VC4A Venture Showcase Africa – 2023

• Being recognized as 2023 VC4A Venture Showcase entrepreneur;
• Participation in the VC4A Venture Showcase deal room, including 200+ early-stage investor organizations;
• Investor Readiness Training (IRT), mentorship and technical support by partnering VC investors and corporates;
• Access to VC4A technical partners, masterclasses and special deals;
• Professionally edited 3-minute virtual pitch;
• 30 min deep-dive session with investors in a private room;
• Joining the alumni network and having exclusive access to partner events and fundraising opportunities.

Selected entrepreneurs commit to attending the technical sessions, be proactive when engaging with his/her mentor, and take part in the M&E exercises. Selected entrepreneurs are expected to cover their own costs if they elect to participate in any in-person events.

• Company is for-profit and registered as an independent legal entity;

• A product or service available on the market and generates revenue;

• A product or service is clearly creating (measurable) ‘impact;

• A product is designed for scale, with clear potential for regional/international expansion;

• A very strong management team with preferably 2 to 3 people;

• Based in and targeting one or more countries in Africa;

• At least one of the founders has an African nationality.

While there will be exceptions, most likely the startup has already received external investment, structured as either debt, convertible notes, SAFEs, equity or mezzanine, and/or received grants from donor organizations.

*Climate Smart Agriculture, Climate Smart Agriculture refers to a range of proven and innovative practices that can deliver triple wins for agricultural production: increase productivity, strengthen climate resilience and reduce agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.

*Smart Cities, innovations or digital technologies that improve the operational efficiency of a city (transportation, utilities, waste, education, healthcare and security) promote economic growth or improve the quality of government services, by improving connectivity and leveraging mobility and commerce application – Also, residents of these smart cities can have better access to information concerning government, political rights, and democratic procedures, and can actively participate in political proceedings.

*Digital Trade, refers to digitally enabled, or digitally delivered, trade in goods and services. It includes, innovations that can help reduce the environmental footprint for buying, paying for and receiving deliveries of goods and services. Solutions that connect purchasers and sellers, facilitate electronic payments, improve access to transportation and logistics within a country but also cross-borders.

*Clean Tech, innovations that can address global warming challenges and the preservation of the natural environment. So any solutions that have significant energy efficiency improvements and/or make a sustainable use of natural resources. Clean technology can relate to recycling, renewable energy, information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, water, and more.

• Innovativeness and Scalability (20%) – Company addresses a real problem in the market in a clearly innovative way. Your product or service is different to others in the industry. Your business model is new, disruptive and designed for scale.
• Social, economic and/or environmental impact (20%) – Company addresses a social, economic and/or environmental issue and is able to show the impact your product or service is making in the lives of people on the African continent.
• Strategy for Growth (20%) – There is potential to expand into new markets or expand at home. You have a clear strategy on how to grow your impact and we can see demonstrable progress in terms of customer acquisition plans, new contracts, and key partnerships.
• Management team (20%) – The team has the qualifications and experience needed to make the business successful.
• Market Traction & Financials (20%) – We will evaluate your market traction and look at the potential market size. We will also look at your business model, revenue streams and unit economics, and if any outside funding has been raised before.

Since 2017 we have been instrumental in the success of hundreds of startups that participated in the Venture Showcase resulting in over $630M being raised by portfolio companies. Below is a look at some of the most recent alumni funding raises:

If you are selected for the Showcase, you are expected to:

• Engage with assigned mentors (partner VC investors) and VC4A team to prepare your 3-minute and 20-minute presentations, as well as 2-pagers with investor data as part of the deal book;
• Be prepared to pitch and engage with VC investors in the period of – November & December and be part of the VC4A Venture Showcase and the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit 2023 (#AESIS2023). 

• Application period – April 10-May 17
• Selection process / investor review / interviews – May-July
• Showcase participants selection – end July
• Mentorship program with VC investors – September & October
• Technical sessions with VC investors – September & October
• Launch of VC4A Venture Showcase – deal room to VC investors – November & December

Browse all investor organizations when you have your venture profile registered on the VC4A platform.

Your investor organization not on the list? Join the VC4A investor network with other like-minded investors and get access to tailor-made content and curated deal flow.