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EVENT DETAILS |
The African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2019 (ADIS2019) is the fourth annual global convening of leaders, innovators, investors, & entrepreneurs that seeks to uplift the African continent by building bridges among Africans, Diasporans, & friends of Africa. Located in Silicon Valley, the innovation & entrepreneurial capital of the world, the conference aims to inform, engage, & inspire participants to be agents of change & active contributors to Africa's development. Visitthe ADIS2019 website for more information.
Overview
Following the footsteps of entrepreneurs who have walked the path of pursuing investments & opportunities in Africa, the 2019 symposium offers two days focused on the Investment Ecosystem & Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem. How do you start? What resources do you need to open a social impact business? What resources are available in Africa, or elsewhere? Walk through the journey of seasoned professionals who share their strategies & stories.
Keynote Speakers
Each day you will have the opportunity to hear firsthand the journey of inspiring & engaging Africans & friends of Africans whose work positively impacts the lives of people on the Continent. Our speakers seek to motivate, uplift, & educate our audience with stories, challenges, & strategies from their own paths in investment, entrepreneurship, & innovation in Africa. Leave inspired to take action & energized to collaborate with colleagues throughout the symposium.
Thursday, January 24 | Amplifying the Conversation: Selected Sector Conversations & Evening Welcome Reception
African Diaspora Network kicks off ADIS2019 with focused sector conversations & an evening welcoming reception to network & celebrate its fourth annual convening. Meet with fellow participants, panelists, moderators, & keynote speakers over hor d'oeuvres, light refreshments, & live entertainment. The reception concludes with a closing awards ceremony that honors African Diaspora Network's third annual Barka Award recipient.
Friday, January 25 | The Investment Ecosystem: Capturing Exceptional Returns in Africa
Fireside Chat: On the Purpose of Capital with Jed Emerson
The challenge of defining the true purpose of capital has been with us since the start of modern financial capitalism in 1604, but the roots of our exploration of meaning & purpose go back to the origins of humanity. How did we come to separate our understanding of economic/financial value from social/environmental value? How have we come to think of ourselves as separate from our neighbors, community, & planet. Jed Emerson of Blended Value will explore these two central questions through a fireside chat that investigates the challenge of defining the true purpose of capital since the start of modern financial capitalism in 1604.
Investment
Africa is rising steadily as the next frontier for investment, with countries like China leading the way in direct investments & Y Combinator building an increasing number of African ventures. What kinds of investments in Africa are proliferating, & how do you capture exceptional returns? Leading Silicon Valley investors will explain what helped them make their first Africa investments, ranging from greenfield investment opportunities to impact investment.
Venture Capital
Not all SMEs are alike - among them, venture capital in Africa holds the highest potential of generating robust growth in revenue & jobs on the continent. According to Partech Ventures, the VC funding raised by African startups reached $367 million in 2016, with 33% yearly growth. This session addresses the ecosystem's knowledge gap around VCs in Africa & case examples of opportunities. Taking an opportunities-over-obstacles approach, hear from leading experts on their investment decision-making, venture-building strategies, & results that led them to take the VC path in Africa.
Diaspora Impact Investment & Social Entrepreneurship
Africa's economic growth is unleashing the creativity of entrepreneurs across the continent. These entrepreneurs are inventing novel solutions to address big unsolved problems in their local markets. Unfortunately, the biggest problem they face is the lack of working capital to bring those solutions to scale. This session will share how to tap into the abundant financial resources that are available & how to attract impact investors to your social enterprise.
Human Capital Investment
By 2050, Africa is expected to experience a demographic doubling in population to reach a landmark 1 billion. This profound shift has the potential to amplify abundance. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the African Union, African leaders established Agenda 2063 to plan for prosperity, shared growth, & economic opportunity for all. How can the Continent harness human capital to achieve & activate the potential of its growing population? This session highlights investment opportunities that pave a foundation for skills development, education, mentoring, & employment training. Learn about the United Nations' major Impact Investment Collaborative in Africa & investment opportunities that foster African talent & ingenuity for a competitive & inclusive marketplace.
