Breakout 3
Saturday
|
3:45 pm
Aldrich 108

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition

Although Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA)— where entrepreneurs search for and acquire small, stable, cash-flow positive businesses with the intention to grow them over time—is becoming more popular, few “search funds” have been established in Africa. Indeed, there has been limited data to support the case for investing in African search funds and the benefits of this novel asset class. Still, ETA remains uniquely positioned to unlock value, find new talent, and accelerate the growth and development of SMEs—particularly family businesses—across the continent. This panel will focus on three key questions: (1) What makes Africa ripe for the growth of search funds? (2) How can the North American search fund model function on the continent? (3) What are the dynamics of operating and growing businesses under this model?

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition

Although Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA)— where entrepreneurs search for and acquire small, stable, cash-flow positive businesses with the intention to grow them over time—is becoming more popular, few “search funds” have been established in Africa. Indeed, there has been limited data to support the case for investing in African search funds and the benefits of this novel asset class. Still, ETA remains uniquely positioned to unlock value, find new talent, and accelerate the growth and development of SMEs—particularly family businesses—across the continent. This panel will focus on three key questions: (1) What makes Africa ripe for the growth of search funds? (2) How can the North American search fund model function on the continent? (3) What are the dynamics of operating and growing businesses under this model?

America/New_York
Mar 25, 2023 3:45 PM
Aldrich 108

Other Sessions

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Keynotes
Friday
|
3:30 pm
Klarman Hall
Opening Keynote with Mostafa Terrab
Chairman of OCP Group
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Opening Keynote with Mostafa Terrab

America/New_York
Mar 24, 2023 3:30 PM
Klarman Hall
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Breakout 2
Saturday
|
11:15 am
Spangler Auditorium
Venture Capital and Studios
Launching and Investing in Early-Stage Ventures - Beyond the Hype and Back to the Basics
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Venture Capital and Studios

$8 billion dollars later, what have we learned in the past decade about the enduring lessons of investing in and building successful early stage companies in Africa? Africa has seen a complete market cycle of boom and bust in the VC ecosystem, its first few exits and IPO, and a flurry of founders and media coverage. This panel features insights from serial founders, early stage VCs and leading accelerators. Expect to hear riveting insights on key questions including - What early stage investors have gotten right and wrong in choosing winners? How founders are getting wiser on choosing investors and achieving PMF? How the ecosystem will evolve as it unlocks new types of capital like venture debt and new models like studios?

America/New_York
Mar 25, 2023 11:15 AM
Spangler Auditorium
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Keynotes
Friday
|
4:25 pm
Klarman Hall
"My Takes" by Fatima Al Ansar
Former Head of Mission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mali
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"My Takes" by Fatima Al Ansar

America/New_York
Mar 24, 2023 4:25 PM
Klarman Hall