Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit 2025 Concludes in Cape Town, Showcasing a Bold Vision for “Africa, Built to Last”

Cape Town, South Africa – December 10, 2025 – The 2025 edition of the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AESIS) officially concluded in Cape Town with a powerful message: Africa is laying the foundation for a future that endures, leads, and creates lasting change. This year’s summit brought together the continent’s most influential early-stage investors, fund managers, policy leaders, DFIs, and startup ecosystem enablers for one of its most transformative editions to date, following two powerful days of innovation, investment dialogue, and ecosystem collaboration. 

Returning to Cape Town during the annual Africa Investor Week, the summit once again demonstrated why it remains the continent’s premier platform for convening investors actively shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial future. 

What does it take to build a resilient Africa?

Guided by this year’s theme, Africa Built to Last: Capital, Strategy and Ownership, the 12th edition of AESIS explored how capital, visionary leadership, and strategic adaptation are shaping an investment ecosystem that is resilient, inclusive, and authentically African. Across panels, the summit focused on mobilising and diversifying capital, strengthening collaboration across the continent, equipping investors with practical tools for today’s complex landscape, and elevating the policy conversations that support African founders. 

The summit featured a series of high-impact panels that addressed the most pressing topics in the African investment landscape. Key panels explored several core themes, including: Mobilising African Capital: Advocating for Domestic Venture Capital, Africa First: Reclaiming the Growth Story Through African Capital, Co-Invest or Collapse: Why Angels and VCs Must Align, Exits in Africa: Lessons from the Trenches, Venture Debt: Africa’s Missing Middle?, among others. For instance, Martin Warioba (Managing Partner, Warioba Ventures), who was a panellist in the Co-Invest or Collapse: Why Angels and VCs Must Align session, noted that “the goal is not to force uniformity but to create predictable structures, early liquidity for angels and cleaner terms for VCs, so both can operate effectively and strengthen the ecosystem.”

While speaking on Africa First: Reclaiming the Growth Story Through African Capital, Mukami Kamau (Investment Manager, Chui VC), emphasised the urgency of reclaiming both the narrative and the capital that shapes it, adding that “it’s time for African investors to rewrite the rules.” In the same light, Melvyn Lubega (Partner, Breega), from the AI x Africa: Disruption and Due Diligence panel, supported this by emphasising Africa’s unmatched potential, stating that “AI is not an event, it is a capability. This is Africa’s opportunity to build, not just adopt. To be a producer of intelligence, not just a connected consumer.” These conversations laid the groundwork for one of the biggest catalysts for impact, strategic partnerships. 

Strategic partnerships driving summit impact

The summit’s success was powered by an extraordinary network of supporters whose collective contributions strengthened and elevated every aspect of the event. Nineteen organisations played active roles through collaboration, co-hosting, and sponsorship; 17 ventures from 3 organisations participated in the Deal Flow Lab; and 9 ventures from three groups showcased during the Portfolio pitch sessions. Four entities supported the Investor Experiences, while 6 powered the Summit’s Opening Cocktail, and 2 supported the pre-summit ecosystem tour. 

We would like to thank all the partners whose collaboration, support and commitment powered and elevated this year’s summit, helping deliver an event that truly moved the ecosystem forward. 

A celebration of excellence

The Africa Early Stage Investor Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across the continent’s early-stage investment ecosystem, recognising excellence in 8 award categories. Special acknowledgement went to Ido Sum, recipient of the Rising Star Award, for his growing influence in Africa’s venture capital landscape and his strong contributions to supporting high-potential founders.

Congratulations to all the award winners who continue to set the standard for excellence on the continent! 

Here are the outstanding winners of these awards: 

1. Angel Investor of the Year – Yemi Keri, Founder, Rising Tide Africa 

2. Angel Network of the Year – Viktoria Ventures (Kenya) 

3. Female Investor of the Year – Biola Alabi, Investment Partner, Delta40 Venture Studio 4. Ecosystem Enabler of the Year – GIZ / DEG – develoPPP Ventures 

4. The Rising Star Award – Ido Sum, Director, Sum Holdings 

5. VC Firm of the Year – LoftyInc Capital 

6. Legacy Honours – Founders of the Ecosystem – Launch Africa Ventures 8. People’s Choice Award – Maxime Bayen, Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund 

Speaking on the multifaceted nature of Africa’s investment ecosystem, Vincent Hoogduyn, CEO, VC4A, emphasised the need for resilience, strategic thinking, and collaboration to navigate early-stage investing. 

“2025 has reminded us just how complex this environment is: volatile capital flows, tough fundraising, narrow exit pathways. Yet, amid these challenges, we’re starting to see what I call a cautious comeback. Funding volumes are slowly rising, investor activity is returning, and confidence is quietly rebuilding. Yes, the environment is tough. But ecosystems don’t advance because conditions are easy; they advance because enough people decide the future is worth building anyway.” Vincent Hoogduyn, CEO, VC4A

As the African investment landscape continues to evolve, it raises important questions about its influence beyond the continent. What does this mean for the global investment landscape? 

“The global investment landscape is shifting, challenging us to rethink how innovation is financed, how risk is shared, and how opportunities are unlocked, and that is why we have AESIS. To bring together visionaries who drive meaningful change across the African investment landscape. This is the time to act, and “now” is the time to build an Africa that lasts, and for us to do so, we must mobilise capital, develop strategic approaches, and strengthen ownership.” Fadilah Tchoumba, ABAN CEO

This year’s summit underscored the power of Capital, Ownership, and Strategy, and the transformative potential of aligning these elements to drive sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and “Build an Africa that Lasts”. Building on these insights, we are pleased to announce that #AESIS2026 will take place on 26–27 November 2026. Mark your calendars, next year’s edition will raise the bar once again, bringing sharper conversations, bigger opportunities, and new energy to Africa’s investment landscape. 

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ENDS 

For further information, interviews, or high-resolution images, please contact our team at team@africainvestorsummit.com 

About AESIS 

AESIS is the premier event for early-stage investment insights and opportunities across Africa. Co-created by ABAN and VC4A, AESIS is dedicated to advancing the continent’s investment ecosystem through its core pillars: Consolidation, Community, and Collaboration. Our mission is to empower investors with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, support promising ventures, and drive positive change. By consolidating expertise, building a vibrant community, and fostering strategic collaborations, AESIS aims to unlock the full potential of Africa’s investment landscape and accelerate growth in early-stage ventures. Visit the AESIS website for more details. 

About ABAN 

The African Business Angel Network (ABAN) is the largest pan-African organisation of Angel investors on the continent. Established in 2015, ABAN represents the growing number of business angel groups in the African early-stage ecosystems, providing vital human and financial capital to

African startups and creating jobs across the continent. Now active in 37 African countries and the diaspora, ABAN brings together 75+ member networks and more than 5,000 angel investors committed to fuelling early-stage innovation. To learn more about ABAN’s work and how you can be part of Africa’s thriving entrepreneurial future, visit the ABAN website. To learn more about ABAN’s work and how you can be part of Africa’s thriving entrepreneurial future, visit the ABAN website. 

About VC4A 

VC4A is an ecosystem builder that leverages its infrastructure, network, and expertise for the programs that contribute to the startup movement in emerging markets. Since 2007, the organisation has designed, structured, and implemented successful entrepreneurship programs on the continent. VC4A runs an online platform featuring the world’s largest database of startups in Africa and Latin America, connecting entrepreneurs to resources, networks, and funding. Visit vc4a.com for more information.