Beach-head for our Africa market entry!
Yup, boxes ticked, we gone and done finished the #UKTech2Lagos Trip. Here’s a highlight and review of the Trip. But remember, Lagos is only the beach-head for our #Africa market entry!
Trip Highlights:
African Business Angel Network (ABAN) Masterclass led by Tomi Davies, Co-Founder ABAN and Lagos Angel Network (LAN). The event was hosted and supported by Tobi Oke, Managing Partner – V8 Capital Partners at their co-working space. The Masterclass which was well attended and interactive, enabled great questions and expert contribution from the audience. The networking forum gave the opportunity to interact with ABAN and LAN members. Prime movers were David van Dijk, Director General ABAN and Collins Onuegbu, Director LAN.
Social Media Week Lagos 2018: This week-long event was an inspirational showcase of the raw power, influence and potential of the millenials. The programming focused on ideas, trends, insights, business practices and policy that leverage technology to transform industries and communities across Africa. The highlight was the #SMWLagos 2018 #LaunchedinAfrica – Pitch Day held with a panel of Judges, with Tomi Davies and Collins Onuegbu at the helm. They gave great feedback to the 5 Startups in the contest, while @Aidahbot was winner.
Lagos Social Network: This would have been incomplete without visits to Lagos Yacht Club (LYC) and Ikoyi Club 1938. Met up with ‘Old’ friends and had a blast!!
LBAcademy Boardroom:
This was a busy week, with two Boardroom sessions @TheBunker_yps, co-working space at Lekki. Sincere thanks to Soji Oyawoye, CEO Resources Intermediaries Limited (RIL), who helped facilitate, with his expertise as a certified Maxwell Coach & Trainer.
Tue 6 March 2018, 09:00 – 12:00
The Brexit Opportunity for Nigerian Export Trade
[Export Strategy Innovation]
Thu 8 March 2018, 09:00 – 12:00
LBAcademy Lagos CEO Breakfast Roundtable
[Business Strategy & Growth]
Find out more details on our #LBAcademy Events Schedule for 1st Half 2018
Between Startups and Entrepreneurs :
The interactions on this trip gave me an insight into the Lagos business ecosystem. There is great work being done to support entrepreneurs by @TonyElumeluFDN, @lagosinnovates et al. However, the ‘Startup ecosystem‘ is hampered by government policy and the lack of infrastructure (expensive broadband, poor transport, high rents etc.), and most importantly ‘talent base‘ (with a high youth unemployment rate).
Attend our 16 May event at Wayra, London to discuss “How to build UK Tech talent for Africa‘
Africa Rising Tide:
We have heard this acclaim the past years with the ebb and lull of the tide. The Information Technology age is the leverage to make progress and through innovation the ‘driver’, is to focus on the African Urban/Mega cities where Startups can thrive.
Tomi Davies captures this very neatly, to quote:
“Three things we need on the continent. 1. Cash 2. Access to networks 3. Mentoring and bringing people together.”
This is why it is important for Angel Networks to flourish in Africa, because it’s tech future can be truly supported from people who actually know the landscape from a grassroots level.
The #UKTech2Lagos Trip has evinced that UK Tech partnerships with local Angel networks would be the best path to successful #Africa market entry.