AVCA Conference

Nairobi, Kenya
Monday, 27 April - Friday, 1 May 2026

Formats

VC Summit

Registration 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

10:00 am - 10:05 am

Welcome & Opening Remarks

10:05 am - 10:30 am

Opening Keynote Address

10:30 am - 10:35 am

Morning Chair Introduction

10:35 am - 11:15 am

Panel 1: From Hype to Fundamentals: Resetting the African VC Story

African venture capital stands at a critical inflection point. As the industry matures, this session interrogates the foundational assumptions underpinning venture capital in Africa. Was the imported VC model ever fully suited to the continent’s realities, or did early-stage investing miss key structural, market, or operational nuances? Panellists will reflect candidly on where expectations diverged from outcomes, assess what has and hasn’t worked, and explore whether meaningful course correction is still possible. The discussion moves from hype to fundamentals, envisioning what a more resilient, fit-for-purpose African VC ecosystem could look like over the next decade.  

11:15 am - 11:55 am

Panel 2: Backing African Ventures: Understanding LP Appetite in African Venture Capital 

Despite increasing interest and capacity among local stakeholders, African venture capital remains predominantly funded by global capital. This imbalance raises important questions around risk perception, market readiness, and the long-term sustainability of fundraising on the continent. Bringing together local and international LPs, this panel examines what continues to attract global capital to African VC and, critically, what constrains deeper participation from domestic institutional investors. The discussion places local LP appetite, allocation rationale, and the misalignment between institutional mandates and existing VC structures under the microscope. This diagnostic lens aims to identify the structural shifts needed to unlock greater local capital participation and build a more balanced and resilient capital base for African venture funds. 

11:55 am - 12:35 pm

Panel 3: Platform vs Specialist Funds: What Actually Scales in Africa

As capital becomes more selective and LP scrutiny intensifies, African venture fund strategies are under closer scrutiny. This panel explores whether broad, multi-sector “platform” funds or more focused specialist strategies are better positioned to scale sustainably and deliver consistent returns across African markets. Panellists will discuss how fund models are evolving in response to LP expectations, portfolio construction realities, and the operational demands of supporting founders across diverse geographies. What does scale truly mean in the African VC context? How does focus influence performance, risk management, and value creation? Drawing on anecdotal evidence, this session will unpack which approaches are most likely to succeed in the next phase of Africa’s venture capital evolution.

12:35 pm - 1:20 pm

Networking Lunch

1:20 pm - 1:25 pm

Afternoon Chair Introduction

1:25 pm - 1:40 pm

Breaking the Mold: Uncharted Routes to Success

1:40 pm - 2:20 pm

Panel 4: The Diaspora Advantage: Capital, Customer and Connector

The African diaspora represents one of the continent’s most underleveraged assets for venture capital, offering not only capital, but global networks, operational expertise, and access to international markets. This panel examines how diaspora individuals and institutions can be mobilised as more deliberate allocators to African VC, and what structures are needed to convert interest into sustained investment. Panellists will explore how fund managers can better engage diaspora capital, manage expectations, and professionalise participation beyond informal angel investing. The discussion will also consider the role diaspora investors can play in strengthening cross-border connectivity and positioning African VC more firmly within global innovation and capital ecosystems. 

2:20 pm - 3:00 pm

Panel 5: Strategics, Corporates, and CVC: The Strategic Investor Opportunity in African Venture Capital

Corporate investors and strategic partners have the potential to play a transformative role in African venture capital, yet their participation remains uneven, and often episodic. This panel explores the evolving role of corporates and corporate venture capital (CVC) in Africa’s VC ecosystem, distinguishing committed, long-term strategic investors from more opportunistic participants. Panellists will discuss the advantages corporates can bring to venture-backed companies – from market access and distribution to technical expertise and acquisition pathways – as well as the governance models, incentive structures, and alignment mechanisms required to sustain engagement. The session will assess how CVC can be more effectively integrated into Africa’s venture capital landscape.

3:00 pm - 3:20 pm

Network, Network, Network!

3:20 pm - 4:00 pm

Panel 6:  Down Rounds, Flat Rounds, and Shutdowns: Lessons from the Reset

This founder-led session surfaces practical lessons from operating through down rounds, flat rounds, and, in some cases, business shutdowns. Panellists will share candid insights on fundraising under pressure, cash flow management, burn optimisation, and making difficult operational decisions in constrained markets. The discussion will also look ahead, exploring how founders are repositioning their businesses for resilience, whether through market expansion, strategic partnerships, or revised growth strategies. This session offers a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to build durable, investable companies in Africa’s challenging and evolving VC landscape.

4:00 pm - 4:40 pm

Panel 7: Liquidity Without Listings: African VC’s Reality Check 

Venture capitalists have placed big bets on African entrepreneurs in recent years, channelling close to US$24 billion to the continent between 2019 and 2025. As attention turns to the performance of this invested capital, the conversation around exits and liquidity must move beyond an overreliance on IPOs and unicorn narratives. This closing plenary examines what realistic, repeatable, and sustainable exit pathways look like for African VC today. Panellists will explore alternatives including growth equity, buyouts, strategic acquisitions, sector consolidation, and portfolio-level M&A as deliberate liquidity strategies. Drawing on practical examples, the discussion will assess what has worked, what has proven challenging, and how exit experiences can inform better fund design, investment strategies, and a more sustainable ecosystem.

4:40 pm - 5:10 pm

Breaking the Mold: Uncharted Routes to Success

5:10 pm - 5:15 pm

Closing Remarks

6:30 pm - 10:30 pm

VC Welcome Reception

The AVCA Conference is complimentary for qualified Limited Partners (LPs), classified as non-retail investors in private equity funds, limited to 3 complimentary passes per organisation. This includes full-time employees of development finance institutions (DFIs), endowments, single-family offices, insurance companies, public and private pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds.