"My Takes" by Fatima Al Ansar

$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?

In this session, we will hear from experts across sectors to posit how we can take an interdisciplinary approach to accelerating Africa’s development in the next decade and beyond. Grounded in an understanding of the largest opportunity gaps, this session will focus on innovative solutions for inclusive growth. In addition to looking at on-the-ground enablers, such as technology, education, and public-private partnerships, we will focus on how the diaspora can support Africa’s growth journey.

Is the traditional private equity model compatible with Africa? In this candid fireside chat with Yemi Lalude, the Managing Partner of TPG's Africa team, we will have a frank discussion about not only the challanges investors in African private markets face, but also the collosal opportunities these markets present them. We will hear about how private capital deployed in Africa generates positive impact unlike anywhere else in the world and how Africa's growing technology sector presents private equity investors with an opportunity to invest in companies growing at rates very rarely seen elsewhere.