Lagos chosen to host Angel Fair West Africa 2014

Lagos, Nigeria has been chosen to host the inaugural Angel fair West Africa (AFWA). This event will have representatives attending from the Lagos Angel Network, Ghana Angel Investment Network, Angel Africa List, Africa Angels Network, Africa Venture Capital Association, existing angel groups in Senegal and networks from within and outside the continent.

Angel Fair is the brainchild of Ghanaian entrepreneur Eric Osiakwan, Scottish entrepreneur Jamie Clyde, and Artlogic, an events company that produces high end boutique fairs supporting the arts in Southern Africa. The first Angel Fair took place this past September in Johannesburg.

It is expected that the event, taking place from the Sun 30th to Mon 31st March 2014, will host about 100 investors and entrepreneurs from within and outside Africa. The event is organised by the Angel Africa List (AAL) in partnership with the Lagos Angel Network (LAN) and the African Venture Capital Association (AVCA).

During the AFWA, selected entrepreneurs will pitch their business, giving investors the opportunity to prioritize those they wish to meet. In the afternoon, attendees will circulate to meet entrepreneurs in order to explore investment, business development and other types of deals. There will also be an investors’ and entrepreneurs’ panel session.

Angel Fair is  recognized as a top five player in the Africa startup Eco-system (http://www.boston.com/business/blogs/global-business-hub/2014/01/5_major_players.html).

“Half of the 20 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa. Never before has the continent been so open for business. But according to Omidyar Network’s recent research, investors, partners and entrepreneurs struggle to find each other to do deals,” said Eric Osiakwan, who has founded and built companies and organizations including Kuzima, GNVC, GISPA, AfrISPA, Internet Research, PenPlusBytes, and African Elections Portal, among others.