Africa MENA venture leaders meet at ASVLP 2026
Written by Black Hot Fire Network Team on January 29, 2026
Venture capitalists, founders, and policymakers from Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will convene virtually on January 29 for the Africa Startup & VC Landscape Preview (ASVLP) 2026. The event comes as startup funding in the region shows signs of recovery following a global downturn.
2025 Funding and Trends
African startups secured an estimated $3.2 billion to $3.3 billion in funding during 2025. This represents a rebound from the previous year’s contraction. However, investors are now prioritizing profitability, governance, and long-term sustainability over rapid expansion. Kenya emerged as the leading funding destination among the “Big Four” markets in Africa for the first time, while Nigeria experienced a decline in capital inflows due to macroeconomic pressures and currency volatility.
Sectoral Focus
Fintech remained the most funded sector, but investor interest is expanding to include climate and energy solutions, artificial intelligence platforms, health technology, and infrastructure-related businesses. Development finance institutions and family offices have increased their involvement, supporting blended-finance structures crucial for both early-stage and growth-stage capital formation.
Forum Discussions
ASVLP 2026 will focus on the outlook for fintech in 2026, emerging fund managers, regulatory evolution, cross-border market integration, and the importance of talent and institutional capacity. Discussions will also address constraints to scaling startups across fragmented markets.
Confirmed Speakers
Speakers at the forum include Khaled Ismail, Idris Ayodeji Bello, Zachariah George, Tosin Faniro-Dada, Selma Ribica, Maha Mandour, Patrick Okebu, Remi Prunier, and Ali Hussein. These regional and international investors and ecosystem leaders will contribute to the discussions.
DealRoom Pitch Session
The forum will include a DealRoom pitch session where a select group of startups will present to investors. Organizers aim to connect data-driven ecosystem insights with actionable capital deployment.
Participation
Participation in ASVLP 2026 is free but requires an invitation. Interested individuals are encouraged to request access through the event’s official channels.
Royal Ibeh is a senior journalist with years of experience reporting on Nigeria’s technology and health sectors. She currently covers the Technology and Health beats for BusinessDay newspaper, where she writes in-depth stories on digital innovation, telecom infrastructure, healthcare systems, and public health policies.
