Emmanuel Adegboye

🚀 NODO's Caleb Nnamani Hosts Top VC Chat in Inaugural Tech Event We're proud to announce that our stellar Writer and Content Lead, Caleb Nnamani, recently moderated a high-profile panel discussion on venture capital funding in the African tech ecosystem, hosted by The Factory Place. The strategic session brought together distinguished voices in African tech investment, including Oluwatofunmi Idowu from LoftyInc Capital and Techstars-backed entrepreneur Dipo O Gbadebo. The panel delved into critical discussions about democratizing access to funding in African tech—particularly timely given the current market dynamics affecting early-stage companies. This invitation reflects NODO's growing influence in the African tech landscape and our commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue about the ecosystem's future. We continue to expand our footprint while maintaining strong connections with key stakeholders in the investment community. We extend our gratitude to Nelson Elemi and The Factory Place for hosting this inaugural event, and look forward to contributing further to these important conversations shaping Africa's tech future. #AfricanTech #VentureCapital #Innovation #TechFunding #StartupEcosystem #NO

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VC funding in Africa declined by nearly 50% in 2023. While we may be halfway through 2024, I still witness the impact. I know several tech-for-good start-ups, especially those who don't fit perfectly into a Climate, Energy, or Fintech genre, struggling to find the funding to continue their operations. There are brilliant companies that integrate solutions into public sector services in niche ways, collecting data, delivering information, and improving efficiencies. When it comes time to secure the limited funding available, they struggle to find VCs willing and able to look beyond their niche focus, likely due to overall funding shortfalls. I suspect we will see more M&As in 2024, with larger companies and even INGOs acquiring start-ups (or even tech platforms alone) that are beyond prototype and have demonstrated evidence of impact. What do you see coming next for the tech-for-good start-ups?

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Bfarm-Tech is seeking an investment for building a multipurpose digital platform in Ethiopia. Click https://bit.ly/3EuIY5W to connect with this new Opportunity Ref: AIDB-019633. Executive Summary Provided by Client: Bfarm-Tech is a cutting-edge digital startup that aims to enhance the efficacy and agricultural productivity through empowering Ethiopian smallholder farmers by providing innovative agricultural technology and the right adoption approach. In January 2020, we formally launched our business with a $5,000 initial investment from the Tony Elumelu Foundation. It has been providing digital rental mechanization services and advisory services for more than 15000 smallholder farmers and creating over 20 jobs since 2020. It is building a user-friendly and multilingual digital platform that links smallholder farmers, tractor operators/mechanics, and mechanization services in Ethiopia. Bfarm-Tech is seeking potential investors or investment opportunities for building a multipurpose, user-friendly, and multilingual digital platform that links smallholder farmers, tractor operators/mechanics, and mechanization service providers and provides innovative agricultural technologies and household products and makes them available, accessible, and affordable to customers/smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Disclaimer: No due diligence has been done on this business opportunity. Users are requested to do their own research. #africa #Ethiopia #sustainabledevelopment #impactinvesting #financialinclusion #africarising #socialimpact #socialinnovation

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Why Staying Sensitive to Market Changes is Key to Your Startup’s Survival… Here’s How it Works 👇🏽 Kelvin Umechukwu, through his startup at the time - HostCabal, focused on developers as the primary audience for his website hosting services. But as time went on, particularly during the 2020 lockdown, something caught his attention—an increasing number of business owners were reaching out desperately looking for solutions to build their online presence. Kelvin and his team decided to explore this opportunity on the side, gathering key user feedback along the way.  This exploration led to the eventual re-launch of their hosting service with Bumpa, catering specifically to the needs of business owners struggling to establish an online presence and centralize their sales channels. It turned out to be a game-changer, with a surge of new users flocking to the platform. What’s the takeaway? Kelvin's story highlights a crucial lesson: always pay attention to shifts in user behavior. What was once a side market or an afterthought could become your biggest opportunity. Don't be afraid to pivot your strategy or revisit past ideas that might hold new potential in a changing landscape. How You Can Apply This in Business Strategy  Ask yourself: - Are you really listening to your users? - How are their needs evolving? - What signals might you be overlooking? By staying responsive to these shifts, you can position your business to not only survive—but thrive—in a changing landscape. This nugget of wisdom is inspired by Kelvin Umechukwu's episode on My Innovation Story —an absolute must-listen for anyone serious about entrepreneurship and business growth! 👇🏽 Have you ever had to pivot due to market changes? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🎙️ Link to the full episode in the comments. #MyInnovationStory #MarketChanges #UserBehavior #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #Innovation

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Insights from Iyinoluwa Aboyeji highlight critical points about the startup ecosystem in Africa: *Pre-seed and seed investors such as Future Africa are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the funding boom at later stages (Series A-D). *The need for a world-class accelerator program in Africa, such as Accelerate Africa. *The importance of investors/founders who understand context, especially in times of crises, such as the recent funding contraction #FutureAfrica #AccelarateAfrica #VentureCapital

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This right here is pure gold for all entrepreneurs and capitalists alike. If you fall into the categories above, please carefully take notes of this priceless counsel from Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe.

