• Founder's Notes 
• Conference Tracks
• Meet the Speakers
• Members Only Events
• Ecosystem Updates
• International events relevant to African Founders

📮 Founder's Notes

As we gear up for Catalyze 2025, I am very excited about what we have planned. We have chosen these 3 tracks not simply because there aren't issues or problems to be solved in other areas, but we chose areas at the intersection of urgent needs, funding and world attention by global agencies, and of course where we also have expertise. Because I'm sure we have all attended panels and events where the topic was something generic like "The Future of African Innovation" where we hear the same recycled talking points and leave with more questions than answers.

We wanted to do something different—something that moves beyond the perpetual state of potential and into the reality of what's already working.

The challenge isn't that Africa lacks innovation. The challenge is that too often, our innovations are seen as interesting experiments rather than scalable solutions. Too often, we're positioned as the recipients of innovation rather than the originators. "African by Design" is our way of flipping that script.

The Strategic Logic Behind Our Three Tracks

Energy, Health, and Capital—these aren't random choices. Each represents a domain where dependency relationships have been most entrenched, where the stakes are highest, and where we're seeing the most compelling evidence of locally-authored solutions breaking through.

In energy, African innovators have stopped waiting for grid extension and started building distributed systems that are more resilient and cost-effective than centralized alternatives. These aren't gap-filling measures—they're next-generation infrastructure models that other regions are now studying and replicating.

In health, we're witnessing the emergence of what I call "healthcare sovereignty"—the systematic building of regional manufacturing, research capabilities, and care delivery models that don't just reduce import dependency but position Africa as a global health innovation hub. COVID-19 showed us the cost of dependency; now we're seeing the value of self-determination.

In capital, the conversation has evolved from "How do we de-risk African investments?" to "How do we help global investors understand that traditional risk frameworks may be fundamentally inadequate for evaluating frontier innovation?" African ventures are teaching the world new ways to think about scalability, sustainability, and returns.

A Commitment to What Comes Next

Catalyze isn't just about celebrating what's working—it's about committing to what comes next. Every session, every partnership, every conversation is designed to answer one central question: How do we make local innovation the default, not the alternative?

🌟 Catalyze 2025 Conference Tracks

Three Transformative Tracks

The three tracks at Catalyze 2025 represent different facets of this larger transformation—each illustrating how dependency relationships are being systematically dismantled and rebuilt as partnerships of strength.

In energy, we're moving beyond the charity-industrial complex that has dominated development discourse. African innovators aren't waiting for grid extension or foreign aid—they're building distributed energy systems that are more resilient, more affordable, and more scalable than centralized alternatives. These solutions don't just close the energy gap; they redefine what modern energy infrastructure should look like in an era of climate change and technological leapfrogging.

In healthcare, the conversation has evolved from "How do we get medicines to Africa?" to "How does Africa become a net exporter of health innovation?" Regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, yes—but also indigenous research capabilities, novel drug discovery platforms, and care delivery models that work for the majority world's realities. This isn't import substitution; it's the emergence of Africa as a global health innovation hub.

In capital markets, we're witnessing the emergence of what I call "contextual investment"—funding approaches that recognize that the metrics, timelines, and risk frameworks developed for mature markets may be fundamentally inadequate for evaluating innovation in frontier contexts. African ventures are teaching global investors new ways to think about scalability, sustainability, and returns.

Bridging the Energy Gap showcases how local innovators are deploying breakthrough energy technologies that unlock agricultural productivity and power rural enterprises. These aren't pilot projects—they're proven models creating entirely new economic ecosystems and ready for scale.

Toward Self-Sufficient Health Systems highlights the bold moves toward healthcare sovereignty happening right now. From regional pharmaceutical manufacturing to community-driven care models, African innovators are building resilient health systems that reduce import dependency and deliver locally-rooted solutions. This isn't just about access; it's about ownership.

