The 12th edition of Angel Fair Africa (AFA@12) took place on September 19, 2025, at Google’s New York offices, bringing together global investors, African founders, and innovation leaders in a high-energy exchange of ideas, funding opportunities, and inspiration.
Opening the pitching session, Dr. Moka Lantum, Chief Executive of CheckUPS COVA, described his appearance as a full-circle moment in his entrepreneurial journey. “This is not my first time at Angel Fair Africa. I was part of the 2016 batch that pitched in Kenya with my first startup, MicroClinics, which I built, raised funds for, and later sold. I then used the proceeds to start CheckUPS COVA — so this is my second coming to the event, but this time in New York City,” he said. His story reflected the long-term impact of the Angel Fair Africa platform in nurturing African entrepreneurship.
Joining him on stage was Melissa McCoy, CEO of Connected Med, another alumna of the 2016 Angel Fair Africa cohort held in Nairobi. She shared how she raised funds for her startup, successfully scaled it, and eventually sold it to pharmaceutical giant Merck before joining Google. Both founders’ stories exemplified the transformative power of early-stage investment and mentorship within the Angel Fair Africa network.
Since its inception, Angel Fair Africa has facilitated over 100 million dollars in business deals across the continent. Its track record of successful exits, including CheckUPS COVA and Connected Med, demonstrates the event’s growing influence as a trusted gateway between African innovation and global capital.
In her opening keynote fireside chat, veteran investor Esther Dyson set an introspective tone for the day’s proceedings. “I took the returns from selling my shares in Facebook and Square—my most successful exits—to start Wellville, a ten-year nonprofit project that supported five U.S. communities to improve long-term wellbeing,” she said. Dyson reflected that, in her experience, angel investing is more about learning than earning, noting that the two are often inversely correlated. She also revealed that she is currently writing a book titled Term Limits, expected to be published in 2027.
The “Builders in Africa” panel provided another highlight, featuring Iyinoluwa Aboyeji of Future Africa (Nigeria), Barbara Iyayi of Liquid Credit (United States), Alexandre N’djore of Digitech (Côte d’Ivoire), and Benjamin Fernandes of NALA (Tanzania). The discussion centered on the realities of building and scaling businesses across the continent. Panelists agreed that success in Africa demands exceptional resilience, patience, and adaptability, often beyond what founders and their investors initially anticipate. “If I knew how hard and long it would be, I might not have embarked on the journey,” N’djore admitted candidly. Aboyeji added that “to succeed in Africa, one has to have extraordinary persistence and belief in purpose.”
Throughout the day, eleven founders took to the stage to pitch innovative ventures spanning healthcare, fintech, agriculture, artificial intelligence, and mobility. Their presentations showcased the diversity and ingenuity of Africa’s emerging entrepreneurial class. Among them were Dr. Lantum of CheckUPS COVA, who introduced Africa’s first health benefits trading platform; Radhika Bhachu of Ndovu, who has built a Robinhood-like app enabling Africans to invest in global markets; and Agnes Mukuiya of ChipMango, whose company trains the next generation of microchip designers. They were joined by Cordy Joseph of Timo Rides, building a decentralized ride-hailing platform for South Africa, and Mutembei Kariuki of Fastagger, which develops lightweight AI models that can function on smartphones even without internet connectivity. The afternoon session featured Aziz Omar of SaveApp, who showcased a save-and-spend platform designed for African consumers, Matthew Nam of ViaNexta, who connects coffee farmers directly with international buyers, and Michael Ogundare of Crop2Cash, who is making credit accessible to smallholder farmers. The session concluded with Baba Afolabi of Babatronics, whose innovation TitàTax automates sales, tax filing, and compliance processes for businesses.
The event ended on an inspiring note with a keynote fireside chat from renowned photographer Lou Jones, founder of the Pan Africa Project. Jones shared his mission to capture modern, authentic images from all 55 African countries as part of an effort to reshape global perceptions of the continent. With twelve countries already covered and two book volumes published, he said the goal is to introduce these images into American schools to counter long-held stereotypes about Africa.
The day concluded with a group photo featuring the participating founders, partners, and organizers, followed by a closing mixer at The Gentlemen’s Factory. With more than a decade of success stories and $100 million in deals generated, Angel Fair Africa continues to cement its reputation as a catalyst for investment and innovation, connecting Africa’s brightest builders with the world’s most visionary investors.
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