Investing in Africa 2030: Building, Backing, and Scaling the Next Generation of Ventures

Investing in Africa 2030: Building, Backing, and Scaling the Next Generation of Ventures – panel session with Pim Engels – Senior Investment Officer, FMO; Pierre-Alain Masson – Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Seedstars; Ngetha Waithaka – General Partner, Norrsken22; Amanda Cotterman – Head of SME Ventures and Start-up Catalyst Programs, IFC; and Hervé Frederic Rugwizangoga – Investor Relations and Business Development Manager, Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).

The panel highlights how African venture capital has entered a phase of stabilization and maturity, with funding levels steady and the ecosystem benefiting from a new generation of experienced founders and investors. As the market evolves, venture capital firms are increasingly focused on providing strategic value beyond capital, while regulators and development institutions play a key role in improving governance, enabling experimentation through sandboxes, and supporting scalable funding structures. Looking ahead to 2030, the panel expresses optimism about the ecosystem’s trajectory, driven by stronger founders, improved regulatory frameworks, and the emergence of liquidity mechanisms such as secondary markets.

Key Highlights Include:
• VC Market Stabilizing: African venture funding has plateaued at roughly $2–2.5 billion annually, signaling ecosystem consolidation and a shift toward sustainable growth.
• Stronger Founder Pipeline: A new generation of experienced, data-driven entrepreneurs is emerging, benefiting from lessons learned during earlier startup cycles.
• Value Beyond Capital: VCs increasingly compete by offering networks, regulatory guidance, and growth frameworks, not just funding.
• Regulation Enabling Innovation: Regulatory sandboxes and passporting initiatives, such as those in Rwanda, help startups test products and scale across markets.
• Liquidity & Ecosystem Sustainability: The emergence of secondary markets for venture funds could unlock liquidity and recycle capital to fuel the next wave of startups.

From keynotes to dynamic panel discussions, the summit explored groundbreaking topics across four flagship tracks: the Africa Money & DeFi Summit, Africa Climate Tech & Investment Summit, Africa Startup Summit, and Africa AI & Digital Summit. Attendees immersed themselves in the latest trends, shared ideas, and discovered cutting-edge innovations that are redefining Africa’s tech landscape.

But it wasn’t just about the talks – networking buzzed with energy, workshops sparked creativity, and exhibitions showcased the region’s tech solutions.

Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026 celebrated its 8th edition on February 11th and 12th at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi. Bringing together leading industry players the summit explored the latest trends and insights in technology and business across Africa and beyond.