1500

Delegates

1000 200 150 150

Startups & SMMEs ESOs Policy Makers Investors

“
“ Connecting Africa
Cape Town International Convention Centre
www.gecafrica.co
Table Of Contents

1. About GEC+ Africa 1

1.1 GEN AFRICA Key Objectives 2
2. Sectors of Focus: GEC+ Africa 3
3. Why South Africa 4
3.1 African Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Highlights 5
4 GEC+ Africa Lead up Activities Across the Continent 6
5. GEC+ Africa Events Structure 7
6. Why Participate 9
7. GEC+ Africa Partnership Structure 10
8. GEC+ Africa Partnership Packages 11
9. Partners 13

Acronyms
GEC – Global Entrepreneurship Congress
GEC+ Africa – Global Entrepreneurship Congress Africa
GEN – Global Entrepreneurship Network
 1. About GEN

The GEC+ Africa was launched by President (then

deputy) Cyril Ramaphosa at the Global GEC
Johannesburg in 2017. The Global Entrepreneurship
Congress (GEC+ Africa), initiated by the Global
Entrepreneurship Network in 2017, is a gathering of
entrepreneurs and leaders from more than 50 African
nations committed to advancing entrepreneurial activity
throughout their own countries in Africa.

GEC+ Africa will include other international thought

leaders and practitioners globally who have become a
part of GEN’s global movement that advances
entrepreneurship as a means of building economies and
expanding human welfare.

The GEC+ Africa will be co-hosted each year by three

organizations: The Global Entrepreneurship Network
(GEN) Africa led by 22 on Sloane and a separate
organization that brings the event to their country
(referred to throughout this document as ‘GEC cohost’)
together with the Host City.

1
 1.1 GEC+ AFRICA Key Objectives

The Global Entrepreneurship Network

1 2 3
(GEN) Africa’s key mandate is to
support and connect African
entrepreneurs to the best global
Support the Create an enabling Create market linkages resources and investor network, create
development of environment for African between Corporate and platforms that will drive a coordinated,
innovative startups in startups to create jobs African startups consolidated and collaborative
Africa and ensure their entrepreneurial ecosystems and
scale. advocate for policies that will drive
sustainable growth for entrepreneurs
on the African continent. GEN Africa is
in 43 African Countries

4 Support the
development of credible
global investor pipeline
that will invest in African
startups
5 Establish a strong GEN in
each African country
thereby building and
strengthening GEN Africa

2
 2. Sectors of Focus: GEC+ Africa
Taking into consideration one of the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to support SMMEs and startups, the GEC+ Africa will
focus on industrialization which will drive job creation for the youth; and explore the future of business aligned to the growth of technological advancement and
digital disruption. Key sectors of focus include the following:

Clean Energy FinTech & InsurTech

Logistics Agroprocessing
& Manufacturing

Food & Health Tech Ed Tech

Tourism E-Commerce

Creative Industries

3
 3. Why South Africa

South Africa is in a unique position in Sub- Saharan Africa, with

stronger supporting institutions and entrepreneurial ecosystem
foundation. The country has made significant progress to
overcome structural factors and produce some of the most
innovative and successful entrepreneurs on the continent.

The country provides the institutional support necessary for

high-growth businesses to emerge and thrive.

According to a report produced by Startup Genome in 2021,

Cape Town was ranked first as Africa’s Ecosystem Knowledge,
Regional Ecosystem Talent and Experience and 3rd as Regional
Ecosystem Partner. Johannesburg was ranked 3rd as Africa’s
Ecosystem Knowledge, 2nd as the Regional Ecosystem Talent
and 4th as a regional Ecosystem Funder.

South Africa has arguably the most mature startup ecosystem

on the African continent, with significant consumer and
business markets, sophisticated entrepreneurial talent, a strong
corporate sector, and an emerging local venture capital
industry with ties to a growing number of international
investors.

4
 4. African Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Highlights:

Top Ecosystem Performers: Top Emerging Ecosystems: Ecosystem Values By Cities:

Nairobi $7B
1. Nairobi 1. Kampala
2. Lagos 2. Dar Es Salaam Lagos $8,4B
3. Cape Town 3. Abidjan Cape Town $3,4B
4. Johannesburg 4. Abuja Johannesburg $1B
5. Accra 5. Dakar
Accra $1,1B

*Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome in partnership with GEN 2023

