This project resulted from funding awarded by the UK Government’s innovation agency (Innovate UK) under the global cooperation feasibility studies award. Additional financial support was provided by Absa Group. We are incredibly grateful for their generous support.

This project has been supported by many collaborators who are building the African entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many people offered their time and insights, either to guide us, peer review our work, or help connect us to others. We very much appreciate their highly valuable contributions.

We also want to offer a special thank you to the teams at Founders Factory Africa, UpShot Impact, ChangeSchool, University of Edinburgh’s Scaling Business in Africa initiative, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University, and University of Nairobi Business School.

We conducted a series of primary research interviews with experts who offered their expertise, insights, and time. 

• Abby Davidson, Director of Research and Impact, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)  

• Adetola Onayemi, CEO, Norebase  

• Amadou Chico Cissoko, CEO, Chico’s Innovators   

• Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs

• Ashwin Ravichandran, Portfolio Advisor, MEST  

• Aunnie Patton Power, Founder, Intelligent Impact & Impact Finance Pro

• Bitange Ndemo, Professor, University of Nairobi 

• Bongani Sithole, MD and Chief Scale Officer, Founders Factory Africa

• Carl Mayo, Chairman, HYBR

• Chidi Okpala, CEO, Asante Financial Services Group

• Craig McLeod, Founder (PlaidPlay, Build)

• Danie Maritz, Founder (​​Moonshot Africa, Orillion Solutions, Audlytics)

• Daniel van Zuydam, COO, TeachMe2

• Derin Adebayo, Global Lead, Access to Capital, Endeavor

• Erika Wiese, Head of Portfolio Management, Innovation Edge

• Joseph Amankwah-Amoah, Professor of International Business, Kent Business School 

• Lelemba Phiri, Principal & Founder, Africa Trust Group

• Llew Claasen, Managing Partner, Newtown Partners

• Marcello Schermer, Head of International Expansion, Yoco

• Mohamed Osman, CEO, Spring Impact

• Nicole Dunn, Accelerator Lead, Founders Factory Africa  

• Olu Akanmu, CEO, OPay

• Professor Seun Kolade, Associate Head (International), De Montford University

• Rajiv Daya, Head of Investments, Founders Factory Africa

• Roger Norton, Head of Product, Founders Factory Africa

• Sam Sturm, Chief Venture Architect, Founders Factory Africa 

• Sawa Nakagawa, Founder & Partner, Three Arrows Impact 

• Yaseen Khan, Co-Founder & CEO, EMGuidance 

• Yvonne Okafor, Investment Officer, Untapped Global  

• Zach George, Managing Partner, Launch Africa  

In addition we extend our appreciation to many more individuals from whom we received advice, guidance and support, including the following:

• Aaron Fu, Head of Growth, Catalyst Fund and GP, Sherpa Ventures

• Abe Cambridge, CEO, SunExchange

• Adenike Mfonobong Kazalma-Mantey, Private Sector Specialist, World Bank / IFC

• Adrian Allen, Director, Innovate UK 

• Alina Truhina, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Founders Factory Africa

• Andile Masuko, Head of Community, Founders Factory Africa

• Andrew Brown, Founder, Curiosity Labs

• Andrew Davies, Ecosystem Lead, Absa Group

• Barbara Mallison, Founder, Obami

• Bienvenue Angui, Head of Operations, Greentec Capital Africa Foundation

• Celestine Ukpere, Co-founder, Shule Africa

• Charmaine Lambert, Digital Partnerships & Ecosystems, Absa Group

• Chukwuyemisi (Yemisi) Isichei, Research Associate, Future Africa

• Daniel Rea, Co-founder/ Group Projects Director, First Wave

• Dario Giuliani, Founder & Director, Briter Bridges

• Dikko Nwachukwu, Chairman, JetWest Partners Ltd

• Dimeji Falana, CEO, Elves

• Eleni Gabre-Madhin, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa

• Ella Peinovich-Griffith, Co-founder/ CEO, Powered by People

• Esme Verity, Founder, Considered Capital

• Fahad Khalid, Director, Cube Consult

• Florence Muindi, Chair of Business Administration, University of Nairobi

• Frank Aswani, CEO, AVPA

• George Papadimitrakopoulos, Senior Adviser, Hellenic Government

• Hamza Mutebi, General Manager, Turaco

• Idris Bello, Managing Partner, LoftyInc Capital

• Jason Goldberg, Co-founder & Director, Edge Growth

• Jeremy de Beer, Professor, University of Ottawa

• Kamsy Osakwe, Partner, Core HQ

• Kingsley Ezeani, Co-founder & CEO, CashEx

• Lebo Mokgabudi, Digital Financial Services, IFC

• Marième Diop, Investment Manager, Orange Ventures

• Max Cuvellier, Head of Mobile for Development, GSMA

• Mide Alonge, Manager, Endeavor Nigeria

• Menno Van Dijk, CEO, Scale Up Nation

• Niraj Varia, Partner, Novastar Ventures

• Dr Obi Egbunike, Innovation Director, Co-Innovate Brunel

• Dr Ola Brown, Founder, Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Company

• Olaoluwa Olawale, Head of Growth, Elves

• Onajomo Akemu, Assistant Professor, Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business

• Oscar Ramos, MD, Chinaccelerator & Partner, SOSV

• Othman Abdulrasheed, COO, Shapshap

• Pascal Murasira, Managing Director, Norrsken East Africa

• Peter Bamkole, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University

• Peter Kisadha, Principal, Future Africa

• Peter Ngunyi, CEO, EarlyBird Venture Lab

• Rajesh Chandy, Academic Director, Wheeler Institute for Business and Development, London Business School

• Ryan Shub, Lead Venture Architect, The Delta

• Sam Immanuel, CEO, Semicolon

• Samuel Obafemi, CEO, The Octopus 

• Sangu Delle, CEO, Africa Health Holdings

• Sewu-Steve Tawia, Co-founder, Jaza Rift Ventures

• Sheena Raikundalia, Director, UK Tech Hub Kenya 

• Simbisai Chizhande, General Manager, IDF Capital 

• Stanley Ibekhu, Lead, Research, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-African University

• Tayo Akinyemi, Chief Inquisitor, Query Insights

• Thomas Reyal, Investment Professional, Greentec Capital

• Tim Weiss, Assistant Professor, Imperial College London

• Tshepo Moloi, Founder, CEO, Stokfella 

• Tomiwa Aladekomo, CEO, The Big Cabal

• Tonye Membere-Otaji, CEO, MVX

• Tosin Faniro-Dada, MD & CEO, Endeavor Nigeria

• Tsiky Rahagalala, Editorial Content Manager, Entreprenante Afrique

• Victor Boyle-Komolafe, Co-founder, GIVO

• Will Green, Programme, Director, Grindstone