Why African Investors Shun Investment in Technology Companies

The proponent of African startups and Executive Producer of Demo Africa who have travelled the continent to identify innovative local companies at their earliest stages, have identified reasons African investors do not invest in technology companies.

Harry Hare, chief executive officer of African eDevelopment Resource Centre, franchise owner of Demo Africa, a technology launch pad for startups in Africa, averred that in the past few years of Demo Africa’s existence “we have noticed that Africa-based investors are yet to come to the table when it comes to investing in technology start-ups”.

According to him most local venture capitalists were used to investing in brick and mortar businesses which they “understand and find technology start-ups high risk and therefore shy away”, he added, however, that the situation is changing with the advent of angel networks forming across the continent.

Since the angel investor network emerged, Hare informed, Demo Africa has witnessed encouraging feedback with the recent activities of $ 1.7 million acquisition of Weza Tele, a Kenyan-based DEMO Africa alumnus and the investment of over a million dollars in three start-ups just months after launching at the DEMO Africa stage.

“Investors, whether in Africa or Europe, are still investors. So we really don’t choose. We try to reach out to any investor who is interested in investing in our start-ups. Investment funds are used for different purposes depending on the maturity of the start-ups and its products. Some start-ups will use these funds for expansion; others will use the funds for a go-to-market strategy”, he said.

Others, according to him, would apply the funds to refine their products and services further before releasing the products to the markets. Besides, the investment is fundamental to the startups because “it takes the entrepreneurs from where they are to where they want to be”.

In retrospect, Hare looked at 2014 Demo Africa held in Nigeria and said of the 40 start-ups launched; about 16 start-ups got investment of some kind.

Aside, many of these startups have acquired customers whom they are servicing. In 2014, Nigeria had the highest number of start-ups and the highest attendance during Demo Africa.

“If you look at the investment made, over US$4million was shared among six start-ups in 2014. This is less than a year after launch. In terms of business acquisition, take a case in point of SpacePointe that have registered thousands of merchants in Nigeria and is enabling e-commerce for SMEs. These startups have not only generated business value but have also created employment opportunities as well across Nigeria”.

Hare added that Demo Africa offered a platform for start-ups to showcase their technology solutions to investors who would invest in them. These investors included venture capitalists, angel investors and chief information officers [CIO] who may purchase the solutions.

“Different start-ups attend DEMO with different requirements that fit in the three broad categories”.