Africa’s leading entrepreneurs and investors will gather at Google’s New York offices on September 19 for the 12th Angel Fair Africa, the first time the high-profile event will be held outside the continent.
Themed “Building and Investing in Africa,” the gathering coincides with the United Nations General Assembly week, spotlighting African entrepreneurship on the global stage while offering emerging startups direct access to international investors.
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Managing Partner of Accelerate Africa and a two-time unicorn co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave, will headline the builders’ panel.
He will be joined by Barbara Iyayi, co-founder of Liquid Credit and a New York-based investor, Benjamin Fernandes of Tanzania’s NALA and P1 Ventures, and Alexandre N’djore, CEO of Digitech from Côte d’Ivoire.
Ghana’s Otema Yirenkyi of Nviron Hive will moderate the session.
On the investors’ side, the panel will feature Candice Morgan from Black Angel Group, Steven Grin of Lateral Frontier, Achumboro Ataande of Ghana’s Ataande & Advisors, and Dr. Ola Brown of HealthCap Africa in Nigeria.
Their session will be led by South Africa’s Tinyiko Valoyi from Chanzo Capital, according to News Ghana.
The day will open with a fireside chat between renowned investor Esther Dyson of Term Limits and Eric Osiakwan of Chanzo Capital Ghana.
Dyson, whose investment career spans the United States, Europe, and Africa, will share her perspectives on African entrepreneurship.
Her forthcoming book, “Term Limits,” due in 2027, is expected to provide further insights into her investment philosophy.
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Google’s role as host reflects its growing commitment to African markets, where it has invested significantly in recent years, recognizing the continent’s potential as a technology hub and consumer market.
Throughout the event, the builders’ panel will explore experiences in constructing ventures, funds, accelerators, and incubators across Africa, aiming to inspire the ten startup founders flown in from the continent to pitch to investors.
In parallel, the investors will outline their selection criteria and share stories from their portfolios, offering critical guidance for founders seeking capital.
This dual structure is designed to facilitate networking while delivering practical insights.
Since its inception in 2013, Angel Fair Africa has been hosted in cities including Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Abidjan, Maputo, and Dar es Salaam, establishing itself as a premier matchmaking platform for African entrepreneurs and investors.
Over the years, it has showcased startups across sectors such as fintech, healthtech, agtech, and logistics, consistently highlighting solutions to African challenges through scalable, innovative models.
The event’s expansion to New York marks a strategic shift to connect African startups with global capital markets, potentially unlocking broader investment opportunities.
The timing alongside UN General Assembly week further elevates its profile, likely drawing attention from international development organizations and global investors interested in emerging markets.
Angel Fair Africa has a track record of producing tangible results, with past participants securing significant funding rounds and expanding operations across multiple African markets.
Its format, selecting founders to pitch to a curated group of investors “with the intent of doing deals,” has proven effective across eleven previous editions, resulting in meaningful partnerships and investment connections.
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Image Credit: Kenyan Wall Street