Cross-Border Funding tackles one of the most critical bottlenecks: capital. We're not just identifying the barriers that limit funding flow to African startups—we're showcasing the investors and operators who are already dismantling risk narratives, building practical investment bridges, and designing context-driven pathways that back African ventures at scale.

Each track represents a fundamental shift from dependency to self-determination, from imported solutions to authored innovations.

🌟 Here's a preview of the Catalyze 2025 Speakers lineup

At the heart of Catalyze 2025 are the people building Africa’s future. Guided by this year’s theme—African by Design: Building Local Innovations for Impact—we’re bringing together leaders who are turning ideas into action across health, energy, and funding. Here’s a first look at some of the inspiring voices you’ll hear from:

Ukeme Daniel, MD, MPH

Founder, The Beta Collective | Host, Catalyze
Ukeme is a medical doctor, public health practitioner, and social innovation strategist dedicated to improving lives at the intersection of health, climate resilience, and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of The Beta Collective, a collaborative platform that empowers African innovators with resources, mentorship, and visibility to build and scale impactful solutions.

Her career bridges medicine, public health, and design-driven innovation, bringing a distinctive perspective to addressing complex global challenges. In her previous role as a Sustainability Strategist, she advanced pathways to decarbonization and sustainable futures, while also championing community-driven approaches to healthcare access, education, and economic empowerment.

Beyond her corporate work, Ukeme has incubated companies from idea to market, equipping founders with tools, networks, and strategies to scale solutions that drive meaningful impact. She is also the founder and driving force behind Catalyze and Blitz, platforms connecting African innovators to funding and global opportunities.

As host of Catalyze, Ukeme combines her medical expertise, entrepreneurial drive, and passion for collaboration to spark conversations that inspire action and reimagine what’s possible for Africa’s future.

⚒️ Ayo Sopitan

Founder, Metalex
After a career at EY, Bank of America, Accenture, and OpenLink Financial, Ayo founded Metalex, a company delivering carbon-neutral critical metals from Africa to the world. Its flagship project is a copper-cobalt mining and processing business in Northern Zambia.

Metalex takes an ecosystem approach, incubating complementary businesses such as:

• Misitu Africa – developer of large-scale carbon projects
• Abule Africa – developer of affordable housing in mining communities
• Vovala – a program training women in mining towns to make personal protective equipment

Through this integrated model, Ayo ensures Metalex is not only exporting resources but also building sustainable communities and empowering people at the heart of Africa’s mining sector.

🌍 Juliana Garaizar

Founding Partner, Energy Tech Nexus | GP, Portfolia Rising America | Venture Partner, Climate Tech Global Ventures
Juliana is a global investor and ecosystem builder with over two decades of experience. She is a Founding Partner of Energy Tech Nexus, a General Partner at Portfolia Rising America, and a Venture Partner at Climate Tech Global Ventures, where she invests in AI and climate.

Previously, she served as Chief Development and Investment Officer at Greentown Labs and was recognized as Investor of the Year by the Houston Innovation Awards. She also serves on the Impact Committee of Net Zero Ventures and the advisory boards of Ally Energy, the LatinX Startup Alliance, and Impulse4women.

Juliana has led multiple investment networks, including as Director of the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund, Managing Director of the Houston Angel Network, and Manager of the Sophia Business Angels network in the French Riviera. Earlier in her career, she worked as an International Trade Consultant for Spain in Singapore and as a Project Manager at Citigroup’s Asia Technology Office.

She holds an MBA from the London Business School and Haas School of Business, Berkeley, specializing in Entrepreneurship. A Kauffman Fellow and VC Include Fellow, she is deeply committed to bridging the gender gap in investing.

⚖️ Crystal Ikanih-Musa, Esq.

Founder, Visa Immigration Pro
Crystal is an international lawyer and development professional with more than 12 years of global experience in government affairs, advocacy, public policy, and economic growth. She is the founder of Visa Immigration Pro, a legal services firm that helps startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses expand internationally.

