[Music] good evening
good evening
good evening I’d like you to indulge me for a moment
I’d like you to indulge me for a moment
I’d like you to indulge me for a moment by closing your eyes all eyes closed I’d
by closing your eyes all eyes closed I’d
by closing your eyes all eyes closed I’d like you to imagine a unicorn do you see
like you to imagine a unicorn do you see
like you to imagine a unicorn do you see it what does it look like you don’t have
it what does it look like you don’t have
it what does it look like you don’t have to tell me we’ll come to it by the way a
to tell me we’ll come to it by the way a
to tell me we’ll come to it by the way a unicorn in start-up lexicon is a company
unicorn in start-up lexicon is a company
unicorn in start-up lexicon is a company that’s valued at over a billion u.s.
that’s valued at over a billion u.s.
that’s valued at over a billion u.s. dollars now my name is Colin ax and I’m
dollars now my name is Colin ax and I’m
dollars now my name is Colin ax and I’m the son of an African serial
the son of an African serial
the son of an African serial entrepreneur as far back as I can
entrepreneur as far back as I can
entrepreneur as far back as I can remember my siblings and I had a front
remember my siblings and I had a front
remember my siblings and I had a front row seats watching our dad go through
row seats watching our dad go through
row seats watching our dad go through several intrapreneurial adventures from
several intrapreneurial adventures from
several intrapreneurial adventures from Dublin in the beverage industry in the
Dublin in the beverage industry in the
Dublin in the beverage industry in the 80s to building a finance company that
80s to building a finance company that
80s to building a finance company that gave small loans to businesses before
gave small loans to businesses before
gave small loans to businesses before the financial crisis of the 90s from
the financial crisis of the 90s from
the financial crisis of the 90s from rearing cattle he actually read cattle
rearing cattle he actually read cattle
rearing cattle he actually read cattle like we had a huge ranch right to build
like we had a huge ranch right to build
like we had a huge ranch right to build in one of the most loved daily brands in
in one of the most loved daily brands in
in one of the most loved daily brands in northern Nigeria and finally he tried
northern Nigeria and finally he tried
northern Nigeria and finally he tried bottling water water guys like free
bottling water water guys like free
bottling water water guys like free water and then eventually built a pretty
water and then eventually built a pretty
water and then eventually built a pretty successful public printing and
successful public printing and
successful public printing and publishing business my dad worked really
publishing business my dad worked really
publishing business my dad worked really hard he was a hustler he never gave up
hard he was a hustler he never gave up
hard he was a hustler he never gave up he always tried something new and so I
he always tried something new and so I
he always tried something new and so I was privileged to have a firsthand
was privileged to have a firsthand
was privileged to have a firsthand immersive experience into building a
immersive experience into building a
immersive experience into building a startup at a very early age our home was
startup at a very early age our home was
startup at a very early age our home was the perfect start of foundry and so I
the perfect start of foundry and so I
the perfect start of foundry and so I learned very early but to build a
learned very early but to build a
learned very early but to build a successful business you had to work
successful business you had to work
successful business you had to work really hard and you had to be gritty
ironically despite raising us in this
ironically despite raising us in this really
really
really tense enterpreneur entrepreneurial
tense enterpreneur entrepreneurial
tense enterpreneur entrepreneurial environment my parents somehow felt
environment my parents somehow felt
environment my parents somehow felt expected that I will fit into the
expected that I will fit into the
expected that I will fit into the preconceived mold of sliding into taking
preconceived mold of sliding into taking
preconceived mold of sliding into taking over a family business as you would
over a family business as you would
over a family business as you would imagine this didn’t work out very well
imagine this didn’t work out very well
imagine this didn’t work out very well so at the age of 25 with my engineering
so at the age of 25 with my engineering
so at the age of 25 with my engineering degree my MBA and some experienced
degree my MBA and some experienced
degree my MBA and some experienced corporate experience I essentially
corporate experience I essentially
corporate experience I essentially walked away from the chance of leaving a
walked away from the chance of leaving a
walked away from the chance of leaving a very secure safe life as my parents had
very secure safe life as my parents had
very secure safe life as my parents had imagined I’d rather chose to take my
imagined I’d rather chose to take my
