VC4A and Make-IT in Africa conducts Business Angel Mentor Camp for 17 Business Mentors
VC4A in collaboration with “Make-IT in Africa” yesterday Tuesday July 3, 2018, held an intensive Business Angel Mentor Camp for Selected Entrepreneurial Mentors. 17 Mentors were trained and matched with 15 startups and 24 entrepreneurs. The trained mentors are to work with the startups and entrepreneurs for a minimum of three months and up to 12 months. A follow up training for the mentors is scheduled to hold in September.
The One day intensive mentor camp comprised of lectures and tutorials from expert mentors drawn from VC4A, Lagos Angel Network and African Business Angel Network. There were also role plays, mentor-mentee engagement sessions and exercises and mentor-mentee pairing plus open networking exercises
The startups paired with the mentors are Debo Odulana of Doctoora E-Health Ltd, Ayoola Ogunlowo of Kolopay, Ayobami Oyaleke and Tayo Fagbohun of Placements, Oluwapelumi Kumuyi and Valentine Adejoh of Print Anything, Florida Uzoaru and Precious Onubia of Slide Safe, Mudiaga Ogboru and Faith Adesemowo of Social Lender, Martins Fidelis and Igwe Stanley of DoLessons, Charles Adure and Charles Oseghale Adimah of Embinix Automation, Tabitha Nanzala Mayabi, and Amanze Ogbonna of Ghalani, Obioha Adiuku Brown of Insight Africa, Nwachinemere Emeka Obewe and Adegbola Adedotun of Kitovu Technology Company, Adekunle Adeluwoye and Bob Ogar Osim of PreDiagn, Edmond Benjamin Nonie and Samuel Edward Nonie of Track Your Build and Ifeanyi Umejei of ICE.
The trained mentors include Abubakar Abdullahi of Emerging Young Entrepreneurs, AbdulHakeem Ajijola of Consultancyss, Chimaobi James Agwu of BNI, Jude Atebe of Vouchernet, Helen Asimegbe of Stylemark Enterprise Hub, Yemi Lawal of PurpleBoxDay, Charles Emembolu of TechQuest, Yemi Keri, Tonna Ezumba and Chike Asiodu. Others are Ivana Osagie, Victor Obioma, Laurens Kreuze, Olasupo Opeyemi, Olajumoke Oduwole andDipo Adebo.
The Mentors are to support the entrepreneurs in their efforts to build new companies. According to VC4A, mentors and investors play a central role in bolstering the entrepreneurial ecosystem across Africa and offers a direct channel for anyone serious about being part of Africa’s success stories. It further says that mentor driven capital is key to unlocking the continent’s potential. According to recent research, mentoring has become an essential factor in entrepreneurial success because mentors can help entrepreneurs overcome setbacks they commonly face in the early stages of their ventures.
According to Tomi Davies, one of the experts that conduced the mentor camp and Cofounder of Lagos Angel Network, “a mentor focuses on guiding the entrepreneur on an individual level to drive the success of his or her own company” He continues by saying that “the ultimate goal of the business mentor is to help develop a successful entrepreneur who in turn develops a successful company.”
In his own contribution, Mr. Charles Ojei, CEO of HYBR Group and an expert business mentor said that “A mentor provides an outsider perspective and opens an entrepreneur’s eye to the possible decisions he or she can take”
Venture Capital for Africa, VC4A, is the leading continental platform connecting startups to opportunities in Africa. VC4A strengthens Africa’s startup community by connecting entrepreneurs creating innovative and scalable businesses with the knowledge, network and funding they require to succeed. Through VC4A Entrepreneurs have access to the VC4A Startup Academy, mentorship opportunities and the ability to raise capital; Program partners engage members with their entrepreneurship programs, competitions and services while Investors are able to discover great companies, research opportunities and follow up with founders directly.
Venture Capital for Africa (VC4Africa) was started in 2007 with the mission to build up Africa’s start up community. The network has grown over the years into what is now the leading community organization working to build high growth high impact companies on the continent.
The VC4A Platform currently boasts of over 900 startup programs and events, over 75,000 registered community members and over 10,000 startups. Some of its partners include the World Bank, Thomson Reuters and Mest
The Business Angel Mentor Camp is part of the Tech Entrepreneurship initiative “Make-IT in Africa” which promotes digital innovation for sustainable and inclusive development in sub Saharan Africa. The project is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of BMZ’s digital Africa Initiative.
In close collaboration with more than 20 corporate and financial partners, social enterprises, hubs and networks, “Make-IT in Africa” supports an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs in the digital sector, to enable better access to finance, markets and skills.
Held at the new NG_Hub from Facebook on Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos it was anchored by four experts from the Netherlands and Nigeria, namely: Tomi Davies, Bertil Van Vugt, David Van Dijk and Charles Ojei, CEO of HYBER Group and an expert Business Mentor.
Mr. Tomi Davies is President of Lagos Angel Network, African Business Angel Network and also CEO of TVCLabs a Technology Business Accelerator based in Lagos. He also sits on the boards of Sproxil, Strika Entertainment, TechnoVision Communications and PeoplePrime.
Mr. Bertil van Vugt is VC4A Business Development Lead and works with partners to improve the services on the VC4A.com platform.
Mr. David van Dijk is VC4A Director of Mentorship Program, Co-founder and Director General of the African Business Angel Network and member of the Impact Investment Committee of EBAN, the European Trade Association for Business Angels. David is also the Managing Director of Stichting IGNITE, a non profit supporting entrepreneurs in conflict affected countries.