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🚨WATCH🇬🇭🎙️🗣️: Are Angel Investors truly angel investors in Africa’s business landscape? - Steven Adom, founder of Agatex Paints, shared his painful experience on The Peswa podcast, accusing Quick Angels Ltd.’s CEO of “hijacking” his business. He likened his ordeal to systemic corruption, stating, “300 armed robbers are better than one corrupt judge,” reflecting his disillusionment with the justice system and business practices in Ghana. 🦅🇬🇭 Watch full convo here: https://lnkd.in/dvY-9cPW

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🌍 Exciting times at the AFCFTA event Kigali! As a trading consultancy, we are dedicated to helping companies and SMEs navigate the journey from inception to launch. This event is crucial for unifying business practices, standards, and trading regulations across Africa. Together, we can unlock new opportunities and drive growth. Let’s connect and explore how we can support your business in this evolving landscape! #AFCFTA #BusinessGrowth #TradeConsultancy

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Answering FAQs about Moonshot by TechCabal - What is Moonshot By TechCabal? Moonshot is TechCabal’s flagship conference that convenes the most audacious players; founders, business leaders, startups, enterprise companies & more building Africa’s dynamic tech scene to network, collaborate, share ideas/insights, and celebrate innovation on the continent. - When is Moonshot happening? Moonshot by TechCabal is happening in Lagos, Nigeria on October 9th and 10th. We also have other exciting off-conference activities and side mixers that’ll happen during the week of the conference - What’s new about this edition? This time around, we’re dialing up the excitement to eleven! More content tracks, more speakers, a brand-new stage, and a bigger party! We will also be exploring 9 content tracks and other side events and off-conference activities to ensure the fun never stops. - Who can attend Moonshot 2024? Anyone can attend the conference, especially if you’re curious about the future of tech in Africa! This year, we’re particularly open to startups and innovators in commerce Web3 and metaverse, AI &ML, Content and gaming, Talent, Inclusion & Diversity, Venture Capital, Startup Clinic, Telco & Enterprise. - How can I prepare for the conference? The very first thing to do is to save your seat by getting your ticket. Once your seat is secured, keep an eye out on our social pages and website as we’ll be putting out content and information as the event approaches to help you prepare adequately. Save your seat with this link: https://lnkd.in/dqEndNq4

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Octoco is excited to announce the launch of Yenza Venture Studio, a Stellenbosch-based initiative designed to accelerate early-stage, tech-enabled startups. This milestone marks the culmination of a year-long effort to solidify South Africa’s position as a leading innovation hub in Africa and globally. Over the past five years, Octoco has built and invested in the technology for 13 early-stage startups, with impressive results: 8 are now revenue-generating, and 4 have reached profitability. Building on this success, Yenza Venture Studio offers entrepreneurs a comprehensive platform of expertise and resources to transform bold ideas into thriving businesses. “Our journey this past year has been about more than just refining our capabilities—it’s been about creating an ecosystem that empowers local innovation to thrive globally,” said Jacques Burger, COO of Octoco. “With Yenza, we’re uniting world-class venture-building resources with South Africa’s entrepreneurial talent to make a significant impact on both local and global markets.” 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 Yenza Venture Studio provides a comprehensive suite of services to support builder-founders from ideation to market success: ➖ 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: From prototype to production, leveraging Octoco’s hardware expertise. ➖ 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Custom software solutions for scalable and innovative applications. ➖ 𝗜𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Cutting-edge IoT solutions for smart, connected systems. ➖ 𝗖𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Technical strategy and leadership to guide startups through early-stage challenges. ➖ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Assistance with accounting, compliance, and structuring to ensure operational stability. ➖ 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Access to seasoned professionals offering guidance and strategic insights. ➖ 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹: Access to venture capital investment as well as sweat equity contributions to accelerate growth. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘄 The studio’s first cohort launches on 24 March 2025, and applications are now open for innovative builder-founders in search of early-stage support. Through Yenza, entrepreneurs will benefit not only from Octoco’s extensive expertise but also from its global investor networks and distribution partnerships, established throughout 2024. For more information and to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/d62Pdnun.