imagined I’d rather chose to take my chance in life by finding my own way
chance in life by finding my own way
chance in life by finding my own way what is he thinking some said my mind
what is he thinking some said my mind
what is he thinking some said my mind was made up for some reason I was
was made up for some reason I was
was made up for some reason I was completely sold out to this idea that
completely sold out to this idea that
completely sold out to this idea that the only life worth living was one where
the only life worth living was one where
the only life worth living was one where you dance to your own music and so I
you dance to your own music and so I
you dance to your own music and so I decided that I was going to do something
decided that I was going to do something
decided that I was going to do something that would allow me solve lots of
that would allow me solve lots of
that would allow me solve lots of problems it also couldn’t cost a lot of
problems it also couldn’t cost a lot of
problems it also couldn’t cost a lot of money because I didn’t have any and of
money because I didn’t have any and of
money because I didn’t have any and of course I couldn’t go back to my parents
course I couldn’t go back to my parents
course I couldn’t go back to my parents because I told them excel Avista but
because I told them excel Avista but
because I told them excel Avista but more importantly it had to lay the
more importantly it had to lay the
more importantly it had to lay the foundation for becoming an enabler of
foundation for becoming an enabler of
foundation for becoming an enabler of other people because I had discovered
other people because I had discovered
other people because I had discovered early on that this was the purpose of my
early on that this was the purpose of my
early on that this was the purpose of my life and so I decided I was going to do
life and so I decided I was going to do
life and so I decided I was going to do technology I was going to build software
technology I was going to build software
technology I was going to build software but I was just one problem I couldn’t
but I was just one problem I couldn’t
but I was just one problem I couldn’t write a line of code and so I began to
write a line of code and so I began to
write a line of code and so I began to search for a co-founder and eventually
search for a co-founder and eventually
search for a co-founder and eventually chuka and I studied our software company
chuka and I studied our software company
chuka and I studied our software company and somehow decided that we were going
and somehow decided that we were going
and somehow decided that we were going to take on the challenge of Nigeria and
to take on the challenge of Nigeria and
to take on the challenge of Nigeria and so I moved back and started from the
so I moved back and started from the
so I moved back and started from the bottom bootstrapping the company one
bottom bootstrapping the company one
bottom bootstrapping the company one customer to the next way before startup
customer to the next way before startup
customer to the next way before startup investing became as cool as it is today
investing became as cool as it is today
investing became as cool as it is today many years later my focus has now moved
many years later my focus has now moved
many years later my focus has now moved from building the software company for
from building the software company for
from building the software company for myself to helping others build
myself to helping others build
myself to helping others build the companies of their dreams through
the companies of their dreams through
the companies of their dreams through our early-stage venture fund co ventures
our early-stage venture fund co ventures
our early-stage venture fund co ventures platform so allow me to reintroduce
platform so allow me to reintroduce
platform so allow me to reintroduce myself my name is Colin ax and I’m a
myself my name is Colin ax and I’m a
myself my name is Colin ax and I’m a builder my mansions in the forms of
builder my mansions in the forms of
builder my mansions in the forms of people and their ideas today I am
people and their ideas today I am
people and their ideas today I am focused on building platforms platforms
focused on building platforms platforms
focused on building platforms platforms that build community platforms that
that build community platforms that
that build community platforms that enable sharing and platforms that invest
enable sharing and platforms that invest
enable sharing and platforms that invest in young people to create opportunities
in young people to create opportunities
in young people to create opportunities adventures platform we are enabling the
adventures platform we are enabling the
adventures platform we are enabling the youth of the continent to turn the
youth of the continent to turn the
youth of the continent to turn the lemons we’ve been handed in to lemonade
lemons we’ve been handed in to lemonade
lemons we’ve been handed in to lemonade and in the last two years we’ve invested
and in the last two years we’ve invested
and in the last two years we’ve invested in 22 companies we’ve interacted with
in 22 companies we’ve interacted with
in 22 companies we’ve interacted with over 2,000 founders we’ve trained about
over 2,000 founders we’ve trained about
over 2,000 founders we’ve trained about 3,000 young people we’ve built a pretty
3,000 young people we’ve built a pretty
3,000 young people we’ve built a pretty amazing campus and we’ve seen our
amazing campus and we’ve seen our
amazing campus and we’ve seen our portfolio do multiples in returns it
portfolio do multiples in returns it
portfolio do multiples in returns it doesn’t end there we’ve also served a
doesn’t end there we’ve also served a
doesn’t end there we’ve also served a couple thousand cups of coffee because
couple thousand cups of coffee because
couple thousand cups of coffee because coffee of course is the fuel of the
coffee of course is the fuel of the
coffee of course is the fuel of the future and we are just getting started
future and we are just getting started
future and we are just getting started you see when I was 13 I had a pretty bad
you see when I was 13 I had a pretty bad
you see when I was 13 I had a pretty bad accident and lost my memory I never
accident and lost my memory I never
accident and lost my memory I never really regained full capacity of it so
really regained full capacity of it so
really regained full capacity of it so you will have to forgive me if I forget
you will have to forgive me if I forget
you will have to forgive me if I forget your first name after the first time we
your first name after the first time we
your first name after the first time we meet I have a hack for that though so
meet I have a hack for that though so
meet I have a hack for that though so over the years I have focused on
over the years I have focused on
over the years I have focused on optimizing my memory for the pleasant
optimizing my memory for the pleasant
optimizing my memory for the pleasant past experiences of my life and I tend
past experiences of my life and I tend
past experiences of my life and I tend to rely on others to remind me of the
to rely on others to remind me of the
to rely on others to remind me of the negatives when it becomes important I
negatives when it becomes important I
negatives when it becomes important I also tend to rely on technology a lot to
also tend to rely on technology a lot to
also tend to rely on technology a lot to invite me remind me of the critical data
invite me remind me of the critical data
invite me remind me of the critical data points like birthdays meetings and
points like birthdays meetings and
points like birthdays meetings and telephone numbers fortunately it sounds
telephone numbers fortunately it sounds
telephone numbers fortunately it sounds terrible but this disability works out
terrible but this disability works out
terrible but this disability works out pretty well actually
pretty well actually
pretty well actually having very little recollection of the
having very little recollection of the
having very little recollection of the negative experiences of the past
negative experiences of the past
negative experiences of the past essentially makes me an incurable
essentially makes me an incurable
essentially makes me an incurable optimist and for this I am eternally
optimist and for this I am eternally
optimist and for this I am eternally grateful and so despite all that is
grateful and so despite all that is
grateful and so despite all that is wrong with and in Africa all I see are
wrong with and in Africa all I see are
wrong with and in Africa all I see are silver linings today more than ever
silver linings today more than ever
silver linings today more than ever young Africans are building the future
young Africans are building the future
young Africans are building the future and indeed they are the silver lining
and indeed they are the silver lining
and indeed they are the silver lining that is why my team and I are committed
that is why my team and I are committed
that is why my team and I are committed to building the future of the continent
to building the future of the continent
to building the future of the continent by investing capital I’m providing the
by investing capital I’m providing the
by investing capital I’m providing the much-needed supports to 100 startups
much-needed supports to 100 startups
much-needed supports to 100 startups over the next four years and so while my
over the next four years and so while my
over the next four years and so while my dad raised cattle many years ago today
dad raised cattle many years ago today
dad raised cattle many years ago today we support a company like thrive agric
we support a company like thrive agric
we support a company like thrive agric funded by two young men
funded by two young men
funded by two young men Luca and I Oh Luca Pharma IO a software
Luca and I Oh Luca Pharma IO a software
Luca and I Oh Luca Pharma IO a software engineer who are using technology to
engineer who are using technology to
engineer who are using technology to connect smallholder farmers with
connect smallholder farmers with
connect smallholder farmers with resources and helping to increase the I
resources and helping to increase the I
resources and helping to increase the I yield fourfold and while I passed on the
yield fourfold and while I passed on the
yield fourfold and while I passed on the opportunity to step into the easy shoes
