Africa's top investor conferences (and how you can get in for free)

Our curated list... and strategies to get others to sponsor your entry ticket

Conferences. Are they a waste of time? Are they a waste of money?

Only if you go to the wrong ones or with the wrong expectations.

For landing ~20 meetings with quality people and having ~50 worthwhile serendipitous conversations, they offer incredible value for money. The value of meeting someone in person (as opposed to a Zoom call) and on neutral turf is pretty clear.

But which conferences are the best for YOU to attend this year? Here’s a list of some of our favorites for entrepreneurs looking to raise capital in Africa:

Sankalp

• Website: https://sankalpforum.com/sankalp-africa-summit/

• Sectors: Africa, Impact

• Typical Timing: February

• Location: Nairobi

• Notes/Special Highlights: Have other summits in other markets; awards/small grants that they offer

• Vibe: Impact, Earlier Stage

• Cost per Ticket: $400

• How to get in for free: Submit a relevant “speaker request”; email event organizers

AFSIC

• Website: https://afsic.net

• Sectors: Africa, Impact, Private Equity, VC, Commercial

• Typical Timing and Location: October (London); May (Lagos)

• Notes/Special Highlights: They offer free listings for SMEs on their dashboard; if you purchase a “Deal Book” package you get an entry ticket as well as distribution w/n deal book in advance to the conference and a “quick fire” speaking slot

• Vibe: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• Cost per Ticket: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• How to get in for free: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

Africa FinTech Summit

• Website: https://africafintechsummit.com/

• Sectors: FinTech, Financial Inclusion

• Typical Timing and Location: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• Notes/Special Highlights: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• Vibe: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• Cost per Ticket: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

• How to get in for free: 👇 (for premium subscribers)

Ready for the full info on the above and 50+ more relevant conferences like GIIN, Super Return, and Skoll? Catch a link to our curated list of conferences below.

Free Subscribers: Click here.
Premium Subscribers: 👇👇👇

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How you can get in for free?

Entries to these types of events can range in costs of $20 to $5,000 or more. Sometimes they offer Basic vs. VIP packages. Sometimes certain industry players (ex. LPs and GPs) automatically get in for free. And most of the time, you can save a few bucks by buying your tickets well in advance.

But paying a $2,000 entry to AFSIC (plus the costs of flights, food, and accommodation) can obviously add up quickly and affect your bottom line. It’s part of why we’ve estimated that closing a fundraising round can cost your business anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000.

That’s why we’ve put (digital) pen to (digital) paper to outline some strategies that we and our clients have used to get in to conferences for free.

The Overview

1. See if they offer scholarships or grants for attendees

2. Volunteer for the conference

3. Submit a speaker request

4. Get “in” on a panel of experts

5. Leverage your existing investors

6. Leverage your existing network (other than investors)

7. Find subsidized programs that might help you

8. Ask!

9. Get creative

The Full, Step-by-Step Guide 👇👇👇

Free subscribers… if the information below helps you save $2,000 on your next conference ticket, would our $200 annual premium subscription make sense for you?