On Sunday, November 10th, the WithOnyeka community, a mentorship initiative founded by prominent tech entrepreneur and investor Onyeka Akumah, hosted its inaugural DEMO Day. Akumah, well-known for his work as the Founder of Treepz and an active angel investor, brought together promising startups and high-profile investors, creating a vital platform for showcasing African innovation. This event highlights the growing momentum in Africa’s tech ecosystem and the increased interest from global investors in supporting local entrepreneurs.
Meeting Purpose and Key Takeaways
The DEMO Day aimed to showcase ten startups from the WithOnyeka community mentorship program to a network of investors and provide meaningful networking opportunities. Highlights from the event included:
– Ten Diverse African Startups: Representing industries such as fintech, health tech, real estate, events, VR/AR, and retail, the startups showed remarkable innovation and potential for scaling. These early-stage companies demonstrated promising traction and creative solutions to address local challenges.
– Investor Engagement: Notable investors from globally recognized firms, including YCombinator, Plug and Play Ventures, HOAQ, and Antler Africa, participated in the event, showing active interest and engaging with founders during Q&A sessions.
– Support for African Entrepreneurs: The WithOnyeka community, which began in January 2023 and has since grown to over 135 entrepreneurs from 16 countries, provided a structured platform for mentorship, knowledge sharing, and direct connections to investors.
Participating Startups
Each startup presented unique, solution-oriented products poised to make significant impacts in their respective sectors. The startups that pitched included:
1. AlajoApp – A fintech platform offering offline banking solutions for low-income earners.
2. Shoptreo – A B2B platform redefining retail connections in Africa’s fashion sector.
3. HealthGo – Health insurance and financing for underserved populations.
4. MyKreeb – AI-powered real estate search and neighborhood insights.
5. NotJustEvent – A marketplace connecting event planners with verified vendors.
6. Afiari – A one-click app delivering groceries to users.
7. LiveParte – A fan engagement platform for live entertainment events.
8. Nile – An AI platform simplifying the setup of online stores.
9. MandatesVR – A platform enabling immersive VR/AR content creation.
10. Ace Talent – A platform focused on tech talent training and upskilling driven by AI.
Investors in Attendance
The DEMO Day attracted a notable lineup of investors deeply committed to supporting African innovation. These included:
– YCombinator
– Plug and Play Ventures
– ODBA
– Funema
– The Continental Ventures Partner (TCVP)
– BKR Capital
– African Impact Initiative
– Jedar Capital
– The Lynch Brothers
– Antler Africa
– Black Founders Network
– Backroom Capital
– HOAQ
– Niche Capital
– JJL Angel Investors
– Nubia Capital
– Microtraction
These investors engaged through interactive Q&A sessions and received detailed pitch decks, creating a structured pathway for potential future investments.
A Look Ahead: Expanding Africa’s Investment Landscape
Contributing to the vibrancy of the DEMO Day, Ifeanyi Abraham, Founder of TechSoma.africa and The Diverse Business and Tech Summit, joined the call to share insights into two new reports: Investing in Africa for Beginners and Investing in the Middle East for Beginners. Both reports, set to launch on November 15th in the UK, aim to empower investors with practical knowledge on navigating these regions’ diverse opportunities. Abraham’s presence reinforced the commitment to supporting African startups by building bridges with international investors, offering them tailored insights into Africa’s burgeoning investment landscape.
The success of this first WithOnyeka community DEMO Day not only highlights the immense potential of African startups but also marks a pivotal moment in establishing a direct line between African innovation and global capital. As the community continues to grow, future DEMO Days are set to provide even greater opportunities for startups to attract the attention and resources they need to flourish on the world stage