opportunity to step into the easy shoes
opportunity to step into the easy shoes of taking over the family printing
of taking over the family printing
of taking over the family printing business today we now support Prince
business today we now support Prince
business today we now support Prince evil funded by Alou yummy who’s building
evil funded by Alou yummy who’s building
evil funded by Alou yummy who’s building the future of digital printing in Africa
the future of digital printing in Africa
the future of digital printing in Africa but there’s more much more than I can
but there’s more much more than I can
but there’s more much more than I can mention shall of a stock and in your
mention shall of a stock and in your
mention shall of a stock and in your flora wave a building payments
flora wave a building payments
flora wave a building payments infrastructure empowering billions of
infrastructure empowering billions of
infrastructure empowering billions of dollars in transaction
dollars in transaction
dollars in transaction Kendyl of chizetti recently raised 2.3
Kendyl of chizetti recently raised 2.3
Kendyl of chizetti recently raised 2.3 million dollars to connect more people
million dollars to connect more people
million dollars to connect more people to the internet more affordably and the
to the internet more affordably and the
to the internet more affordably and the lovely a foie who you just met was just
lovely a foie who you just met was just
lovely a foie who you just met was just in this stage is the empowering woman
in this stage is the empowering woman
in this stage is the empowering woman all over the continent
all over the continent
all over the continent building a community of hundreds of
building a community of hundreds of
building a community of hundreds of thousands of young women proving that
thousands of young women proving that
thousands of young women proving that what a man can do a woman can do this
what a man can do a woman can do this
what a man can do a woman can do this ladies are slaying
all over the continent young Africans
all over the continent young Africans are exhibiting curiosity empathy and
are exhibiting curiosity empathy and
are exhibiting curiosity empathy and urgency at an unprecedented level and in
urgency at an unprecedented level and in
urgency at an unprecedented level and in doing so they are solving real problems
doing so they are solving real problems
doing so they are solving real problems but there just isn’t enough African
but there just isn’t enough African
but there just isn’t enough African capital to support them in 2016
capital to support them in 2016
capital to support them in 2016 African startups raised about 400
African startups raised about 400
African startups raised about 400 million dollars to build the future the
million dollars to build the future the
million dollars to build the future the reality though is most of this capital
reality though is most of this capital
reality though is most of this capital comes from foreign investors and we’re
comes from foreign investors and we’re
comes from foreign investors and we’re not complaining as a matter of fact we
not complaining as a matter of fact we
not complaining as a matter of fact we want more but that a few questions that
want more but that a few questions that
want more but that a few questions that keep me up at night the first one is who
keep me up at night the first one is who
keep me up at night the first one is who will own our future unicorns and more
will own our future unicorns and more
will own our future unicorns and more specifically how do we get Africans at
specifically how do we get Africans at
specifically how do we get Africans at home of means and those of you in this
home of means and those of you in this
home of means and those of you in this room in the Diaspora
room in the Diaspora
room in the Diaspora to get involved and invest in more of
to get involved and invest in more of
to get involved and invest in more of these companies the future of Africa
these companies the future of Africa
these companies the future of Africa will not be built by governments or
will not be built by governments or
will not be built by governments or grants but by entrepreneurs who leverage
grants but by entrepreneurs who leverage
grants but by entrepreneurs who leverage technology to build and scale businesses
technology to build and scale businesses
technology to build and scale businesses fast but building his future requires
fast but building his future requires
fast but building his future requires capital and in increasing numbers
capital and in increasing numbers
capital and in increasing numbers African capital capital with context and
African capital capital with context and
African capital capital with context and empathy capital on a mission your
empathy capital on a mission your
empathy capital on a mission your capital it turns out that early-stage
capital it turns out that early-stage
capital it turns out that early-stage technology investing in Africa can
technology investing in Africa can
technology investing in Africa can actually be a great bet so if you had
actually be a great bet so if you had
actually be a great bet so if you had put money in and Ella and Ella by the
