If you are interested in starting an African business or investing on the continent, but you have not yet started, this message is for you. It may be a wake-up call, a reminder, or at least a humble hint to heighten your awareness.
But even if just a small spark is lid at this point, I hope it will soon grow into a burning desire in you that may change your whole perspective on doing business in Africa…that will lighten up a new path for you leading you towards a grand and fulfilled life. Because that’s the power it holds – if you allow it in.
I am in California sitting in my beautiful hotel room on the 7th floor not far from San Francisco Airport just a few hours before my departure when I decided to write this. I had been invited to California to speak about the keys to a successful business startup in Africa at the 1st African Diaspora Investment Symposium in Silicon Valley, just around the corner from Google, Facebook, and Netflix headquarters.
And frankly, the event surpassed my expectations. Yes, it was well-organized, I made great connections that will advance me and my business, I sold tickets to my Africa Business Bootcamp, interested participants in my upcoming Africa Business Missions on the ground, and had a wonderful time connecting with great people,…but this time there was so much more to it: It was a gathering that truly stirred my soul.
If you have followed me for a while, you know how passionate I am about getting more of us into the ‘Africa business and investment scene’, many more of us in fact…. and today, I decided that I should take this opportunity to use the strong inspiration I received over the last few days to share this message with you once more.
Bear with me, please…
So there I was among 250 ambitious participants at a nice venue at the heart of Silicon Valley, which – according to people from the area – had never seen such a large African business gathering. One local investor told me that ‘she was grateful for so much eye-opening in just two days of presentations and networking breaks’. I found that surprising in a region that owns the richest post codes in the world and is home to companies that get millions of people to connect with each other and to search for more information on anything and everything they find interesting. But then, investing in Africa is simply not yet on people’s radar, even if the US worries about a low average 2% of return on investment while the typical ROI in Africa is at least 15-20%. Well, you stick with what you know even if it does not always make sense.
Once you feel it…
But the wealth of first-hand information was only one of the gems shining bright throughout the event, because there was something else in the air. Something more magnificent. Something I felt much stronger this time around. And that was a vibrant, determined, and unapologetic spirit among participants to build a better future for Africa through businesses and investments that made an impact. There was a knowing spread through the room, that the conference participants among others, were already leading the process.
Yes, the responsibility was felt and communicated, but the collective vision was far greater.
In the foyer Yohannes, a successful Ethiopian business lawyer who travels between Dubai, Africa, and the US, told me: ‘Yeah most people here are the usual faces you bump into – among some interesting newcomers, of course. We know each other.’ And then he gave me some hints about who I should have in my network.
But here it is: The people who were at the conference ARE the movers and shakers in Africa today. They are business leaders, investors, philanthropists, policy makers, and intellectuals who have decided to join the journey towards the continent’s growth. And they fill me with hope and pride. Because despite their love for a good business deal, despite the challenges, they almost all unite in their desire to build a great future for Africa and its people. They care about making a positive impact and developing the continent, they care about accountability, good governance, peace and stability and ensuring that Africans are not left out when the continent grows to new heights.
It’s almost as if it was impossible for most to separate their business and investment ambitions from their vision for Africa. These were Africa’s leading edge thinkers, visionaries, people who had the power to influence, invest, impact, and make things happen…people who had amazing stories to tell, connections to fall back on, track records to impress with, and ambitious plans to excel.
Just in this one single gathering of people who simply had taken a decision at one point in their life to be part of Africa’s rising narrative, one became aware of the sheer power that could be generated in a single room, while so many others were playing their own part across the continent and abroad.
And you should become part of that, too. Because Africa needs you and because it can give you so much in return that would be hard to find elsewhere.
A serious call(ing)
But there was also a lot of food for thought shared during the symposium. One that stuck with me in particular, as it has always been my concern, was repeated almost word for word by Mr Ade from the World Bank. He said:
“But we need to urgently accelerate and broaden our efforts as Africans, in particular those of us in the Diaspora who have so many resources at hand. Because if we don’t, in 10 years time, others….non-Africans…will take up that space and do all the business for us. We have to do more not to be left out and that has to start right now.”
It was a clear call.
And I want you to not only read it but feel it! Feel the sense of urgency and the raw truth in that message.
You can continue in your 9-5 job somewhere in this world making ultimately someone else’s vision (that of your company owners!) come true or you can bring your own vision into life.
You can continue wondering how to do business in Africa or how to invest there, or you can take serious action to find out and get started.
You can continue complaining about Africa’s many shortfalls, or you can decide to become part of the change you want to see.
Yes, these people at the conference belonged to Africa’s movers and shakers – large and small – but really you can so easily become one of them.
A decision is all it will take. And then you make the very first step. And the next one…
I am thinking of Chris at the conference…he is the CEO of Mall for Africa, who used to be frustrated by the big luggage he had to take back to Nigeria each time he visited the US, because family and friends would ask him to bring American goods for them. He saw a gap, started to build a website and store a few products in his bedroom and today he is regarded as Africa’s next Amazon with major investors and leading Western brands wanting to do business with him and pushing him to expand faster. And more over, they are now allowing him to promote African brands on their store shelves for the first time. Not only has he become one of the most amazing success stories, but he is now sharing his journey on platforms such as the event I visited. He started with nothing in his bedroom, today he leads one of Africa’s top e-commerce platforms and promotes new markets for African brands. How incredibly inspiring!
Or take Coders4Africa who also spoke at the conference. A group of young African tech lovers and professionals residing in the USA who one day simply decided to put together a network of developers in Africa, so they could offer tech and business solutions to companies world-wide. Today Coders4Africa are expanding fast and make up the largest network of developers in Africa. As a result, businesses, investors, and even African presidents take notice. As Yusuf, one of their leaders told us, some of their developers are building world-class software and they are about to announce some new big deals and plans in the coming weeks.
Isn’t that amazing?
How much value would such a life have to you?
‘Be part of Africa’s renaissance – build a GRAND and exciting lifestyle for yourself – and make an impact on the lives of others – TODAY.’
What a fulfilling life mission to have! A vision in which so many of your dreams would find space to flourish.
It simply ticks all boxes.
I am in my element at such events: African love, passion, and sister-/brotherhood mixed with business, investment, and a better vision for Africa and ourselves. What an addictive mixture to have in life. I hope you will join the journey, it is so fulfilling and just needs a decision at your end and a first step.
Don’t wait any longer. Get in there and one day soon you will thank yourself to have chosen a new path!!
GET STARTED! Register now and participate at the Africa Business Bootcamp 2016 in #London, #WashingtonDC, and #SiliconValley to equip you for your new journey!
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Dear Dr. Garnet, Thanks for promoting “Doing Business in Africa”. Your efforts will reap huge benefits for U. S. Businesses and the Diaspora community. Cheers! Chris Jackson