Through her firm, she has developed over 100 hours of legal educational content and toolkits tailored for African entrepreneurs seeking to enter the U.S. market. Beyond her entrepreneurial work, Crystal has extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar donor-funded projects, ensuring compliance, and delivering measurable outcomes.

Her career spans collaborations with governments, NGOs, multilateral institutions, and the private sector, where she has consistently worked at the intersection of law, policy, and entrepreneurship to unlock growth opportunities.

Unwind with Us: The Catalyze 2025 Post-Conference Mixer

After an intense day of panels and presentations, —you're going to decompress with good food, drinks and some conversation.

We know you've been to mixers that feel like work. This isn't that. This is where you can:

• Actually talk to people without someone tapping the microphone or rushing you to the next session.
• Meet passionate founders
• Connect with investors and partners in a space that feels more like hanging out than pitching.

Look forward to seeing you at Catalyze 2025 Post-Conference Mixer!

Members Only Event 🔐

Pitch Tuesdays

Every Tuesday, members of our community get the spotlight to pitch their startups, side projects, or bold ideas. It’s a safe, supportive space to practice your pitch, get feedback, and connect with potential collaborators or mentors. Whether you’re refining your concept or ready to launch, this is your time to shine.

Members only. 🎤

Weekly WhatsApp Discussions

Join our WhatsApp group every week for a focused, real-time conversation around the topic of discussion. It’s a chance to share your take, ask questions, and learn from the lived experiences of others in the community.

Don’t miss out on our members-only event — it’s your chance to connect, pitch, and grow with a community that truly gets it.

In the News

MIT Launches Deep Tech Program in Africa with $750M+ Backing

The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship announced this week the launch of their Deep Tech Program in Africa, developed in collaboration with the Government of Botswana and Material Impact. The program represents exactly the kind of infrastructure we need to move from "innovation tourism" to serious commercialization.

Why this matters for the "African by Design" movement: Instead of another accelerator program that brings African founders to Boston for a few months, this initiative is building deep-tech commercialization capacity on the continent. The program focuses on transforming advanced research into scalable ventures in health, renewable energy, agriculture, and mining—sectors where African innovation is already leading globally.

The model: African scientists and researchers get access to MIT faculty and global deep-tech networks while participating in an intensive program based in Gaborone, Botswana. Material Impact, with more than $750 million under management, provides the commercialization expertise that often determines whether breakthrough research becomes breakthrough business.

As Adam Sharkawy from Material Impact noted, "This program empowers African entrepreneurs to transform local breakthrough technologies into enduring companies that drive regional and global change." It's precisely this kind of initiative—building local capacity while connecting to global networks—that we'll be exploring across our three tracks at Catalyze 2025.

The program also signals Botswana's serious commitment to becoming a continental hub for science-driven entrepreneurship, positioning itself as a leader in Africa's transition to a knowledge-based economy.

This is the kind of news we love to see—global institutions recognizing Africa as an innovation originator, not just a market to be served.

Funding and Resources

African Collaborative Funding 2025: Supporting African-Led Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

African Collaborative is offering multi-year, unrestricted funding to African-led nonprofits working in education, health, livelihoods, technology, climate, gender equity, human rights, and digital futures. Applications are open until 17 September 2025, 11:59 PM (UTC–1).

Events

Africa Tech Festival (Cape Town) – 11–14 November 2025

A major infrastructure and innovation event featuring AfricaCom and AfricaTech under one roof. Expect a mix of telecom operators, regulators, startup pitch stages, and investor lounges.

Techne Summit (Alexandria, Egypt) – 4–6 October 2025

A Mediterranean-focused tech event with an expanding African presence. It features startup competitions, high-level panels, and pairing with VC firms and corporates.

AI Expo Africa 2025

📍 Johannesburg, South Africa | 🗓️ 29–31 October 2025
Africa’s largest AI and smart tech trade show, spotlighting generative AI, fintech automation, healthtech, and enterprise AI solutions.

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