Dear friends and colleagues,

On Thursday, June 23, we recognized eleven grassroots African entrepreneurs at the fifth annual Builders of Africa’s Future Pitch Session. This virtual event provided a platform for these changemakers, leading 100% fully African-led and owned organizations, to boost their brand visibility and investment potential. 

Support for entrepreneurs matters along their journey. In 2021, the number of investments in African startups from the seed stage to series A fell by 84% last year, a higher difference compared to companies in the U.S., southeast Asia, and Europe. Builders of Africa’s Future is a program of the African Diaspora Network that seeks to elevate the rising stars of African entrepreneurship and engage Africans on the continent, in the diaspora, and friends of Africa to support their work.

Congratulations to each of the Builders on this milestone achievement! This is only the beginning, and we encourage our network to learn more, get connected, and consider ways of supporting their ventures on the journey ahead. A special thank you to our esteemed speakers for energizing and inspiring our audience and sharing words of wisdom and support to the entrepreneurs. 

As always, thank you,


Almaz Negash 
Founder & Executive Director 
African Diaspora Network

The June 23 pitch session recognized eleven rising stars of African entrepreneurship as they build the future of the continent through nonprofit and for-profit businesses addressing key community needs. This showcase of pitch presentations by grassroots African entrepreneurs presented the perfect opportunity for venture capitalists as well as angel, impact, and philanthropic investors. 

The 2022 Builders of Africa’s Future program is organized by the African Diaspora Network in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the United States African Development Foundation, and enterprise trainer the African Management Institute of Kenya. BAF awards Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs with enterprise development training, mentorship opportunities, and a platform to boost brand visibility and investment potential in Silicon Valley. Since 2018, Builders of Africa’s Future has recognized and catalyzed 42 African startups.

Check out our video of the week to learn more about issues, trends, and opportunities on the African continent! With your support, ADN gathers an incredible lineup of industry leaders, government officials, and entrepreneurs to share their insights and expertise. We invite you to explore our gallery of past sessions and stay tuned for upcoming live events. 

Builders of Africa’s Future (BAF) celebrates innovation and impact in early-stage African enterprises. The program identifies African entrepreneurs running early-stage nonprofits or for-profit businesses that address key community needs through technology or differentiated business models.

The goal is to help scale their ventures and impact in the areas of health, education, energy, agriculture, financial inclusion, gender inclusion, nutrition, commerce, industrial development, and other socioeconomic goods.

Check out the recording from last year's Builders of Africa's Future 2021 cohort and read more about the past cohorts here.

Looking to have a more active role as a member of African Diaspora Network? Learn more about ways to engage:

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Hugh Stuart Center Charitable Trust