The Mauritius Edition of the Africa Early-Stage Investor Meetup 2024, hosted by Mo Angels, is set to take place on October 25, 2024, at Creative Park, Beau Plan. This exciting event aims to foster investment in early-stage startups across Africa by providing a collaborative platform where emerging entrepreneurs can showcase their innovative ideas and business models. It seeks to bridge the gap between investors and startups, facilitating meaningful connections that can lead to funding opportunities and strategic partnerships.
By bringing together a diverse group of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, the meetup will encourage the sharing of knowledge and experiences, helping to cultivate a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees will have the chance to engage in discussions on investment trends, challenges, and solutions specific to the African market, ultimately contributing to the growth and sustainability of startups in the region.
Commenting on the event, Michel Cordani, Co-founder of Mo Angels, stated: “Mauritius is positioning itself as a hub for investors and innovators, drawing inspiration from leading global ecosystems like India to bridge connections with Africa. The Mauritian chapter of the Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit is a key part of this strategy, complemented by a series of events with our partners in 2024. Our country boasts many ingredients for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, including favorable geography and jurisdiction. Our goal is to create a strong network that empowers startups by connecting them with potential investors, enhancing capital flow, and ultimately strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem throughout the region.”
Isabelle de Melo, Co-founder of Mo Angels, said: “I am truly excited to see so much interest coming together from different stakeholders to support and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in and out of Mauritius. After seven years of living in the region, I can see a genuine interest and appetite for being part of the solutions to the problems of this continent. It’s not just about solutions; it’s about innovation in how we finance, how we derisk, and how we help nurture the right partnerships. Mauritius has been slow to start, but there is a clear opportunity to be a vital player in the region, capitalising on our assets as a stable, well-governed, and innovative platform. This event is also a great opportunity to explore avenues for early-stage investing in Africa as an opportunity for both Mauritius and India. At Mo Angels, we take pride in nurturing entrepreneurs from their early stages and witnessing their growth. However, we need more supportive policies for cross-border investing and derisking angel investing, along with innovative financing tools and a change in mindset to further encourage angel investing.”
The program will feature expert interventions, including a discussion on adapting the African Business Angels Network’s (ABAN) and AfriLabs’ Catalytic Africa mechanism in the Mauritian context to enhance access to funding and bridge the gap. Fadilah Tchoumba, CEO of ABAN, the largest pan-African network organization for angel investors, will focus on derisking angel investing, which she considers a critical topic for fostering a supportive environment for early-stage investment.
Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of the Indian Angel Network, will share her insights on creating a regulatory-light angel fund for Mauritius, inspired by her angel group. She sees this event as a great platform to explore avenues for early-stage investing in Africa, as an opportunity for both Mauritius and India.
Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Mahen Govinda, Chairman of MITCO, said: “MITCO is proud to support the 3rd Mauritius Edition of the Africa Early-Stage Investor Meetup, as we believe in nurturing the next generation of technology leaders, helping them turn ambitious ideas into impactful realities. This event aligns with our commitment to empowering investors and entrepreneurs through strategic structuring solutions and cross-border opportunities. As Mauritius strengthens its role as a financial gateway for Africa and Asia, we are keen to contribute to meaningful dialogues that drive investment mobilisation and unlock potential across the continent.
Guillaume Passebecq, Head of Private Banking and Wealth Management at Bank One, said: “As we navigate the evolving landscape of investment in Africa, it’s essential to foster strong connections between investors and startups. The Africa Early-Stage Investor Meetup is a crucial step in this direction, allowing us to share insights and explore opportunities for collaboration. At Bank One, we are dedicated to supporting innovative ventures that have the potential to drive economic growth and transformation across the continent. Together, we can create a thriving ecosystem that nurtures entrepreneurship and unlocks new possibilities.”
Emphasising the financial landscape, Vinay Guddye, Director of the Economic Development Board, stated: “According to global institutions such as the WEF, the finance gap across Africa stands at over $200 billion. The Mauritius IFC is positioning itself to plug this finance gap, built on the expertise garnered over the past three decades in structuring over $170 billion of direct investment into India. Mauritius already has many ingredients for a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. Early-stage funding remains crucial, and we are working on new policies and financial instruments to enable cost-effective, cross-border, derisked angel investing.”
Additionally, there will be a dry-run session with EDB startups in preparation for their participation at AfricaIgnite 2024 in November. With over 1,000 startups and 150+ investors in attendance last year, AfricaIgnite is solidifying itself as the leading hub for the community to convene, network, and learn from leaders shaping the future of the industry.
Policymakers are invited to join in shaping a supportive investment environment that nurtures innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa. Over the past three years Mo Angels has reviewed over 400 startup applications, leading to 12 investments totaling $0.8 million. These investments span various sectors and address critical challenges in the African region. Hands-on guidance and valuable connections are provided to help these ventures succeed.
