African Angel Academy

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Orange Corners and Viridian have collaborated to support emerging angel investors from Angola and DRC to participate in the African Angel Academy, a pan-African learning and networking program.
What are the main aims and objectives?

The African Angel Academy primarily aims to expand the pool of angel investors across Africa, thereby strengthening the continent's early-stage investment landscape. Its objectives include providing comprehensive training and resources to both new and existing angel investors, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed investment decisions. The academy focuses on fostering a vibrant community of investors who can support and finance promising startups, thus boosting local entrepreneurship and innovation. By offering networking opportunities and startup showcases, the academy also seeks to bridge the gap between investors and entrepreneurs, facilitating meaningful connections that can lead to successful funding and growth of African startups.

How does the program work?

Orange Corners is fostering local investment in Africa by backing two business angel networks: CAIA in Angola and CBA in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative is supporting 24 up-and-coming angel investors from these networks by enrolling them in the African Angel Academy, an educational and networking program.

Each network will have 12 angel participants engaging in a 13-week online program. Additionally, both groups will benefit from mentorship by seasoned leaders of angel networks. This guidance aims to enhance the groups' abilities to evolve into active Communities of Practice, with the goal of educating and inspiring future generations of angel investors.

This tailored program runs for 13 weeks, concluding with virtual startup showcase events. Participants gain insights into angel investing from Africa's leading angel investors, develop their individual investment strategies, and connect with promising startups from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The live masterclasses will address topics pertinent to the networks' developmental stage and regional context, including ethics and values, legal structures, local ecosystem mapping, and strategies for attracting new members.

What is the overall cost?

There is currently no available information on the cost of running the African Angel Academy

How was it implemented?

The African Angel Academy is an online training initiative designed by seasoned angel investors. Many of the program's graduates have gone on to establish their own angel investment groups and are actively contributing to their local startup ecosystems. This impactful program is a collaborative effort between Viridian, Viktoria Ventures, and the African Business Angel Network (ABAN).

Orange Corners is an initiative of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs that aims to enhance employment opportunities for young people aged 18 to 35 in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The initiative works to bolster ecosystems that support youth entrepreneurship and employment while fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among young individuals. The program offers a comprehensive suite of services including incubation, acceleration, financial access, training, and entrepreneurial challenges. These efforts are strongly supported by Dutch Embassies and private sector partners.

What impact has been measured?

Since 2020 African Angel Academy has achieved the following:

  • 615 experienced professionals enrolled and trained
  • 24 new angel groups trained and mentored
  • Operated in 32 African countries
Notes + Additional Context

Alexandra Fraser, Director African Angel Academy, said:

“The African Angel Academy is the first online programme for new and aspiring African angel investors delivered by African angels and experts. The value that the AAA programme provides beyond the online content, are the masterclasses, discussions and connection between angel investors across the continent. We are only able to do this by partnering with great programme sponsors like Orange Corners who are committed to building ecosystems, but also with local champions. Adding 24 new angels from CAIA and CBA to our community, and expanding the programme to Angola and the DRC, not only helps to expand our network of angels, but also to connect investors to local players within these emerging ecosystems.“

Richard van Hoolwerff, Private Sector Development Advisor at Orange Corners, said: 

“At Orange Corners we take an ecosystem approach. This means that we carefully analyse startup ecosystems in the countries we work in with local experts and stakeholders and assess where we can make the most impact. Witnessing the great potential of the startups we support in our incubation programmes and finding the angel investment scenes in both DRC and Angola in a fledgling phase we instantly understood that supporting CAIA and CBA would have a massive impact on both startup ecosystems. We couldn’t be more proud and happier than having found such a competent and experienced team as Viridian to offer the African Angel Academy to CAIA and CBA. They are motivated, flexible and professional. These are three essential ingredients for the implementation of any successful programme. I believe that with the African Angel Academy, the startup ecosystems of DRC and Angola will be tremendously boosted, offering great support to young entrepreneurs in both countries”.

CURATED BY

Tom Hancock

Research Associate
Global Entrepreneurship Network
United Kingdom