write cheques that reflect their belief in Africa’s potential. 

As the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) celebrates a decade of impacting the continent’s early-stage investment ecosystem, all eyes turn to Lagos for its 10th Anniversary Congress.

Themed “Accelerating Local Capital Participation,” the question is no longer whether Africa can fund Africa, but how fast, how courageous, and how collectively it can be done.

To speak on this journey and the road ahead, Techeconomy had an exclusive conversation with Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, who spoke on what it takes to build a trusted voice for angel investing on the continent, why Lagos is the perfect stage for this milestone, and how the next decade of African innovation will be enabled by local capital.

TE: Over the past decade, ABAN has mobilised over $35 million in early-stage investments across Africa. Looking back, what have been the defining moments that impacted this journey and established ABAN as the leading voice for angel investing on the continent?

Fadilah Tchoumba: The defining milestones for us from inception have been: 

• Training and activating over 7,000 angel investors across sector-agnostic and sector-focused investments, up from just a few dozen in 2012.
• Maintaining engagement with a community of 75 active ABAN angel network members across 37 African countries and the diaspora.
• Achieved a 50% gender balance in all programs, leading to the activation of 200+ women angel investors across seven female-led angel networks.
• Mobilising and catalysing over $22.5 million in angel capital towards 408 innovative early-stage ventures.
• Supporting the creation of 2,000+ jobs directly through portfolio companies, and impacted 500,000 women through access to inclusive innovations and product value chains.
• Establishing five new thematic angel networks in Africa focused on: Digital Trade, Climate-Smart Agriculture, Clean Technology, Smart Cities, and Sports & Creative sectors.
• Approximately 48% of angel investors engaged in cross-border deals, underscoring a growing pan-African investment mindset.
• Releasing 3 ABAN Angel Investment Survey Reports since 2022, and this year, we will be releasing our 4th report at the 1st ABAN Annual Congress on 17-18 November in Lagos.
• De-risking investments in 21 startups across 15 African countries through the Catalytic Africa Matching Fund, with over $3.1 million deployed.

Each step was intentional, building capital and investor capacity, credibility, and cross-border syndication. Over time, these moves established ABAN as a trusted voice and convener of Africa’s early-stage investment ecosystem.

TE: The 2025 Congress theme, “Accelerating Local Capital Participation”, emphasises Africa funding Africa. What practical strategies is ABAN introducing to significantly boost local and diaspora participation in early-stage investing over the next five years?

Fadilah Tchoumba: We are doubling down on three investor-focused strategies:

1. Catalytic Africa 2.0, which is a stronger co-investment mechanism designed to mobilise institutional, local, and diaspora capital into syndicates.
2. Investor accreditation; we will be launching Africa Business Angel Accreditation to professionalise Business Angel investing and boost confidence among new entrants.
3. Cross-border syndication vehicles, like Africa Business Angel Investment Vehicle (ABAIV), which provide structured, de-risked opportunities for diaspora investors to co-invest alongside local Business Angels.

These mechanisms are specifically designed to unlock larger ticket sizes, diversify deal flow, and strengthen Africa’s resilience against external capital shocks.

TE: Nigeria, and Lagos in particular, has been chosen as the host city for the Congress. Beyond its status as Africa’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem, what makes Lagos the ideal stage for this milestone gathering?

Fadilah Tchoumba: Lagos is more than just a startup hub. The city is Africa’s market getaway for innovation and scale. Lagos has produced unicorns, birthed thriving angel networks, and attracted global investors, while still reflecting the opportunities and challenges faced by entrepreneurs continent-wide. Hosting the ABAN Annual Congress in Lagos allows us to showcase Africa’s most dynamic ecosystem, while reinforcing the city as a model for how local capital and global ambition can intersect.

TE: Angel investing in Africa faces unique challenges, from policy gaps to risk perceptions. Which policy interventions or regulatory changes do you believe are most urgent to de-risk investments and build investor confidence?

Fadilah Tchoumba: Three interventions stand out:

1. Tax incentives and reliefs for angel investors to encourage wider participation.
2. Investor protection frameworks, particularly around shareholder rights and exit clarity.
3. Capital market access reforms, making it easier to syndicate, structure, and exit investments.

We are actively engaging with policymakers to ensure these enablers are not only designed but executed at scale across multiple African markets.

TE: Catalytic Africa 2.0 is set to launch during the Congress as a new investment vehicle for diaspora-local syndication. How will this initiative work in practice, and what measurable impact do you expect it to have on deal flow and startup growth?

Fadilah Tchoumba: Catalytic Africa 2.0 will match every dollar invested by registered local angel groups with catalytic funds from partners, effectively multiplying deal sizes and de-risking investor entry. By enabling diaspora syndication into these vehicles, it ensures both patient and smart capital flows into Africa’s most promising startups. We anticipate this will not only grow deal volume but also increase successful cross-border investments by at least 40% over the next three years. 

TE: As ABAN looks ahead to its next decade, what is your vision for the role African angel investors should play in driving innovation in high-growth sectors like AI, health-tech, cleantech, and the creative economy?

Fadilah Tchoumba: The next decade is about African Business Angels becoming market-makers, not just funders. By leveraging deep local knowledge and networks, African investors can de-risk frontier sectors like AI or health-tech where global capital remains cautious. Business Angels will also champion inclusive sectors the creative economy, sports, and climate-tech, which reflect Africa’s unique strengths. The vision is clear: Africa’s next wave of global solutions will be born from angel-backed startups, and ABAN’s role is to keep equipping investors to seize these opportunities because ultimately, Africa must fund Africa.

The post ABAN at 10: Fadilah Tchoumba on Celebrating Lagos Congress and the Future of Angel Investing appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

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

The post ABAN and #StartupSouth to Co-Host African Startup Investment Roundtable in Owerri appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

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.

The post ABAN Marks 10 Years with Landmark 2025 Congress in Lagos appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.