ABAN 2025: Angel investors push for transparency to unlock Africa’s startup capital
Angel investors at the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) Congress 2025 have called for stronger visibility and transparency across angel investment networks to unlock more local capital for startups on the continent.
The call came as investors and members of ABAN highlighted that limited awareness remains one of the biggest barriers to expanding angel investing in Africa.
Several speakers at the congress said many potential backers, including high-net-worth individuals and Africans in the diaspora, are unaware of existing opportunities or wrongly assume that angel investing requires millions of dollars.
“I was shocked, because I thought I would only be an ABAN network member if I was going to spend thousands and thousands of dollars,” said Kiri Rajumari, a private-sector consultant. “I’ve been in the private and public sectors at senior levels, yet I’d never heard of ABAN.”
The view was echoed by other participants, who stressed the need for better communication to show that angel investing can start small.
One panelist explained that membership contributions can begin from as little as $1,000 a year, far below what many assume.
“I see our young people go out every night and spend $100 on drinks or buy designer items worth thousands,” the speaker said. “If they knew what that same $1,000 could do for Africa — and for themselves — they would see investing differently.”
While improving public awareness was a key theme, some investors argued that ABAN should prioritise institutional visibility within policy-making and financial circles rather than only targeting mass-market campaigns.
“ABAN should be in the right corridors where those conversations are had at the official level,” one investor said. “There should be people who can connect policymakers and institutions directly to ABAN.”
The congress also underscored the importance of clear frameworks and documentation to guide potential investors on how to participate, what returns to expect, and how to collaborate across borders.
Speakers agreed that moving from informal, relationship-based networks to transparent, accessible platforms would be vital for scaling angel investment across Africa and ensuring that funding reaches high-potential founders regardless of connections.
