Main Conference Day 2
What are the core drivers behind Africa’s rising relevance in the Global South? What are the main factors causing investor hesitation or reluctance toward African markets, and how can these perceptions be overcome? Which success stories demonstrate Africa’s potential for rewarding private capital investments? From early wins to costly setbacks, what key lessons have investors learned about balancing risk and reward in African private capital?
What are the most promising cross-border collaborations within Africa and how can fund managers leverage them to scale businesses? How are investors from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe engaging differently across Africa and what do their growing footprints mean for African GPs and LPs? How are shifting geopolitical dynamics reshaping the landscape of cross-border partnerships and investor priorities in African private capital?
- Alexandre Alfonsi - Managing Partner, Alternal
- Babacar Seck - Managing Partner, Askya Investment Partners
- Varun Divgikar - Investment Director, idi EM Partners
- Zachary Fond - Partner, Alta Semper Capital
Which other markets are showing increasing promise? How can investors better navigate the nuances of Francophone Africa? How can frontier markets capture the interest of prudent LPs?
- Oumnia Benaddi - Director, Co-Head, Direct Equity, EBRD
- Renier de Wit - Managing Director, Gaia Fund Managers
Join us for an engaging and dynamic fishbowl discussion, a unique format where a small group of LPs and GPs share insights in an open circle, while the audience listens and then has the chance to join the conversation by replacing someone in the circle and “taking a seat” in the fishbowl.
This candid dialogue will explore critical themes shaping private capital in Africa.
Key Questions Include:
🎯 For LPs:
• What’s the biggest “red flag” that makes an LP walk away from a deal or fund?
• What are your expectations around impact metrics from GPs? Are they evolving?
🛠 For GPs:
• How do you maintain investor confidence when navigating political or currency volatility?
• How do you balance pressure for short-term returns with the longer time horizons often required in African markets?
🤝 For Both:
• What’s one misconception LPs and GPs have about each other that you wish to clear up?
• Are there overlooked sectors or regions in Africa where you see hidden value?
Prepare for an interactive session that breaks down barriers, fosters transparency, and drives a deeper understanding between LPs and GPs investing across Africa.
Run strictly under the Chatham House Rule. Encouraging participants to speak openly on the topics that really matter.
Open to LPs and GPs only
For registrations, please contact Munazzah Siddique at munazzah.siddique@informa.com
- Samantha Pokroy - Founder & CEO, Sanari Capital
How are Kenya’s evolving tax policies, including capital gains tax and import duties reshaping private capital strategies and investor appetite in the region? How is the growth of sectors like renewable energy, fintech, and consumer goods shaping investor interest and value creation in East African private capital? What strategies can be employed to encourage greater participation from local pension funds and insurers in alternative asset investments across East Africa?
- David Owino - Founder & Managing Partner, Ascent
Is it time for dedicated agri-focused funds, or can generalist private equity funds realistically address the sector’s unique complexity and needs? What role can blended finance, SPVs, or permanent capital vehicles play? How can private capital bridge the gap between short-term debt needs for founders and long-term equity goals for early-stage innovators? How can private capital best support agritech ventures in Africa amid critical infrastructure challenges?
- Alison Klein - Managing Director, Akmazo
- William Bao Bean - Managing General Partner, Orbit Startups
- Herman Marais - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, EXEO Capital
How can private capital best support African SMEs developing breakthrough healthcare solutions, from improved drug delivery to AI diagnostics? With traditional donors like USAID stepping back, what new models and players can step in to finance healthcare infrastructure and innovation sustainably? What are the opportunities to scale in the women’s health space?
Four Africa-focused founders pitch their businesses and bold ideas to a panel of judges in a rapid ‘Shark Tank/Dragons’ Den’ style session.
Each founder has 5 minutes to pitch followed by 5 minutes Q&A.
After all pitches are completed, judges will have 10 minutes to deliberate, provide reflections, and then announce their winner.
Open to all.
To register as an attendee, please contact Munazzah Siddique at munazzah.siddique@informa.com
- Ifedayo Durosinmi Etti - CEO, Herconomy
Africa focused investors are stepping into the sustainability spotlight. But what does meaningful capital mobilisation look like in a fragmented impact space?
This workshop explores:
• The evolving role of local capital in driving sustainable investment
• Impact vs returns: How are LPs really responding?
• Standardising metrics: Can we stop measuring in so many different ways?
• The geopolitics of capital: Why where your LPs are from now matters
• Where the next 5 years of climate-resilient and inclusive investment are headed
- Hamdiya Ismaila - CEO, Savannah Impact Advisory
Conventional due diligence frameworks often fall short in the African context, where information asymmetries, limited track records, and local nuances demand a more dynamic approach. This off-the-record workshop invites LPs to exchange strategies, lessons learned, and practical tools for assessing fund managers beyond the DDQ - from sourcing trusted local intel to evaluating governance, ethics, and execution risk on the ground.
Participants will also hear practical tips and insights from the workshop leader, based on real experiences working across African private markets.
Open to pre-registered development financial institutions, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, pension funds, single family offices and sovereign wealth funds, subject to qualification.
Qualifying LPs, to register, please contact Maya Marek at