AVCA Conference

1 - 5 May 2023
Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt

Formats

PE Conference

Registration 8:00 am - 11:00 am

8:30 am - 10:00 am

Raising a Fund in Today's Climate

Breakfast Roundtable by Debevoise & Plimpton

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Network Network Network!!!

10:30 am - 10:35 am

Opening Remarks

10:35 am - 10:45 am

Keynote Address

10:45 am - 10:50 am

Chair introduction

10:50 am - 11:35 am

Panel 8: Diversity, Equality & Inclusion in Private Capital

This panel builds a case for the mainstreaming of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion (DEI) in Africa’s private capital industry. While DEI is now recognised as a strategic objective in private capital globally, its active practice by investors outside those with a specific gender-lens mandate remains inconsistent. This panel focuses on the avenues for generalist fund managers to improve their performance from an inclusivity perspective, discussing the benefits and barriers to a more comprehensive integration of DEI at the fund and portfolio levels.

Nieros Oyegun Soerensen Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Verod Capital

Vymala Thuron Deputy Chief of Party, Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund

11:35 am - 12:20 pm

Panel 9: Leveraging Private Credit to support growth in Africa

On the back of tenfold growth in the past decade, growth forecasts for global private debt assets are estimated to reach nearly US$2.7 trillion by 2026, surpassing real estate to become the second-largest private capital asset class. Reflecting on the rise of private debt strategies globally, this panel discusses the growth drivers for the asset class in Africa and the upward trend of private debt funds raising capital on the continent. More specifically, this panel examines the particularities of private credit as an engine for growth in Africa including its different best-use cases, its varying utility as an instrument throughout a company’s development lifecycle, and its complementarity with other asset classes in Africa’s private capital ecosystem.

Jo Mate Investment Director, British International Investment

12:20 pm - 1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Stream 1: Maximising Return on Investment in Healthcare

This stream takes a deep dive into healthcare in Africa, discussing emerging investment opportunities in the sector and the role of private capital in supporting dynamic, innovative businesses working to improve access to affordable healthcare on the continent. In particular, the scope for commercial return in healthcare service provision will be discussed, including where on the health value chain these opportunities are presenting themselves.

Biju Mohandas Partner, LeapFrog Investments

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Stream 2: Impact & Profit: Mutually Exclusive?

The topic of debate in this stream is the relationship between impact and profit, in particular at the very early stages of the impact capital continuum. Patient, risk-tolerant, concessionary, and flexible capital is an essential tool to support impact-driven businesses that lack financing on suitable terms through the conventional marketplace. In view of the funding gap faced by these companies, where and how can philanthropic capital sources plug the gap for catalytic capital critically needed by some companies on the continent?

Elwassimy Hazem Advisor to AfDB Vice President, Head of Private Sector Strategy & Investment Transactions Structuring, African Development Bank (AfDB)

David Moore Principal, Funds & Co-Investments, Blue Earth Capital

Jack Malhotra‑Mulloy Head, Impact Investing, Acre Resources (moderator)

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Stream 1: Maximising Return on Investment in Healthcare

This stream takes a deep dive into healthcare in Africa, discussing emerging investment opportunities in the sector and the role of private capital in supporting dynamic, innovative businesses working to improve access to affordable healthcare on the continent. In particular, the scope for commercial return in healthcare service provision will be discussed, including where on the health value chain these opportunities are presenting themselves.

Biju Mohandas Partner, LeapFrog Investments

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Stream 2: Impact & Profit: Mutually Exclusive?

The topic of debate in this stream is the relationship between impact and profit, in particular at the very early stages of the impact capital continuum. Patient, risk-tolerant, concessionary, and flexible capital is an essential tool to support impact-driven businesses that lack financing on suitable terms through the conventional marketplace. In view of the funding gap faced by these companies, where and how can philanthropic capital sources plug the gap for catalytic capital critically needed by some companies on the continent?

Elwassimy Hazem Advisor to AfDB Vice President, Head of Private Sector Strategy & Investment Transactions Structuring, African Development Bank (AfDB)

David Moore Principal, Funds & Co-Investments, Blue Earth Capital

Jack Malhotra‑Mulloy Head, Impact Investing, Acre Resources (moderator)

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Stream 3: Feeding the Pipeline: Emerging Managers

The perspectives and experiences of emerging managers are the focus of this stream. Drawing on the empirical knowledge of first-time private capital fund managers on the continent, we discuss the unique challenges they encountered and their best-practice suggestions for how to secure capital commitments in a competitive environment. What changes could, and should, be made to fund terms and fundraising practices to support the growth of private capital markets in Africa? Finally, this panel discusses how managers should think through their team composition, investment thesis and strategy to differentiate themselves in a sea of others chasing the same pools of capital.

