VERTICAL 5 — INVESTMENT & CAPITAL MARKETS · PHASE 2
AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR): Closing the Gap Access to capital for African startups remains constrained not only by funding availability but also by structural gaps within the ecosystem. Early-stage funding is often fragmented; many startups lack investment readiness, and investors face limited access to reliable, vetted deal flow. At the same time, business support organisations across the continent frequently operate in silos, creating fragmented pathways between founders, capital providers, and support services. The AfriLabs Connect Deal Room was designed to address this directly. In 2025, Version 1 of the platform was deployed - a digital-first infrastructure connecting investment-ready startups, investors, and business support organisations across Africa’s ecosystem. Built on partnerships with Leatherback (escrow and payment infrastructure), Tradeflow Africa, Aruwa
Capital, Babalakin & Co, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), ACDR directly engaged over 30 startups and 50+ ecosystem organisations across 15+ countries, facilitating USD$10 million in early investment opportunities. The lessons from the pilot year were as valuable as the outcomes. Market trust, investor liquidity, and alignment between startup readiness and capital availability are as critical as technical development. The team adapted - refining investor profiling, prioritising partnership storytelling, and embedding workflow systems for smoother coordination. ACDR in 2026 will focus on profitability, platform optimisation, and establishing itself as the go-to infrastructure for capital access across Africa.
28
AfriLabs Annual Report 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker