AfricArena Lagos summit set to spotlight West Africa’s hottest tech talent
CAPE TOWN, 25 April 2025 — The stage is set and the energy is building up fast the closer we get to the widely anticipated AfricArena Fintech, Mobility & Logistics Summit which will take place at the Eko Hotel And Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos, set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday, 30 April 2025 opposite the 21st AVCA Conference & VC Summit.
This high-energy summit marks the second stop on the AfricArena Tour 2025, following a successful kickoff at the Johannesburg Summit in March. Next up: the European Summit in Paris, where African innovators will connect with international investors and ecosystem leaders.
Hosted at the iconic Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos — Nigeria’s bustling financial capital — the event is held in partnership with AVCA (African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association). The summit is powered by the support of AWS Startups, Redington, GIZ, and Octerra Capital, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing Africa’s tech innovation landscape.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be hosting our first major AfricArena Summit in Lagos, a city that is undeniably one of the powerhouses of African innovation. Our partnership with AVCA, along with the incredible support from AWS Startups, Redington, GIZ Techmybiz, GIZ SAIS and Octerra Capital, demonstrates a united effort to drive meaningful growth for African startups. This event is a key milestone in our journey to connect African innovation with global capital,” says Christophe Viarnaud, founder and CEO of AfricArena.
Together, we’re spotlighting West Africa’s most promising startups, building bold, scalable solutions to solve African and global challenges.
20 Startups to Watch: The Future of African Innovation
Over 20 high-potential startups — ranging from Seed to Series A stage — will take the stage to pitch their innovations across Fintech, Energy, E-commerce/Logistics, and Agritech. These ventures represent the cutting edge of West African innovation and are tackling real-world challenges with smart, scalable tech.
With Nigeria’s track record as a breeding ground for Africa’s unicorns, this is a rare chance to engage directly with the next generation of game-changing founders and ventures.
Some of these startups include the following:
● Michael Osumune, Founder & CEO at Moon Innovations Limited;
● Gift Muoneke, Co-Founder & CEO at Greenera Technologies;
● Lolade Alonge, Business Communications Project Manager at Koolboks;
● Abiola Jimoh, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Xchangebox;
● Ahmed Idris, Co-Founder at Adashi;
● Dirug Samuel, CEO at Northwave LTD;
● Dirug Samuel, CEO at Northwave Credit LTD;
● Bayo Adewoye, Co-Founder & CEO at Agrovesto;
● Christiana Okere, Co-Founder at myStash;
● Michael Ogundare, Founder & CEO at Crop2Cash;
● Brice Mba, Co-Founder at REasy;
● Bilal Dahlab,Co-Founder at Moneco;
● Roger Nengwe Ntafam, Founder & CEO at PaySika;
● Alberta Asafo-Asamoah, Co-Founder at Liquify Digital Limited;
● Emeka Ehinze, Founder & CEO at Retailloop Technologies;
● Aminu Ibrahim Hashim, Co-Founder & CEO at Kamel;
● Imtiyaaz Riley, Co-Founder & CEO at Loop;
● Olayinka Iyinolakan, Founder at CDIAL AI;
● Blessing Mene, CEO at Vetsark Limited and
● Lavine Irvine, CEO at Coastal Biotech Limited.
Speakers to Watch: What’s Next For Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem
Over 30 high calibre speakers will share their insights and learnings about Africa’s rapidly evolving tech, innovation and investment landscape as well as actionable strategies the audience can implement to take their startups and businesses to the next level. Some of these speakers include the following:
● Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa;
● Christophe Viarnaud, Founder & CEO at AfricArena;
● Kristin Wilson, Managing Partner at Innovate Fund Africa;
● Babacar Seck, Founder & Managing Partner at Askya Investment Partners;
● Maxime Bouan, General Partners at Seedstar Africa Ventures;
● Mia von Koschitzky-Kimani, Partner at Future Africa;
● Jane Egerton-Idehen, CEO at NIGCOMSAT and founder of VonTech Group;
● Ismail Olasunkanmi, CEO at Deveote;
● Ashim Egunjobi, Managing Partner at Octerra Capital;
● Jordy Kiange Beni, Investment Principal at Octerra Capital;
● Oluwadunni Fanibe, Associate Portfolio Manager at Google for Startups;
● Oke Epagha, Investment Associate at Oui Capital;
● Gabriel Ologunwa, AVP, Global Expansion & Payment Partnerships ‑ West Africa at Flutterwave;
● Brian Waswani Odhiambo, Partner at Novastar;
● Princess Edokpayi, Chief Operating Officer at Spurt!;
● Cyril Shonibare, Associate at TLcom Capital LLP;
● Dolapo Olayoriju, Investment Analyst at Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures;
● Jeffery Onafume Akemu, Platforms & Operations at Launch Africa Ventures;
● Mukami Wainaina, Investment Officer at Al Mada Ventures;
● Christine Maina, CEO at East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA);
● Olúwátóyìn Emmanuel-Olúbákè, Chief Investment Officer at Catalyst Fund and
● Segun Cole, Founder & CEO at Maasai.
Get Your Early Bird Ticket!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this high-impact gathering. Early Bird tickets are now available — grab yours before prices increase!
For more information, contact Jabulile Ngwenya at jngwenya@methys.com
About AfricArena
Launched in 2017, AfricArena has established itself as a leading platform dedicated to creating market access and fostering investment opportunities for a growing community of tech founders, angel investors, corporate innovators, and venture capitalists. Designed with a digital-first mindset, AfricArena operates through a series of high-impact investment deal flow events, tailored interventions, and an open-source platform that champions the principles of open innovation and entrepreneurship.
In just eight years, AfricArena has earned significant credibility within the global tech startup ecosystem, with alumni startups collectively raising over $850 million in funding. Its flagship events, known for blending thought leadership and action-driven networking, are structured into three dynamic segments:
Investor Unconference: A collaborative environment for investors to connect and strategize.
Founder’s BootCamp: A hands-on program designed to prepare startups for investment and scaling.
Main Summit Event: A showcase of Africa’s most promising tech talent, connecting them with global stakeholders.
AfricArena continues to be a catalyst for innovation and growth, driving the evolution of Africa’s tech landscape on the global stage. For more information about AfricArena, visit www.africarena.com