Lisa Thomas Founder and Managing Director, Samata Capital

Alexandre Alfonsi Partner, Axonia Partners (moderator)

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Stream 4: Growing Up: Secondaries and New Stages of Maturity for Private Capital in Africa

While nascent, there are several attractive opportunities in Africa’s secondaries market that position it to play an important role in the industry. This stream adopts an exploratory lens to determine what is necessary to build a robust secondaries market in Africa, including strategies to make secondary investments and funds more appealing to both commercial and institutional investors. Specifically, what measures can be taken to de-risk the prospect of investing in Africa’s secondaries market, minimising its drawbacks and maximising its appeal?

Gbenga Hassan Partner, Argentil Capital Partners

Ennis Rimawi Founder and Managing Director, Catalyst MENA Climate Funds

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Stream 3: Feeding the Pipeline: Emerging Managers

The perspectives and experiences of emerging managers are the focus of this stream. Drawing on the empirical knowledge of first-time private capital fund managers on the continent, we discuss the unique challenges they encountered and their best-practice suggestions for how to secure capital commitments in a competitive environment. What changes could, and should, be made to fund terms and fundraising practices to support the growth of private capital markets in Africa? Finally, this panel discusses how managers should think through their team composition, investment thesis and strategy to differentiate themselves in a sea of others chasing the same pools of capital.

Lisa Thomas Founder and Managing Director, Samata Capital

Alexandre Alfonsi Partner, Axonia Partners (moderator)

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm

Stream 4: Growing Up: Secondaries and New Stages of Maturity for Private Capital in Africa

While nascent, there are several attractive opportunities in Africa’s secondaries market that position it to play an important role in the industry. This stream adopts an exploratory lens to determine what is necessary to build a robust secondaries market in Africa, including strategies to make secondary investments and funds more appealing to both commercial and institutional investors. Specifically, what measures can be taken to de-risk the prospect of investing in Africa’s secondaries market, minimising its drawbacks and maximising its appeal?

Gbenga Hassan Partner, Argentil Capital Partners

Ennis Rimawi Founder and Managing Director, Catalyst MENA Climate Funds

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Stream 5: Investing for a Secure and Sustainable Food Future

Investing in a secure and a sustainable food future is therefore essential for a thriving global economy - according to the Global Report on Food Crisis 2022 Mid-year Update, up to 205 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity and to be in need of urgent assistance in 45 countries. This panel will explore the opportunities within and effective strategies for leveraging capital and integrating innovative solutions to achieve a more secure food system on the continent. The panellists will discuss the opportunities and challenges in investing in this sector of the economy, the risks and how these are mitigated, finance structures that are fit for purpose and potential for scaling solutions.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Stream 6: Creativity and Capital: Investment Opportunities in Africa’s Creative Economy

Often overlooked and underestimated, the creative economy presents a lucrative opportunity for private capital investment. In Nigeria alone, creative industries contributed approximately US$18 billion to GDP in 2020, according to the World Bank 2020. This panel goes beyond the conventional to examine how creative industries such as fashion, film, music, design and sport can be sources of growth, job creation, and commercial return for private investors, as well as the innovators and changemakers advancing creativity and culture across the continent.

Ibrahim Sagna Executive Chairman, Silverbacks Holdings

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Stream 5: Investing for a Secure and Sustainable Food Future

Investing in a secure and a sustainable food future is therefore essential for a thriving global economy - according to the Global Report on Food Crisis 2022 Mid-year Update, up to 205 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity and to be in need of urgent assistance in 45 countries. This panel will explore the opportunities within and effective strategies for leveraging capital and integrating innovative solutions to achieve a more secure food system on the continent. The panellists will discuss the opportunities and challenges in investing in this sector of the economy, the risks and how these are mitigated, finance structures that are fit for purpose and potential for scaling solutions.

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Stream 6: Creativity and Capital: Investment Opportunities in Africa’s Creative Economy

Often overlooked and underestimated, the creative economy presents a lucrative opportunity for private capital investment. In Nigeria alone, creative industries contributed approximately US$18 billion to GDP in 2020, according to the World Bank 2020. This panel goes beyond the conventional to examine how creative industries such as fashion, film, music, design and sport can be sources of growth, job creation, and commercial return for private investors, as well as the innovators and changemakers advancing creativity and culture across the continent.

Ibrahim Sagna Executive Chairman, Silverbacks Holdings

3:15 pm - 3:45 pm

Network Network Network!!!

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Fireside Chat: Funds & Fund Management Services in Africa - a spotlight on KIFC

Nadia Kouassi Coulibaly Head of Research, AVCA

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Closing Session: Straight From the Source: LP Perspectives on Venture Capital in Africa

4:45 pm - 4:50 pm

Closing Remarks

Apply for a complimentary qualified FREE LP* pass

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*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.