The first quarter of 2022 has passed and we want to take a moment to share some not-to-be-missed updates with you, including:
? Milestones we have reached in developing new functionalities for founders and mentors on VC4A
? Exciting news of the VC4A Venture Showcase – the female founders and Latin America editions
? VC4A partnerships & programs update
The new Mentorship Marketplace
VC4A believes mentorship is core to unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurs. After years of experience matching mentors and entrepreneurs, we are revamping the VC4A Mentorship Marketplace and we are beyond excited to give you a first glance.
On the new Mentorship Marketplace, entrepreneurs will soon be able to discover business experts focused on Africa and Latin America and apply to the preferred mentor for support.
There are more than 23K promising startups in the VC4A network with amazing potential. Are you interested in supporting them in their journey or know someone who might be? Share this in your network and become a mentor.
Exciting news from the VC4A Venture Showcase
To contribute to closing the massive withstanding gender gap in venture funding in Africa, with less than 7% of the funding going to female CEOs in 2021, the VC4A team decided that it is time for a women founder-focused Venture Showcase edition.
Did you know that there is research showing that startups founded by women outperform their peers?
At VC4A we want to put a spotlight on the most investible women-led startups in Africa and are preparing the first women founder edition. The call for applications will be launched next week. Do you want to be part of the selection committee, share your expertise as a mentor, or offer valuable content or services to the finalists? It is time for action and we look forward to your involvement.
The VC4A Venture Showcase’s expansion to Latin America
The VC4A Venture Showcase, an award-winning format, has just launched its first Latin America edition. It’s a chance for up to 10 innovative, high-growth scale-ups to showcase to the global network of Latin America-focused investors. You can refer companies looking to raise between $500K and $10M.
More VC4A Latam highlights & updates
Thanks to the support of PES Latam, an SDC-funded global alliance fostering social entrepreneurship across Latin America, VC4A is working to connect the impact ecosystem in the region via ES2 Latam. We’re excited to give you a glance at where we are in the development of the Latin America dedicated community:
Save the date for #AESIS2022 – for investors, by investors
For the ninth time, investors are gathering at the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit from November 4-6, 2022 – organized by VC4A and ABAN.
After a 250% year-on-year increase in funding to African startups, we ask: What’s next?
This year we’re adding an ecosystem day to include ESOs in the summit. Save the date to join the conversation and network with 900+ investors who have led over 90% of recent early-stage deals.
Interested? Contact Natalie Miller, Partnerships Lead of #AESIS2022
VC4A partnerships update
What has happened in VC4A’s most exciting ongoing partnerships?
Africa’s Business Heroes
Once again, VC4A is supporting Africa’s Business Heroes competition by the Jack Ma Foundation. To identify the most innovative promising startups in Africa, ABH is looking for judges during the two judging processes. Contribute to the growth of promising & talented African entrepreneurs and become a judge.
Ventures Lifecycle Support Program with FMO
As part of this program, VC4A is working with partner organizations to further develop investible pipelines of ventures. Check out the three open calls for applications with Anza360 in Tanzania, Impact Hub in Ghana and La Startup Factory in Morocco that will each support at least 10 startups in their lifecycles.
IFC ScaleX
ScaleX by IFC is a chance for ESO’s and innovators to receive financial support for efforts promoting gender equity and actively help to bring us closer to reaching SDG 5. Learn more and apply with your female-founder-focused startup program.
ESO360
20 ESOs have been selected to benefit from this all-around capacity-building program by the AfDB’s Innovation Lab. Presently, the needs of each ESO are being assessed, to then receive tailored expert support led by the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Common Good Company, and VC4A.
Top programs of VC4A partners
Check out some of the exciting programs we have supported in Q1 of 2022:
? Startupbootcamp AfriTech – ASIP Accelerator Program – Check out the 10 selected tech companies here.
? Orange Ventures – FinTech Startup Seed Challenge Egypt – Check out the campaign and stay tuned for the winners here.
? Ashoka & Boehringer Ingelheim – Making More Health Accelerator 2022 – Check out the campaign here and stay tuned for the soon-announced cohort.
“This year’s pipeline has been the strongest one since we started the program. We got many fantastic ventures and it was very difficult to arrive at the shortlist of 11 and it will be even harder to choose just five winners out of this high-quality group. A good problem to have thanks to VC4A and all the support you have provided us. It seems like the brand of the program is catching on and we are starting to attract very high-quality ventures and in large numbers.” – Nassir Katuramu, Project Manager at Ashoka
See all open programs and host your next call on VC4A.
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