One of the unique aspects of the African Diaspora Network its ability to bring Africans and friends of Africa, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, government leaders, and social innovators together in order to co-imagine and co-create possibilities.
We are proud to be Bridge Builders and Ambassadors!
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Why ADN? The Power of a Network
Meet Marsha Wulff, ADIS2017 Co-Chair
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"Investing in impact ventures was lonely work back in the 1990s, and when people learned that I was doing it in Africa, they treated me like I was from another planet. But that isolation is behind me now, thanks to the African Diaspora Network of Silicon Valley. While working on ADN's 2017 Investment Symposium, I have met global-caliber entrepreneurs and fellow impact investors, who are enthusiastic about ventures in Africa. Joining this community of like-minded professionals has influenced me to make two milestone investments." Read more below.
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Africa’s Growing Startup Ecosystem:
Discover and Explore at the
African Diaspora Investment Symposium
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TED Talk Style: On the first day of the symposium, you will be engaged through 12-15 minute conversations with various entrepreneurs and investors active on the African continent to explore the startup ecosystems of Africa. This session will showcase Africa’s thriving startup landscape through the lens of entrepreneurs, investors and other promoters. If you want to know how Savanah Valley compares to Silicon Valley, this session is for you. Meet investors, innovators, and entrepreneurs like Jorn Lyseggen.
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JORN LYSEGGEN, Founder and CEO of Meltwater
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Mr. Jorn Lyseggen, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, patent holder, seed investor, and the founder and CEO of Meltwater. He founded Meltwater in Norway in 2001, with just $15,000 and bootstrapped it to the global leader in media intelligence with 60 offices across six continents serving 25,000 of the world’s most admired brands and companies. He founded Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) in Ghana in 2008. MEST is a non-profit Pan-African training program, seed fund and incubator for software entrepreneurs, recognized in 2015 by Fast Company’s as one of the 10 Most Innovative Organizations in Africa.
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ADIS2017 Sessions Include
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- Up to Speed On Africa Presentations: Investment Channels and Vehicles for the Diaspora and Friends of Africa
- Discussion Panel: African Women’s Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
- Investor Town Hall: Exploring Investment Opportunities in Lesser-known African Markets
- Design Thinking Group Session: Imagining Transformative Educational Solutions
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Find our complete symposium agenda here.
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Visit our website to learn more about the African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2017: ENGAGE - SPARK - ACTIVATE.
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ADIS2017 ESTEEMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE
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TOMIWA IGUN,
Co-Founder, Aspire Power Solutions
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JO ADDY, Principal of Continuum Advantage
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HEATHER GRADY, Vice President, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
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TWUM DJIN, Chief Technology Officer, Goodwater Capital
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WHY ADN? The Power of a Network
Marsha Wulff, ADIS2017 Co-Chair (cont.)
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Joining this community of like-minded professionals has influenced me to make two milestone investments. First, I support ADN, because I believe in its mission and vision to bring the diaspora and friends of Africa together to harness knowledge, resources, and form impactful partnerships. Second, I am now co-launching an African venture fund with diaspora who have returned home. I began working with this business development team in 2010 and have watched them establish two vibrant African incubators and an admiring global network. However, it was through ADN that I realized the team has also been personally investing in a portfolio of high-impact African ventures—even Mark Zuckerberg is impressed!
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My goals are to document the team's track record as investment managers, and to establish their first formal Fund. Of course past performance does not guarantee future results, this is not a solicitation for investment and the Fund will be restricted to accredited investors. But, we will explore innovative ways to raise capital, and one may be via a new, diaspora-driven, crowd-funding platform that we will all learn more about at the ADN Investment Symposium Jan 27 & 28. These are examples of why I believe ADN is vital to Africa’s future.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
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