55
 Lead-up Activities To GEC+ Africa 2024

STARTUP PITCH & BOOTCAMP – Africa

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

NIGERA VIRTUAL ALGERIA SENEGAL UGANDA

5. GEC+ Africa Lead Up Activities KENYA GHANA

There will be a series of regional activities as part of the lead up to GEC+

Africa in Cape Town. These regional activities serve as a platform to
showcase the regional entrepreneurship ecosystems, to identify regional
talent to pitch at GEC+ Africa and to support delegate boosting to the
congress. STARTUP PITCH & BOOTCAMP – South Africa

OCTOBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

Some of the proposed cities for lead-up activities include:
-South Africa - All provinces EASTERN CAPE LIMPOPO GAUTENG
-Rest of Africa – Nigeria, Algeria, Kenya, Senegal, Chad, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana; KWA-ZULU NATAL NORTHERN CAPE WESTERN CAPE
-International - GEC Congress 2024, Melbourne Australia; MPUMALANGA FREE STATE
NORTH WEST

These activities will be led by the following GEN Africa Managing Directors:

Nigeria North Africa Francophone Africa South Africa Kenya Namibia

Ghana

Olawale Anifowose Soumeya Rachedi Karim SY Mahlatse Tolamo John Wali Helena Amadhila
GEN Nigeria, Managing Director GEN Algeria, Board Member Founder, Jokko Labs GEN South Africa, Managing Director GEN Kenya, Managing Director GEN Namibia, Managing Director Stephen Gyasi-Kwaw
GEN Ghana, Managing Director

4
 6. GEC+ Africa Event Structure
Wednesday, March 13
Start Scale Forum + Pitching and Investors Session
Plenary Session – Day 1
This is the main session on day 1 central to
GEC+ Africa attended by all participants and
is a key focal point of planning efforts by all
GEN countries. They include:
7
Start + Scale Forum:
This session is focused on efforts to start and scale new and
young firms around the continent and is the primary focal point
of the GEC+ Africa for all audience types.
GEC+ Africa Exhibition:
This is an exhibition that happens in the main venue. It is a
platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their business
offerings, meet and network with delegates attending the
conference. session is focused on efforts to start and scale new
and young firms around the continent and is the primary focal
point of the GEC+ Africa for all audience types.
Pitching and Investor Session:
These are pitching sessions that happen in the exhibition venue.
The sessions are made up of startups pitching their business
plans to investors and GEN major strategic partners.
Parallel Events:
These are side events that happen in the main venue. They are
made up of breakout sessions; workshops, master classes and
other meetings and events hosted by either the co-hosts or
approved third parties.
 6. GEC+ Africa Event Structure
Thursday, March 14
Research + Policy Summit + Pitching and Investors Session

Research + Policy Summit: Pitching and Investor Session:

This session focuses on research and/or policies to promote
entrepreneurial growth in Africa. Open to all participants
including researchers, policy advisors, government officials
(Ministers) and startup communities keen to communicate the
needs of new firms to policymakers.
These are pitching sessions that happen in the exhibition venue.
The sessions are made up of startups pitching their business
plans to investors and GEN major strategic partners.

Plenary Session – Day 2

Ministerial Session: Parallel Events:
This is the main session on day 2 central to
This session focuses on bringing together African Ministers These are side events that happen in the main venue. They are
GEC+ Africa attended by all participants and
who are focused on advancing entrepreneurship development made up of breakout sessions; workshops, master classes and
is a key focal point of planning efforts by all
in their respective countries. The aim is to discuss policies that other meetings and events hosted by either the co-hosts or
GEN countries. They include:
promote cross-border partnerships & collaboration amongst approved third parties.
entrepreneurs.

Investor Cocktail Session:

GEC+ Africa Exhibition:
This is an exhibition that happens in the main venue. It is a
platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their business
offerings, meet and network with delegates attending the
conference.
This is a side event that takes place on the last day of the
congress either onsite or offsite the main congress venue. The
focus is to bring key stakeholders together in the form of a
cocktail event to close off the congress. A keynote and vote of
thanks will be followed by networking.

8
 9. Partners

Hosts

Strategic Partners

Platinum Partners Bronze Partners

General Partners

13
Contact Us
GEC+ Africa
Corner William Nicol Drive & Sloane Street
Bryanston, 2191 Johannesburg,
South Africa
P: +27 (0) 11 463 7602
W: www.gecafrica.co
E: info@gecafrica.co

GEC+ Africa Project Lead

Carmen Rossouw
E: carmen@gecafrica.co

Registrations
GEC+ Africa Digital Lead
E: support@gecafrica.co

Partnerships
Mahlatse Tolamo
GEN South Africa Managing Director
E: mtolamo@genglobal.org

Kizito Okechukwu
22 On Sloane Executive Head
E: kizito@22onsloane.co