Advertise on podcast: The AVCA Podcast

Marsha Wulff, Co-Founding Partner, LoftyInc, shares her insights on investing in Africa's emerging tech ecosystem. She discusses the essence of “Courageous Capital,” highlighting the critical role investors must play in supporting not only entrepreneurs but the systems they are building. Read African Ngenuity: An Investor’s Guide to a Vital Tech Ecosystem by Marsha Wulff: https://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Ngenuity-Investors-Guide-Ecosystem-ebook/dp/B0FLYC7L9P

In this episode, we take a closer look "Inside the Raise" with Isha Doshi, Co-Founder, Partner & CFO, TLG Capital, about the evolution and transformative potential of private credit in Africa. How can disciplined structuring and impact-focused lending deliver strong returns whilst reshaping global perceptions of African investment risk?

In this episode, we dive "Inside the Deal" with Bruce Nsereko-Lule, General Partner at Seedstars Africa Ventures, and Andrew Milne, Group Co-CEO of Kuunda, to unpack one of Africa’s most compelling fintech success stories.

LeapFrog Investments recently completed its exit from Goodlife Pharmacy, East Africa’s largest retail pharmacy platform, marking a significant milestone in the region's healthcare sector. Under LeapFrog's guidance since 2017, Goodlife expanded from 19 to 150 stores, serving over 2 million consumers annually. The acquisition by CFAO Healthcare, a subsidiary of the Toyota Group, underscores the growing confidence in Africa's healthcare market and the potential for private capital to drive impactful growth.   In this podcast we deep dive into the vision, key obstacles to success, and lessons learnt along the momentous journey from investment to exit.   

In this episode of the AVCA podcast, Rachel More-Oshodi, CEO of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment, shares insights from the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit and discusses trends in Africa's infrastructure landscape. Drawing on findings from AVCA's 'Private Capital Investment in Africa's Infrastructure' report, Rachel examines how Africa's renewable energy resources present environmental and economic opportunities. She discusses the shift towards decentralised energy solutions, blended financing approaches and efforts at regional collaboration. With extensive experience in infrastructure investment, Rachel addresses execution challenges while explaining ARM-Harith's strategy for mobilising local pension funds. Her perspective highlights energy access as a foundation for Africa's industrialisation and economic development. The conversation offers practical observations for investors and fund managers navigating infrastructure opportunities across the continent. Visit the AVCA website avca.africaFind out more about ARM-Harith armharith.com

How does storytelling shape the future of African privatecapital? In this episode, Bidemi Zakariyau Akande, Founder of LSF PR,and Yolande Tabo, Investor Relations Principal at Convergence Partners, break down the power of storytelling in investment and business. From building brand trust to attracting capital, they reveal how the right narrative can be a game-changer—and how the wrong one can be costly. With real-world case studies and deep industry insights,Bidemi and Yolande explore the intersection of storytelling, data, and strategy in shaping Africa’s investment landscape. Discover how compelling narratives drive success in privatecapital. Find out more: LSF PR:⁠https://www.lsfpr.com⁠Convergence Partners:⁠https://www.convergencepartners.com⁠

What does it take to build global tech companies from Africa? In this episode, Mikael (Mika) Hajjar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at P1 Ventures, shares how his firm identifies exceptional founders in unexpected places. With US$50 million deployed across 34 companies, including Yassir, Raenest, and Nuitée, P1 Ventures combines data-driven insights with a boots-on-ground presence across Cairo, Lagos, Nairobi, and Dakar. Mika demonstrates how category-defining companies can emerge from any corner of the continent through a unique combination of data science, global expertise and deep local knowledge. Discover how P1 Ventures is supporting the next generation of African tech leaders building world-class companies from Africa. Find out more: P1 Ventures: https://www.p1.ventures/ AVCA: https://www.avca.africa/

In this episode of The AVCA Podcast, we are joined by Brian Waswani Odhiambo, Partner at Novastar Ventures, and Ross Strike, Head of M&A and Investor Relations at Nigeria-based fintech Moniepoint, for a conversation about building category-defining companies in Africa. The discussion explores what it takes to create lasting value for everyday consumers and examines what lies ahead for both organisations over the next decade. Brian reflects on Novastar's impact as the venture capital firm marks 10 years of backing bold entrepreneurs in Africa, while Ross brings a unique perspective from his journey transitioning from institutional investor to operator. Brian and Ross unpack the realities of scaling innovative businesses in African markets, the evolution of the venture capital landscape, and the opportunities that lie ahead for visionary founders solving the continent's biggest challenges. Read AVCA Member News: https://tinyurl.com/avca-africa Connect with AVCA on social media: https://linktr.ee/avca_africa

The Role of Private Capital in Unlocking Africa’s Agricultural Potential In this episode, we talk to Jerry Parkes, Chief Executive Officer at Injaro Investments, about investing in agriculture and supporting smallholder farmers in Africa. Jerry also emphasises the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration to develop long-term solutions for Africa's sustainable growth. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠AVCA Corner on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ for more insights.

Driving SME Success in Africa: Tech-Forward Portfolio and Gender 3.0 with Alitheia Capital In this episode, we talk to ‘Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Alitheia Capital, about gender smart strategies driving alpha and her forthcoming Gender 3.0 fund. ‘Tokunboh also reflects on how gender lens investing has become more mainstream in the private capital landscape over the past decade. Subscribe to ⁠⁠AVCA Corner on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for more.

The role of DFIs in mobilising private capital in Africa During AVCA Week in Johannesburg, we sat down with Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at British International Investment (BII), to discuss BII’s longstanding partnership with South Africa as a provider of patient, long-term capital, and the DFI’s role in mobilising capital to solve development challenges in Africa. Subscribe to ⁠AVCA Corner on LinkedIn⁠ for more.

Driving sustainable and impactful growth in Africa's private capital landscape This conversation was recorded at the 20th Annual AVCA Conference in Johannesburg, in April 2024. We sat down with Philipp Hein, CFA, Head of Private Equity Africa and Global Climate Investments at DEG, to discuss the merits of the private capital landscape in Africa; DEG winning the ‘Enabler’ award in the LP category at AVCA’s Anniversary Awards, and his outlook for the sector over the next 12 months. Subscribe to AVCA Corner on LinkedIn for more.

In this interview AVCA and ⁠Edmund Higenbottam⁠, Managing Director, ⁠Verdant Capital⁠ explore the critical role of mezzanine and private credit as an emerging asset class, their strategic function in bridging funding gaps, and the ongoing discussion surrounding the uptake of their adoption. 

Join us as Angela Mwenda, Associate Director, IBIS, uncovers the crucial role ESG plays in supporting LPs and GPs, providing a comprehensive guide to harnessing opportunities while ensuring sustainable and responsible investment practices in the diverse and evolving African landscape.  

In this episode we are joined by Samantha Pokroy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sanari Capital as we delve into the dynamic world of private equity in Africa, focusing on its transformative impact on family-owned businesses across the continent. Join us as we explore Sanari’s unique expertise in strategies for scaling family enterprises, and the pivotal role they play in Africa’s journey to sustainable economic growth. Sanari Capital: https://www.sanari.co.za/