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Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for Accelerate Africa (AA) as we launched our investor portal. This portal is designed to provide investors with easy access to all the startups that have participated in AA's programs. Registered investors can now filter through startups based on cohorts and other parameters, view comprehensive details such as pitch decks, demo day presentations, founder information, valuation, fundraising amounts, and so on. Additionally, the portal enables investors to book one-on-one meetings with founders, automatically syncing their calendars. Investors can also express interest in a startup, triggering email notifications to both founders and investors to initiate a conversation. Looking back, it's remarkable to see how far we've come. When V. Chinyere Inya and I first started working on the project, we decided to take on the challenge ourselves, despite other engagements in Future Africa and Accelerate Africa. With countless goals in mind, we chose to begin with a simple landing page – something achievable within the few days leading up to the launch. After the initial launch, we continued to iterate, adding and removing features/pages based on user feedback. Gradually, we expanded the platform with additional pages and features. And today, we're proud to unveil our investor portal! Looking ahead, our path is clear. We will actively seek feedback from investors, founders and other users using the platform and continue to iterate based on their valuable insights. My advice to founders, product managers, and tech leaders is simple: don't overthink it. Just start! Focus on providing your users with something they can engage with, whether it's a simple landing page to collect a waitlist or a web or mobile app. If you are genuinely solving a problem, users are always willing to collaborate with you and provide feedback. Embrace their input and allow them to shape your product's journey.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ V. Chinyere Inya, Michael Ayodele, Sayo Adegoroye, Arinze Obiezue, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Mia von Koschitzky-Kimani, Oji Udezue, Mathew Saunders, Ifeoluwa (Awodein) Adepoju, Jonathan Ruwanika CA(SA). Accelerate Africa, Future Africa, Afriskaut, AgRails, Campus HQ, CDIAL.AI, CheckUps Medical Hub, FlickWheel (AA1 '24), Messenger, PipeOps (Techstars '23), SETTLE PAYMENTS.

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Kisumu City has recently ranked second in the global startup ecosystem rankings, following Nairobi, making it a significant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Kenya and globally. This ranking, featured in the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Index by StartupBlink, highlights Kisumu’s rapidly growing status as a favorable environment for startups. Kisumu's rise in the rankings is a testament to its vibrant startup culture, supportive policies, and robust infrastructure. The city has shown impressive growth in various sectors, including information and communications technology (ICT). The COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KISUMU's initiatives to enhance ICT infrastructure and support tech-driven businesses have played a crucial role in this achievement. Kisumu is becoming a magnet for tech entrepreneurs, contributing to Kenya's overall dominance in the startup landscape within the region. This recognition underscores the potential of Kisumu as a leading city for startups and innovation. For professionals in the tech and entrepreneurial sectors, Kisumu offers a thriving ecosystem with ample opportunities for growth and collaboration. Abala M. Wanga Zone01 Kisumu Caleb Nyoiro Peter Ouma Muga Mpsy, MIHRM

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Late last year, my co-founder Mahlatse Cable Phokwane and I embarked on an exciting journey by launching PlusOne Finance, a personal finance management app available on app stores. This app is designed to empower people to take charge of their finances with ease and confidence. Here's to shaping a future of smarter financial decisions! You can now download the app on IOS. 🚀💰 #PlusOneFinance #FinancialFreedom

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Key Insights for Investors and Founders. 🚀 The Future of VC Investing in Africa: Venture Studios Are Leading the Way 🌍 Africa’s tech ecosystem is ripe for transformation, and venture studios are the catalyst driving this change. By combining capital, operational support, and local expertise, venture studios are helping startups navigate the challenges of funding gaps, talent shortages, and fragmented markets. Key takeaways: 15-20% projected annual growth for venture studios in Africa over the next 5 years Studios increase the survival rate of startups by 30% and boost Series A funding chances by 25% Investor-backed studios offer diversified portfolios and data-driven decision-making 🔗 Read more about why venture studios are Africa's next big opportunity! #VentureStudios #AfricaTech #StartupGrowth #InvestorOpportunities #TechEcosystem #Innovation #VentureCapital #StartupSupport #AfricaInnovation #TechInvestment #ScalingStartups #FutureOfVC #AfricaTechFestival #CapeTown

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Pleased to launch our new podcast series called “Between The Spaces” created by Ebitu Ukiwe and myself and produced with the fantastic super producer Tolu Awobiyi. This series will provide deep dive conversations and analysis on topics relating to Economics, Finance and Investment, Technology & Innovation and ofcourse all things RealEstate. Episode 1 features finance expert Esili Eigbe. We delve deep into the current hot topic of investing in USD vs Nigerian RealEstate. See episode 1 below and ofcourse like, share, subscribe and engage. Would you invest in USD or Nigerian RealEstate and why? Locus Group

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I’m in talks with a few people regarding the engineering of our Internet In The Box housing system, I want us to have a variety of different types, options and ways they work. Improvements are coming sooner as we work towards making the system ready for the African market; our idea behind the system is broader and with time we will ensure no African people suffer from lack of internet access, electricity and all their technological advances including AI. We are a company that started from the ground and slowly we been navigating through various things and staying focused on our goals and business ethics is key. So bare with us and our business models. Sooner we will reach everyone and make your life easier, memorable and fulfilling. Together we can achieve more than we expected; committed and motivated by our dreams, stories and experiences. LIBCONNECT AFRICA

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What Ghana needs for digital inclusion is a low-cost data regime. As President, I will offer tax rebates and other incentives to Telcos in order to reduce significantly the cost of data. Leveraging low-cost data is essential for enhancing access to services in the economy, fostering inclusivity, and driving innovation. #GhanaWillRiseAgain #JobsAndCashEconomy #GTP Alan Kyerematen

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