Panel Themes

How can innovative and promising ideas take root and transform into sustainable and impactful businesses in Africa? This is the central question of the 2017 Africa Innovate Conference. This year’s panels will follow the African entrepreneurship process: starting with an exploration of the origins of sound business ideas to an in-depth discussion of the launching and eventually scaling or failing of African businesses. Along the way, we will investigate the conditions necessary for success as well as financing mechanisms available on the continent. We hope that participants will ultimately be inspired to take their own ideas and those that would have surfaced during the day through to impact in all corners of Africa.

CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS

​Even the most heroic entrepreneur or bureaucrat can fail if they are launching an initiative in hostile conditions.  How many businesses have failed because they cannot support the high cost and fluctuation of energy prices? How many government initiatives have failed because education systems are broken? We will learn from experts, people who have made significant change in preparing Africa to lead, as they discuss what can be done to improve infrastructure and education.

IDEATION

Where do good ideas come from? This panel will posit that they come from the people, the individuals who will use and benefit from new systems. In lieu of a traditional panel, the Ideation theme will follow a workshop model. We will hear from experts in the field of ideation and practice what we learn with an African startup tackling a specific problem.

FINANCING

From grants to venture capital, there are many ways to finance an idea. What are the opportunities and risks inherent in these different funding mechanisms? How can we democratize access to them so that revolutionary businesses and social movements can access the capital they need to realize change?

ENTREPRENEURSHIP STORIES

​​Until your idea hits the market, it’s just talk, and at the MIT Africa Innovate Conference we have pledged to move beyond talk and encourage action. In this panel, we will hear from entrepreneurs who have successfully brought an idea to market to create impact
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