Breakout 1
|
Saturday
|
9:00 am
Aldrich 107

Entrepreneurship and Impact: Building sustainable businesses to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges

For too long, philanthropy and traditional nonprofits have been the primary avenues for empowering communities across Africa. This panel will explore how entrepreneurship can serve as a transformative tool to drive lasting impact without relying on handouts. Bringing together impact investors, entrepreneurs, and VCs, we will discuss strategies to build sustainable, scalable enterprises that transcend borders and create real change across the continent. Attendees will hear firsthand from investors and founders on the trade-offs and synergies between profitability and purpose.

Entrepreneurship and Impact: Building sustainable businesses to solve Africa’s most pressing challenges

For too long, philanthropy and traditional nonprofits have been the primary avenues for empowering communities across Africa. This panel will explore how entrepreneurship can serve as a transformative tool to drive lasting impact without relying on handouts. Bringing together impact investors, entrepreneurs, and VCs, we will discuss strategies to build sustainable, scalable enterprises that transcend borders and create real change across the continent. Attendees will hear firsthand from investors and founders on the trade-offs and synergies between profitability and purpose.

America/New_York
Feb 15, 2025 9:00 AM
Aldrich 107

Other Sessions

More Info
Keynotes
Saturday
|
10:30 am
Klarman Auditorium
Morning Keynote: The AfCFTA Opportunity: Is Africa Ready to Unleash a New Era of Trade?
This panel explores strategies to overcome challenges and accelerate AfCFTA’s impact for a unified, competitive African market.
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Morning Keynote: The AfCFTA Opportunity: Is Africa Ready to Unleash a New Era of Trade?

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) set to transform Africa’s economic landscape, the potential for intra-African trade is immense. However, realizing this promise requires overcoming political, infrastructural, and logistical hurdles. This panel will examine lessons from other regions and outline concrete strategies to accelerate AfCFTA’s impact, fostering a truly integrated and competitive African market

America/New_York
Feb 15, 2025 10:30 AM
Klarman Auditorium
More Info
Breakout 1
Saturday
|
9:00 am
Aldrich 111
Entrepreneurship through Acquisition: Owning and Growing Businesses in Africa
This fireside chat explores Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) as a path to business ownership in Africa.
More Info

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition: Owning and Growing Businesses in Africa

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) is emerging as a compelling pathway for entrepreneurs seeking to own and operate businesses in Africa. While startups often capture the entrepreneurial spotlight, acquiring and scaling existing businesses presents a high-impact alternative for driving economic growth, preserving jobs, and creating value. This fireside chat will explore the real-world journey of acquiring and managing businesses in Africa.

Panelists will share insights on sourcing opportunities, financing acquisitions, operational considerations, and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs illustrated through case studies. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the ETA model and the practicalities of executing acquisitions in diverse African markets.

America/New_York
Feb 15, 2025 9:00 AM
Aldrich 111
More Info
Breakout 2
Saturday
|
11:30 am
Aldrich 007
Landry Signé, Realizing Africa's Potential: A Journey to Prosperity
Explore Africa’s economic rise, investment opportunities, and strategies for industrialization in Realizing Africa’s Potential.
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Landry Signé, Realizing Africa's Potential: A Journey to Prosperity

By 2050, Africa will be home to 25% of the world’s population with more than $16 trillion in combined business and consumer spending. This profound demographic shift and economic growth are driving transformative change across African markets, offering unprecedented opportunities for investment. With strategic leadership by business and policymakers alike, these opportunities can be seized to fuel industrialization, create jobs, foster technological innovation, advance green economies, reduce poverty, and raise the standard of living across the continent.

“Realizing Africa’s Potential: A Journey to Prosperity” identifies the trends, opportunities, challenges, and strategies for success in Africa’s emerging industries including health care and pharmaceuticals; mining; insurance; investment; private equity and venture capital; international and intraregional trade (automotive, agriculture and agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, transportation and logistics); capital markets; and entertainment. The book offers unparalleled insights to scholars, investors and policymakers alike a holistic perspective on how these industries may evolve and actionable strategies on how to maximize the impact of trade and investment on industrialization to unlock Africa’s long-term prosperity.

America/New_York
Feb 15, 2025 11:30 AM
Aldrich 007