put money in and Ella and Ella by the
put money in and Ella and Ella by the way is a software talent accelerator if
way is a software talent accelerator if
way is a software talent accelerator if you have put money in and Ella in the
you have put money in and Ella in the
you have put money in and Ella in the early days you would have made 10x on
early days you would have made 10x on
early days you would have made 10x on your investment iroko TV the African
your investment iroko TV the African
your investment iroko TV the African Netflix if invested when they started
Netflix if invested when they started
Netflix if invested when they started today you would have actually made three
today you would have actually made three
today you would have actually made three thousand two cents bye guys three
thousand two cents bye guys three
thousand two cents bye guys three thousand percent ladies and gentlemen in
thousand percent ladies and gentlemen in
thousand percent ladies and gentlemen in the beginning I asked you to close your
the beginning I asked you to close your
the beginning I asked you to close your eyes and thankfully some of
eyes and thankfully some of
eyes and thankfully some of you did let me guess what kind of
you did let me guess what kind of
you did let me guess what kind of unicorn you saw was it white blond head
unicorn you saw was it white blond head
unicorn you saw was it white blond head well let’s try something different
well let’s try something different
well let’s try something different picture a unicorn that’s black with a
picture a unicorn that’s black with a
picture a unicorn that’s black with a afropunk braids maybe picture a unicorn
afropunk braids maybe picture a unicorn
afropunk braids maybe picture a unicorn that kicks and hustles when he doesn’t
that kicks and hustles when he doesn’t
that kicks and hustles when he doesn’t get the food it deserves in this in this
get the food it deserves in this in this
get the food it deserves in this in this case cash right
case cash right
case cash right and that gallops in celebration when it
and that gallops in celebration when it
and that gallops in celebration when it does ladies and gentlemen my name is
does ladies and gentlemen my name is
does ladies and gentlemen my name is Kalina
Kalina
Kalina and I’m an African investor we are
and I’m an African investor we are
and I’m an African investor we are invested in the future of Africa because
invested in the future of Africa because
invested in the future of Africa because we believe that with the right support
we believe that with the right support
we believe that with the right support gritty african founders would solve the
gritty african founders would solve the
gritty african founders would solve the toughest problems on the continent will
toughest problems on the continent will
toughest problems on the continent will create new markets will expand existing
create new markets will expand existing
create new markets will expand existing markets and deliver value for themselves
markets and deliver value for themselves
markets and deliver value for themselves and their investors
and their investors
and their investors I believe that Africa will produce
I believe that Africa will produce
I believe that Africa will produce unicorns and the time to get in on the
unicorns and the time to get in on the
unicorns and the time to get in on the ground floor is now and so I invite you
ground floor is now and so I invite you
ground floor is now and so I invite you to put your capital to good use now I’m
to put your capital to good use now I’m
to put your capital to good use now I’m not oblivious to the fact that the
not oblivious to the fact that the
not oblivious to the fact that the continent suffers a bad media rap
continent suffers a bad media rap
continent suffers a bad media rap neither am i unaware that we have
neither am i unaware that we have
neither am i unaware that we have insufficient stories of success I mean I
insufficient stories of success I mean I
insufficient stories of success I mean I just told you to write I could have try
just told you to write I could have try
just told you to write I could have try to tell you some more next time we also
to tell you some more next time we also
to tell you some more next time we also suffer a host of individual biases but I
suffer a host of individual biases but I
suffer a host of individual biases but I asked you to bill to be like me for a
asked you to bill to be like me for a
asked you to bill to be like me for a moment and lose your memory of that past
moment and lose your memory of that past
moment and lose your memory of that past but rather imagine a brighter African
but rather imagine a brighter African
but rather imagine a brighter African future a future that you and I can build
future a future that you and I can build
future a future that you and I can build together a future that you can invest in
together a future that you can invest in
together a future that you can invest in join us as we build the future of Africa
join us as we build the future of Africa
join us as we build the future of Africa thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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