After over a decade of connecting African entrepreneurs with investors across the continent, Angel Fair Africa is making a groundbreaking leap across the Atlantic. The 12th edition of the influential startup showcase will take place on September 19 at Google’s 9th Avenue offices in New York—marking the first time this pivotal African tech event has been hosted on US soil.
A Continental Journey Comes to America
Since its inception in September 2013, Angel Fair Africa has become the gold standard for startup-investor connections across sub-Saharan Africa. The event has touched down in every major African tech hub: Johannesburg, Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Abidjan, Maputo, Dar es Salaam, Mauritius, and Cape Town. Each stop has contributed to a growing network of relationships that have powered hundreds of deals and launched countless entrepreneurial careers.
The New York debut represents more than geographical expansion—it’s a strategic recognition of the increasingly global nature of African tech entrepreneurship and the growing appetite among US investors for African innovation opportunities.
Curated Excellence: 10 Founders, Endless Possibilities
This year’s event will feature 10 carefully selected African startup founders presenting to a room of curated US investors, all with the explicit goal of facilitating investment deals. The selection process, honed over 11 previous editions, ensures that only the most promising and investment-ready startups make it to the pitch stage.
While the specific startups haven’t been announced, previous Angel Fair Africa events have showcased companies across fintech, healthtech, agritech, edtech, and logistics—sectors where African innovation continues to set global benchmarks.
Esther Dyson Returns: From Abidjan to Manhattan
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this year’s event is the return of legendary angel investor Esther Dyson as keynote speaker. Dyson, whose investment portfolio reads like a who’s who of transformative technology companies, last keynoted Angel Fair Africa in 2017 in Abidjan—making her New York appearance a full-circle moment eight years in the making.
Dyson’s investment track record spans the evolution of the modern internet, from early bets on Netbeans in 1997 to more recent investments in AI-powered healthcare company Abridge.ai, Kenyan healthtech startup Ilara Health, Nigerian fintech Oradian, and Egyptian mobility platform SWVL. Her decade-long leadership of community health nonprofit Wellville (2014-2024) adds a crucial social impact dimension to her perspective on African entrepreneurship.
“The world has changed in so many ways, yet so many problems persist,” Dyson noted ahead of the event. “Startups are not the solution, but they are part of changing the environment that will allow more Africans to prosper. In the age of AI, it’s easier to build process infrastructure more quickly, which can help startups to scale.”
Strategic Timing: AI, Infrastructure, and African Innovation
Dyson’s emphasis on AI-enabled infrastructure scaling couldn’t be more timely. African startups are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to leapfrog traditional infrastructure limitations—from Flutterwave’s AI-powered payment processing to Zipline’s drone delivery networks across Ghana, Rwanda, and Nigeria.
The New York venue at Google’s offices is symbolically appropriate, given Google’s significant investments in African tech infrastructure through initiatives like the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and major subsea cable projects enhancing continental connectivity.
Diaspora Bridge-Building
According to Eric Osiakwan, co-founder of Angel Fair Africa and managing partner of Chanzo Capital, the New York location serves multiple strategic purposes. “We are excited to debut the annual AFA in NY as we have had significant participation from US investors over the years,” Osiakwan explained. “It is also an opportunity to bring the event closer to the African diaspora in the US.”
This diaspora connection represents an often-overlooked aspect of African tech ecosystem development. The estimated 2+ million African diaspora in the United States includes numerous successful entrepreneurs, investors, and executives who can provide not just capital but invaluable networks and expertise to African startups looking to scale globally.
The Broader Investment Landscape
The timing of Angel Fair Africa’s US debut coincides with several positive trends in Africa-focused venture capital:
- Growing US institutional interest: Major US funds like TLcom Capital, 4DX Ventures, and others are increasing their African allocations
- Diaspora-led funds emergence: New investment vehicles specifically targeting African opportunities and led by diaspora investors
- Corporate venture arms: US tech giants and Fortune 500 companies increasingly viewing Africa as a source of innovation rather than just a market
What Success Looks Like
Previous Angel Fair Africa events have generated impressive deal flow, with many participating startups securing follow-on funding within months of their presentations. The intimate, curated format—typically featuring 100-150 carefully selected investors—creates an environment where meaningful connections can develop beyond the standard pitch-and-pray model of larger demo days.
The New York edition’s success will likely be measured not just in immediate deal announcements but in the quality of relationships formed and the long-term partnerships that emerge between African founders and US investors.
Looking Forward: Scaling Impact
As African tech ecosystems mature, events like Angel Fair Africa play an increasingly crucial role in connecting continental innovation with global capital markets. The New York debut represents a natural evolution—bringing African entrepreneurship to one of the world’s most important financial centers while maintaining the intimate, deal-focused format that has made the event successful across Africa.
For African startups ready to scale globally, September 19 represents more than just another pitch opportunity. It’s a chance to access the networks, expertise, and capital that can transform promising African solutions into global platforms.
The event’s success could also pave the way for similar initiatives in other major financial centers, further integrating African innovation into global technology and investment ecosystems.
