At Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS), we are committed to supporting the growth of startups across Africa, and investment is one of the key elements. Therefore, through our joint project with ABAN, we are empowering 60 gender-inclusive business angels across Africa and the diaspora, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to invest effectively in early-stage climate-smart agriculture ventures. By building capacity for these investors, we aim to bridge the capital gap and foster a more inclusive investment landscape.

As the angel landscape enters its next phase of development, it must continue to rely on and strengthen the community-driven and supportive culture that has been instrumental to its early successes. Both established and emerging ecosystem players must collaborate to unlock the full potential of angel investing, driving meaningful contributions to Africa’s economic, social, and environmental development.

Having angel network members who are aligned with the purpose and mandate of the group is key. It’s easy for everyone to be aligned when deals are going well and the group is in its formative stage, but the real test of alignment is during tough times, when your startups need more support, are looking for follow-on funding, or have failed. Running an angel network is also a lot of work, so while systems and processes are great, it’s also important to have enough committed members to share the load, take on new roles and responsibilities, keep the group engaged, and support the portfolio companies.

Community building is crucial. We emphasise fostering a supportive ecosystem of like-minded investors and entrepreneurs, creating an environment where angels provide not just funding but strategic guidance and mentorship. This collaborative spirit enhances startups’ chances of success. Additionally, our structured deal flow and diligence process ensure that only the most promising companies make it to the investment committee. We apply a methodical approach, from scouting and filtering startups to conducting thorough due diligence, which leads to better returns.