Expo & Content Sessions: 11 - 13 Nov 2025
VIP & Partner Events: 10 - 13 Nov 2025
Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town
AfricaIgnite
The Home of African Founders
Powering the next wave of African innovation
Empowering Startups, Connecting Founders, Shaping Tomorrow
AfricaIgnite brings together Africa's most promising start-ups and forward-thinking investors to connect, collaborate, and accelerate growth across the continent's innovation ecosystem. With focused sessions on unlocking capital, bridging early-stage funding gaps, and exploring new investment pathways, the event creates a strategic platform where investors can discover high-potential ventures in rapidly expanding sectors including Fintech, AgriTech, and ClimateTech. Through curated pitch showcases, fireside chats with successful founders, and panels examining the journey from idea to exit, participants gain invaluable insights into building resilient businesses in Africa's diverse markets.
Beyond investment opportunities, AfricaIgnite offers unmatched access to industry leaders shaping policy and infrastructure that support sustainable growth across African markets. The event features specialized matchmaking sessions connecting investors with pre-vetted startups, discussions on corporate-startup collaboration models, and strategies for mobilizing diaspora networks for capital and knowledge transfer. With dedicated exploration of critical themes like AI implementation, climate innovation, and transforming agriculture through technology, AfricaIgnite serves as the premier gathering for those committed to driving Africa's $1 trillion economic potential while addressing the continent's most pressing challenges through innovative, scalable solutions.
2025 Features For Investors:
NEW AfricaIgnite Expo Hall
The new AfricaIgnite Hall offered investors direct access to diverse founder delegations from across Africa exhibiting ventures in high-growth sectors including fintech, climate tech, and agritech. Through curated exhibition spaces, visitors discovered investment-ready opportunities shaping the continent's technological future.
Investor Day
Investor Day offered an exclusive, closed-door forum for candid discussions across Africa’s investment ecosystem. VCs, DFIs, LPs, infrastructure investors, corporates, telcos, and policymakers connected in an environment designed for honest dialogue and strategic relationship building. This intimate roundtable format enabled transparent conversations about the challenges and opportunities shaping Africa’s investment landscape.
Investor Lounge
The Investor Lounge was a dedicated space for VCs, LPs, and angel investors to meet, exchange ideas, and build connections in a focused environment designed to encourage collaboration. The lounge served as a hub for informal discussions, follow-ups from panels, and spontaneous networking, giving investors a place to connect away from the busy show floor.
Investor–Founder Matchmaking
Our Investor-Founder Matchmaking was a curated experience linking high-potential founders with aligned investors for focused conversations, relationship building, and the exploration of real opportunities for funding and growth. Meetings were pre-arranged to ensure relevance, helping both sides save time while maximising the chance of forging meaningful partnerships..
For Founders: The 2025 Experience
Founder Day
Founders Day, brought together 150 founders to learn valuable insights on key topics including fundraising, growth strategies, and market entry tactics. The day featured panels, masterclasses, and networking sessions, ending with a mixer.
Founders Learning Hub
Dedicated to empowering founders with the tools and skills needed to scale their businesses. From practical growth strategies to access to essential resources, the Hub provided founders with the knowledge and visibility they need to accelerate their journey to success.
Sector Spotlights:
AfricaIgnite offered deep dives into key sectors of Africa's startup ecosystem including ClimateTech, Fintech, AI & Agritech. Each focus area featured dedicated content, pitch showcases, and strategic meetups where founders and interested investors connected and built valuable relationships.
NEW AfricaIgnite Expo Hall
Founders showcased their ventures in the new AfricaIgnite Hall alongside innovative peers from across the continent. They presented their tech solutions to an audience of investors actively seeking opportunities in high-growth sectors. Founders connected with fellow entrepreneurs, exchanged insights, and gained valuable exposure for their businesses.
AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition
The AfricaIgnite Pitch Competition is back for 2025! In partnership with the Startup World Cup and powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures, Africa’s most innovative start-ups will once again battle it out live on stage in front of an audience of founders, investors, and tech leaders.
The winner will secure their place at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco, competing for the USD $1,000,000 investment prize alongside the world’s top start-ups.
Applications are now open – don’t miss your chance to showcase your vision and gain global exposure.
