On October 17–18, 2025, more than 100 of Africa’s leading angel investors gathered in Lagos for the ABAN 2025 Congress, a flagship event themed “Accelerating Local Capital Participation.” Hosted at the historic J. Randle Centre for Yorùbá Culture & History, this year’s congress brought together investors, policymakers, founders, and ecosystem builders from across the continent to discuss the future of early-stage capital in Africa.
Among the standout moments of the event was a recognition that means a great deal to our entire community: COREangels MEA was awarded Angel Network of the Year.
For us, this award is not just a trophy — it’s a testament to the work our fund leaders, angels, and founders have been doing to build bridges across markets, elevate local investors, and strengthen the future of early-stage entrepreneurship in the Middle East and Africa.
A Landmark Moment for Local Capital
The ABAN Congress made one message unmistakably clear: local capital is essential to Africa’s economic future.
In her opening address, Yemi Keri, President of ABAN, reminded the community that angel investors have played a foundational role in African innovation. In the past decade, more than 5,000 angels have invested over $35 million into African startups. While this number is modest compared to global benchmarks, it reflects a growing commitment to nurturing homegrown innovation.
Keri’s message was unmistakable:
The only capital we can truly depend on is our own.
This vision of self-reliance, empowerment, and cross-border collaboration is the same vision that drives COREangels MEA. Our recognition at ABAN is a direct reflection of that alignment.
Why COREangels MEA Was Recognized
The Angel Network of the Year award celebrates networks that:
- Strengthen access to early-stage capital
- Build trust and collaboration across borders
- Democratize angel investing
- Activate new investors and underrepresented voices
- Deliver visible value to founders and the wider ecosystem
COREangels MEA stood out across all these dimensions.
Over the past year, the network has:
- Built a cross-regional investor community linking the Middle East and multiple African markets.
- Expanded access to early-stage capital for founders solving real problems on the continent.
- Championed collaboration, co-investments, and structured angel education.
- Activated new first-time angels, especially from regions historically underrepresented in early-stage investing.
- Supported founders beyond capital with mentoring, strategic guidance, and hands-on operational support.
This award acknowledges not only COREangels MEA’s achievements but the broader movement of angel-driven innovation happening across Africa.
A Congress Focused on the Future
Throughout the two-day event, several key themes defined the conversation — themes that align closely with COREangels MEA’s mission.
1. Local Knowledge = Powerful Capital
ABAN's CEO, Fadilah Tchoumba, emphasized that angel investing is not just about money — it’s about context.
“Local capital brings intelligence, long-term commitment, and the confidence founders need to scale.”
COREangels MEA's cross-market structure directly reflects this philosophy: investors who understand the ground founders walk on can offer more than capital — they offer strategy, insight, and networks.
2. Strengthening Pan-African Angel Infrastructure
With 77 angel networks now active across 37 African countries, the continent’s early-stage ecosystem is maturing rapidly. ABAN’s new MoU with Madica Ventures signals a future where angel networks collaborate more deeply with institutional investors.
COREangels MEA is already contributing to this transformation — forging partnerships, sharing deal flow, and raising the bar for due diligence and investor readiness.
3. Bold Leadership for a New Investment Era
Keynotes and panels urged angel networks to cultivate:
- More active angels
- More cross-border investments
- More education for first-time investors
- More support for founders on the path to exits
This echoes COREangels MEA’s belief: an ecosystem grows when angels grow.
What This Award Means for COREangels
Receiving Angel Network of the Year is an honor — but more importantly, it’s a responsibility.
For COREangels MEA, this moment accelerates our mission to:
- Expand angel investing across MEA markets
- Activate new ecosystems and empower local investors
- Support founders tackling regional and global challenges
- Build collaborative communities that transcend borders
- Create more success stories that drive reinvestment and growth
It also strengthens COREangels’ global movement: a network built on trust, generosity, and shared purpose.
A Shared Win for Our Entire Community
Together, we are building a model of angel investing that is local, inclusive, and collaborative — one that empowers founders not just to survive, but to scale with confidence.
As ABAN’s keynote reminded us:
“We’re the first believers. We’re the architects of our own economic destiny.”
Congratulations to COREangels MEA — and thank you to everyone helping write the next chapter of angel investing in Africa and the Middle East.
