VC4A at GITEX Africa Marrakech 2025: Fueling the future of innovation in Africa

From April 14 to 16, Marrakech became a key meeting point for Africa’s innovation ecosystem, and VC4A was there to contribute, connect, and listen. With a strong mix of technology leaders, investors, startups, governments, and ecosystem enablers in attendance, GITEX Africa 2025 showed just how much momentum the continent is building in the digital and entrepreneurship space.

The team, led by Vincent Hoogduijn (CEO), Alejandra Paniagua, and Julie Mackey, represented VC4A with the goal of scouting for new startups, supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening connections with other stakeholders such as investors and DFIs, that keep this ecosystem moving forward.

Discovering the tech pulse of Africa

GITEX AFRICA is the first global expansion of the iconic GITEX brand outside of the UAE, and trust us, the sumit delivered. With over 80 global cities represented and an audience from across the EMEA region, the event bridged cutting-edge innovation and strategic investment opportunities. It gave us a closer look at how different players are solving real-world problems with technology in areas like healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education.

Vincent Hoogduijn with Ishmael Belkhayat, Co-founder and CEO of Chari Co, an alumni of the 2021 VC4A Venture Showcase – Series A.

A standout moment for our team was the 10x Stage, a fast-paced forum where funders and founders got right into the core issues of building in Africa. The conversations tackled key areas: the rise of early-stage investment, the growing role of AI and impact-driven startups, and strategies for scaling across the continent.

Ongoing panel session on the 10X Stage at GITEX Africa Marrakech.

What made the 10x Stage different was the pace and practicality of the conversations. This wasn’t a space for surface-level commentary but a forum where people brought real data, lessons learned, and strong opinions about growth, funding, and impact. We left those sessions thinking not just about what’s possible, but how to make it happen.

“You could feel the energy and drive that keeps both founders and investors going. The intent is strong, and the execution is continuously being shaped and it’s great to witness these type of interactions.”

– Vincent Hoogduijn, CEO, VC4A.

Spotlight: She Wins Africa 2024 at GITEX

Supporting the 2024 She Wins Africa cohort, a powerful group of female founders who are building companies with impact across the continent, made for one of the highlights of our experience.

She Wins Africa, a flagship initiative led by the International Finance Corporation – IFCin Africa and implemented by VC4A, is on a mission to close the gender gap in access to investment and networks. The program offers 100 female founders the training, mentorship, and exposure they need to scale their businesses and secure funding.

GITEX AFRICA marked the sixth major ecosystem event for the cohort, following previous events including the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit – AESIS in South Africa and Africa Tech Summit in Kenya. Ten standout founders from industries including fintech, health, SaaS, education, and agri-tech were selected to attend GITEX and they came prepared.

Leslie Mbogo, founder of GoBeba Kenya, one of the She Wins Africa 2024 participants, pitching at GITEX Africa.

Before the main event, the founders joined a pitching workshop hosted at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The goal: sharpen their business storytelling, get real-time feedback, and build confidence ahead of their public pitches.

During GITEX, they stepped onto the global stage. Beyond pitching, they networked with top-tier investors and stakeholders, forming 40+ new connections that could directly impact the trajectory of their companies. These are the real, tangible wins we aim to unlock through She Wins Africa.

As Alejandra Paniagua, Senior Project Manager at VC4A shared, “For so many of these women, this is the first time they’ve had direct access to this level of investor interaction. We’re not just opening doors, we’re changing the rooms they can walk into.”

Contributing to a stronger ecosystem

At VC4A, we don’t believe in one-off events, but in building systems. GITEX reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, intentionality, and inclusion in growing Africa’s startup ecosystem and the economy as a whole.

Across three days, we saw what can happen when the right people meet in the right conditions. We heard the founders pitch with clarity; We saw real conversations about scaling, funding, and going global; We took the time to listen to what is working and where support is still needed.

Events like GITEX are launchpads. They prove that Africa is no longer waiting to be discovered. The continent is busy building, scaling, and investing in its own future and the rest of the world is finally paying attention.

Julie Mackey, Investor Relations at VC4A, reflected at the end of the summit saying, “There is a sense of progress, but also realism. People are not romanticizing the work. They are showing up to build, and they’re serious about it. That’s what makes it meaningful.”

Moments from GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech.

What’s next?

We left Marrakech feeling energized and inspired. VC4A’s presence at GITEX AFRICA 2025 was about showing what’s possible when communities come together to lift each other up. We saw bold visions, felt the heartbeat of innovation, and connected with allies who believe in the same future that we do: one where we unlock the next startup opportunity…together.