The Opportunity

Organisers of the Africa Tech Summit, a leading tech conference series hosted in London, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra and Cape Town that drives business and investment across the continent, held the 7th edition of the London event in June 2023 and the 8th edition in June 2024, both at the London Stock Exchange. These major industry gatherings help connect hundreds of industry leaders from across Africa with international investors, corporates, and ventures and to facilitate sharing of the latest insights on what’s happening in the African tech ecosystem.

My Role

  • The Sixth D appointed “Strategic Partner” for Africa Tech Summit London 2023 and 2024 (having helped make the London, Nairobi and Kigali events happen since their inception);

  • Help secure speakers - keynotes and panellists - and support shaping of programme for this 2-day event by curating several of its panel discussions;

  • Speaker / moderator role leading 2023 panel titled: “Insights on Scaling Across the Continent'' featuring speakers from: Google; ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator; Andela Rwanda; Verto; and Executives in Africa. Brought all speakers together on conference call briefings prior to the event and shaped the interactive event day discussion to ensure it was a thought provoking debate for the audience;

  • Speaker / moderator role coordinating the “Investment Showcase” in both 2023 and 2024, this being a half-day dedicated to connecting and showcasing leading ventures, from across a range of sectors, to international investors (in 2024 investors participating include: Partech Africa; Novastar Ventures; LocalGlobe; Founders Factory Africa; Catalyst Fund; Enza Capital; First Circle Capital; and Madica - noting that the entrepreneurs involved, pre-selected prior to the event, are seeking to raise $1mn to $15mn+ in funding).

Results

  • Africa Tech Summit London 2023 and 2024 sold out!

  • Each conference connected +300 delegates from +200 companies and +30 countries

  • In each year (2023 & 2024) x15 early stage startups pitched to x8 high profile international investors

  • Led, and encouraged participants to actively participate in, social media outreach pre, during and post event highlighting startups featured in the “Investment Showcase” and key issues founders and investors need to consider when seeking to accelerate growth and scale by serving markets across the African continent

  • Both Summits packed with networking, sessions and meetings, with the event organiser publicly stating that the 2023 edition was the “biggest and most energetic London event yet” while also celebrating the “smooth running of the Investment Showcase” in 2024!

  • Success of this engagement inspired further collaboration during 2024, with the Africa Tech Summit organisers and The Sixth D currently:

    • Creating, hosting and distributing a “Climate, Tech & Sustainability in Africa” podcast & video series (sponsored by Mercy Corps Ventures and PeerCarbon)

    • Conducting research and authoring a market report exploring how Africa can meaningfully adapt / contribute to the global transition to “net zero” while catalyzing its own sustainable growth - report scheduled for release during 2024 in the run up to the next Africa Tech Summit.

The Sixth D was the “Strategic Partner” for the Africa Tech Summit London in both June 2023 and June 2024 at the London Stock Exchange.