Fintech Workshop
Fintech has emerged as a leading driver of advancing innovation in Africa, with a huge volume of digital currency & blockchain initiatives building across the Continent. According to Exploring the African Fintech Startup Ecosystem Report 2017, Africa is home to more than 300 fintech startups active in over 20 countries, with tremendous growth since 2015. During this workshop, we will explore how fintech can transform the African economy by banking the unbanked & by leapfrogging & disrupting inefficient systems.
Reflection & Action
Immerse in deep discussions with fellow participants after the panel sessions to redefine & reimagine impact in Africa. Convene with panelists & speakers to ask questions & continue conversations on the burgeoning investment ecosystem in Africa. How do you plan to take action? Network & spark collaborations through group ideation & potential partnerships.
Free Time to Explore Silicon Valley
Explore the heart of Silicon Valley & embark upon an evening of sight-seeing with fellow ADIS participants. Tour the local area, enjoy dinner at the restaurants along Castro Steet in Mountain View, or take public transportation to go sightseeing in neighboring cities like San Francisco or San Jose.
Saturday, January 26 | The Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystem: Energizing Collaboration for the Future
Integrated & Sustainable Development in Africa
The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines seventeen sustainable development goals. As a launchpad for action, Development Goal 17: Partnership for Goals seeks to strengthen the means of implementation & revitalize global partnership for sustainable development. What integrated approaches have been most effective in uplifting Africa toward a new model of sustainability? Intersectional goals such as poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, & job generation require a multi-faceted approach made possible through cross-sector collaboration. Delve into the current work & steps that policymakers, innovators, & entrepreneurs have taken to work toward integrated economic, social, & environmental sustainability in Africa.
Manufacturing & Technology
Manufacturing & technology are key to the structural transformation of Africa. According to the Overseas Development Institute, African manufacturing production more than doubled between 2005 & 2014 with 3.5% annual growth, while sub-Saharan African manufacturing exports almost tripled to more than $140 billion. Meanwhile, technological giants continue to invest & innovate in Africa. This session addresses how entrepreneurs have accelerated development & infrastructure on the Continent through manufacturing & technology.
Health Care & Education
Health care & education are key determinants of individual wellness as well as a nation's overall economic health & sustainability. Achieving Agenda 2063 requires development that is people-driven, particularly among women & youth. How do we achieve a high standard of living & quality of life that drives well-being? This session provides an overview of how health care & education have the potential to transform African economies & set a foundation for an educated & skilled citizenry that builds prosperity & eradicates poverty.
Energy & Agriculture
How have energy & agriculture transformed the landscape of Africa & shifted the economy toward new innovations & opportunities? Learn about paygo energy in Africa as well as new trends in agricultural investments driven by private equity firms. Case examples include new irrigation systems & processing plants that create a ripple effect in local job opportunities & increased sustainability in the region.
Builders of Africa's Future
The second Builders of Africa's Future Awards serves to showcase & award entrepreneurs who are running early-stage for-profit & not-for-profits that are addressing Africa's unique needs through technology or differentiated business models. These unique needs include health, education, energy, financial inclusion, gender inclusion, nutrition, commerce, industrial development, & other socioeconomic good. A selection of nominees will showcase their startup; start-ups are selected based on the criteria of innovation, uniqueness, growth, potential, & impact potential on the continent.
Closing Session
Participants will convene for the final closing session of ADIS2019. The ADIS Co-Chair will provide a brief summary of key takeaways & highlights, including opportunities for action & upcoming ADN events.
Evening Reception & Live Performance
Join us for our closing reception, featuring live musical performance over light food & beverages. Network & energize collaboration with fellow participants at the symposium. What is your greatest takeaway? How do you plan to take action? Celebrate with us & continue conversations spurred from ADIS2019.
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