ABAN’s first annual congress in Lagos to bolster African early-stage investment and inclusion
The Africa Business Angel Network (ABAN) is preparing to host its inaugural Annual Congress in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 17–18, 2025, marking a decade of pioneering efforts in advancing angel investing across the continent. This milestone event aims to celebrate ABAN's achievements while setting strategic goals to accelerate local capital participation in Africa's early-stage startup ecosystem.
ABAN’s network has impressively grown to include more than 7,000 investors spanning 37 African countries as well as the diaspora, underscoring the organisation's commitment to expanding inclusive, Africa-led investment opportunities. The Congress will focus heavily on scaling these efforts, spotlighting key sectors such as fintech, agritech, health-tech, edtech, cleantech, climate-smart agriculture, AI, and the creative economy. These sectors have been identified as critical drivers of sustainable growth and innovation across the continent.
The two-day event is designed as more than just a celebration; it will provide a comprehensive platform for high-level networking, thought leadership dialogues, and strategic discussions. Activities will include startup showcases and live pitch sessions that enable emerging ventures to connect directly with investors. Notably, ABAN plans to launch several new initiatives at the Congress, such as Catalytic Africa 2.0 and the Africa Business Angel Investment Vehicle (ABAIV), aimed at deepening local capital engagement and fostering cross-border investment flows.
ABAN’s decade-long journey has seen the mobilisation of over $35 million in early-stage investments, a testament to its role in strengthening Africa’s early-stage funding ecosystem. The organisation’s expanding network of business angels, fund managers, and ecosystem enablers has created vital pathways for empowering local investors, including individuals, family offices, and diaspora contributors, to support African entrepreneurs from a broad range of sectors.
One of the Congress’s thematic priorities will be to enhance the participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in investment opportunities, particularly women investors and founders, a move aligned with ABAN’s broader goal of creating a more inclusive investment landscape. The event will also serve as a forum for engaging policymakers to develop supportive regulatory frameworks that nurture sustainable investment communities across the continent.
By convening Africa’s top angel investors, ecosystem champions, and startup founders, the ABAN Congress aims to catalyse new partnerships and investment strategies that bolster the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem long-term. As reported by multiple industry sources, ABAN’s ongoing mission is to build an investment environment where African-led solutions can thrive independently, powered by locally generated capital.
This landmark Congress reflects a significant moment for the African early-stage investment community. It underlines ABAN’s evolution from a network builder into a vital ecosystem enabler, fostering deeper investor collaboration and shaping a future where Africa’s economic potential is unlocked by homegrown innovation and investment.