The African Business Angel Network (ABAN), has partnered with Greentec Capital Africa Foundation to launch the Namibian Business Angel Investor Network (NABAN) in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek.
The launch be held in Namibia’s Capital, Windhoek, between March 2nd & 3rd. It will include an informal session with various parties in the ecosystem, a day long masterclass with the founding members of NABAN.
Greentec Capital Africa Foundation has organized the event in partnership with ABAN and GIZ (the German Development Co-operation).
The Masterclass will be conducted by long-time investor and president of ABAN, Tomi Davies, with an introduction by CFO and co-founder of Greentec Capital, Thomas Festerling.
Speaking to Ventureburn, Greentec Capital Africa Foundation’s head of programmes Kirstin Wiedow said that Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) set up the foundation for NABAN years back through its Fablab and GIZ.
At the time the GIZ and the Fablab held engagements with the industry following pitching events and assessments of the need to foster more early stage investment and support for startups.
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Wiedow said, “Alas the Fablab, who championed the cause closed in 2019 and since then GIZ and GCAF with ABAN took the reins to make sure this intervention for the local ecosystem still comes to be.”
Namibian startups currently have a hard time getting hold of seed funding needed to kickstart or grow their business.
Start-up Namibia project manager Anna Vambe said, “We really need Angel investors to bridge the gap for seed financing starting with investments from 100 000 Namibian dollars, which Namibian startups are so desperately looking for.”
She noted, “In addition, angel investors bring with networks, access to markets and much needed technical assistance for our startups.”