Participation to Africa Summit 2020, Nairobi- Kenya Safiatou Nana, PhD candidate at WASCAL DRP CCE

The Royal Academy of Engineering based in London, United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Intellecap Advisory Services Private Limited based in Kenya, organised the Investor Readiness and Investor Exposure programme to provide and support investment opportunities for 10 selected African companies among the alumni of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

The program structure had two segments:

• 3 days bootcamp on investment

Date: 5th February- 7th February 2020;

Place: Double Tree Hotel by Hilton- Nairobi Hurlingham, Kenya.

• 2 days SANKALP Investment Summit (deal-matching)

Date: 27th February- 28th February 2020;

Place: Kenyan School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya.

My energy company SolarKoodo was selected to participate to this program and thus I was lucky to attend in-person the two events in Nairobi, Kenya. The present document is a report of my participation to the mentioned program.

Investor Readiness and Exposure

Nairobi (Kenya) 5th February- 7th February 2020 – Double Tree by Hilton- Nairobi Hurlingham

During three days, we had an intensive bootcamp training that covered the basics of investment and investment readiness for revenue generating companies.

1st day (Wednesday 5^th February)

We learn through theory and practice specific issues like:

• Scaling Strategies:

Market Development Strategies; Product Development Strategies; Team Development strategies (Hiring Strategies- shortlist; Corporate Governance & Board composition); Business Risk Management strategies.

• Impact Monitoring & Evaluation

Identifying impact metrics for your business; Developing an Impact Statement for your business.

• Fundraising Part 1

When, what, who of raising investment; Types of investment instruments; Types of investors.

• Group exercise

Mock board presentation.

2nd day (Thursday 6^th February)

The following topics were covered:

• Fundraising Part II

The investment process and what to expect; Preparing for Due Diligence.

• Building your Social Capital

How to effectively network; Where and when to look for investors; Developing investor communication strategy; Charlies and angels activity.

• Introduction to Investment Collateral

Introduction to Summary sheet; Summary Sheet Preparation.

• Financial Modelling I

Best practices in maintaining financial records; Introduction to the Balance sheet, Profit and Loss and Cash Flow Statements; Budgeting and Forecasting; Interpreting and Analyzing Key Financial Statements.

• Financial Modelling II

Financial Modelling Overview; Understanding and Building Accurate Financial Projections; Understanding Valuations.

3rd day (Friday 6^th February)

This final day was all about putting in practicing the learning and getting our companies presentation ready for the next steps of the program (deal matching at SANKALP summit and screening committee).

• Developing Effective Pitches

Common pitch deck pitfalls; How to Create an Effective Pitch Deck; Elevator Pitch

• Refining Pitch

Pitch Deck work (Group exercise)

• Final Pitches & Feedback Session

Individual Pitching & Feedback Sessions

• Final Debrief and wrap-up

Apart from the formal training, we also had fun through the ice-breakers games and team buildings activities.

I was particularly honoured to be among the 3 Most Valuable Players (MVP) that were selected through the group games.

Receiving my gift as Most Valuable Player (MVP) along other entrepreneurs

SANKALP Summit

27th February- 28th February 2020 – Kenyan School of Monetary Studies, Nairobi, Kenya.

The Sankalp Africa Summit is one of the fastest growing platforms in the world converging at the nexus of business and development, with a sharp focus on improving the lives of the 3 billion people on the planet who need it most.

Since 2014, Intellecap Advisory Services Private Limited a branch of Aavishkaar Group, has hosted globally, 20 editions of Sankalp across India, Indonesia, Kenya and the Netherlands.

This year 7^th SANKALP Africa summit theme: “Collaborate 2030: Scaling Entrepreneurship for the Global Goals” was to discuss, define, and drive forward the critical levers of entrepreneurial success for the Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030 in Africa.

It was attended by:

• Entrepreneurs from all over Africa, including Alumni of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation,

• Incubators like 2Scale, BoP Innovation Center, Standford Seed.

• Global Impact Investors such as AECF, Rockefeller Foundation, Siemens Stiftung, Accio International, AHL Venture Partners, Beyond Capital Fund, DOB Equity, Enza CApital

• International Institutions like World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, SNV, AGRA.

• Corporates like Microsoft, Safaricom, Burn, Agribaazar.

• Governments: British High Commission, Canadian High commission in Nairobi.

• Universities: Carnegie Mellon Universitiy Africa , University of Nairobi, JKUAT, African Leadership Academy, etc.

My participation to this summit was a great opportunity to present my start-up SolarKoodo to potential investors and to also to meet and interact with like minded entrepreneurs in the impact space.

Some Highlights of the event were: The launch of Agribaazar, the launch of Microsoft Global Social Entrepreneurship Program, the launch of Intellecap Report on “Mainstreaming Gender Lens Investing”, and many more exciting news for the entrepreneurship ecosystème in Africa.

Among the multiple workshops, panels, design sessions, I particularly had special interest for the:

- Main Plenary session on : Women Who Drive Investment, Accelerate Development

- Workshop: “Increasing income of East African smallholder farmers through innovative Agribusiness Service Models”

- Round-table discussion |“Augmenting Energy Access through Off-Grid Solar Solutions in Africa” with stakeholders like GOGLA, Intellecap. I shared experience and lessons based on my Startup operation in West African ecosystem on the topic of

In all it was a successful event that exposed me to good opportunities for my personnel development as an entrepreneur and for my start-up SolarKoodo that has secured collaboration deals with some East African energy companies.

I am very grateful to the Administration of WASCAL Niger, and I send my special thanks to Director Prof. Adamou Rabani and Coordinator Prof. Inoussa Marouhi for making my trip possible and for supporting students’ professional development. Indeed Professional activities and international exposure is as important as class courses for student career development.