In February 2026, MoFund Africa and 20 Africa Impact Academy entrepreneurs participated in the Sankalp Africa Summit in Nairobi. The delegation included nine international participants, five from South Africa and four from Nigeria, alongside Kenyan entrepreneurs representing local businesses. It was also the first time that AIA businesses from all three target countries had been brought together in a single session, through a pre-summit networking reception hosted by MoFund Africa ahead of the main event.
The AIA Pavilion
MoFund Africa hosted a dedicated AIA Group Pavilion at the summit, giving entrepreneurs a space to showcase their products and services directly to attendees. The pavilion drew considerable interest, with visitors engaging with businesses, exchanging contacts and exploring potential collaborations. Several attendees expressed interest in learning more about Africa Impact Academy, expanding awareness of both the programme and MoFund Africa among a wider audience.
“De-risked, but Still Unfunded”
One of the highlight activities at the summit was a knowledge session hosted by MoFund Africa under the title “De-risked, but Still Unfunded” The session examined why many African founders continue to face barriers to capital despite growing investment readiness across the continent.
The panel featured Elizabeth Kariuki from the World Bank CGAP Programme, Joram Mwinamo, Co-Founder and CEO of SNDBX International, Teddy Onserio, Director of Haba Capital, and Steve Njenga, Founder and CEO of MoFund Africa. The session was moderated by Keziah Kariuki of the AIA programme team.
Several clear threads ran through the discussion. The perception of Africa as a high-risk investment destination is not a neutral assessment; it reflects capital frameworks that were not built with African markets in mind. Enterprise readiness on the continent is improving, with businesses strengthening governance, compliance and impact measurement, but capital is not keeping pace. The conversation also pointed to blended finance, catalytic capital and locally rooted funding models as practical paths forward, with African capital playing a stronger role alongside or beyond traditional external sources.
The session landed on a pointed question: the issue is no longer whether African founders are ready. The question is whether capital is ready to meet them where they are.
Outcomes Beyond the Summit Floor
Participating entrepreneurs made use of the summit’s deal rooms and one-on-one meeting formats to connect with investors, partners and potential customers. Captain Fanplastic was invited to pitch in a deal room before a panel of stakeholders, gaining direct exposure to investor expectations and feedback on how to position for future opportunities. Targeted one on one meetings allowed other participants to connect with individuals and organizations relevant to their work, with several conversations still under active discussion following the event.