Your Idea’s Great. So Why Aren’t They Listening? 🤔
- 🧠 Community Session Recap
- Events Open to All
- Members Only Event
- Beta Mode New Season Announcement
- Ecosystem Updates
🧠 Community Session Recap: Building the Right Marketing System
In May, we hosted an insightful community session focused on Marketing 101 for African startups. Priscilla Ogbu and Adebayo Ademola opened the session by welcoming attendees and spotlighting the work we do at The Beta Collective. Priscilla also introduced Blitz, our new platform connecting African founders to global funding opportunities.
Our guest speaker, Mr Yan, a seasoned marketing leader and entrepreneur—led a powerful masterclass on the fundamentals of marketing, tailored for African founders building purpose-driven ventures.
Key highlights from the session included:
🔹 Marketing is not a department—it’s a system: Mr Yan defined marketing as the communication of value to the right person in the right perception. They broke this down into four essential domains:
- Value – What are you offering, and is it truly needed?
- The Right Person – Who deeply feels the problem you're solving?
- Perception – How is your brand positioned in their mind?
- Communication – How clearly and emotionally do you convey your message?
🔹 Identity over demographics: Founders were encouraged to go beyond basic audience categories and instead focus on identity—understanding customers by what they believe, not just who they are.
🔹 Positioning is perception: Marketing is psychological. The way your brand is perceived determines how much people are willing to pay for it—even if the product itself is similar to others on the market.
🔹 Simplicity is power: In today’s distracted world, communication must be clear, concise, and emotionally resonant. Your message should connect instantly with the right person.
🔹 Build before you broadcast: Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship only make sense when your value, audience, and positioning are clear. As Mr Yan said, “Communication should be the last step.”
🔹 Marketing is dynamic: There are no marketing “experts”—only practitioners constantly learning and adapting. Build flexible systems that grow with your business.
We wrapped up with a call to action: Founders were invited to join our growing WhatsApp community for ongoing conversations, resources, and support. We also reminded attendees about Blitz, our product helping African innovators access global capital.
Community
Updates from The Beta Collective Community by Priscilla
Events Open to All 👩🏾💼
June Community Session: How Women Can Successfully Navigate the Startup World
📅 June 26, 2025 | 🕠 5:30 PM WAT | 💻 Online | 🎟️ Free
The startup journey is never easy—and for women founders, it can come with even more unique challenges. That’s why The Beta Collective is hosting a live fireside chat designed to hold space for honest, real, and empowering conversations with experienced African women founders.
In this one-hour session, we’ll dive into what it really takes to build and grow a startup as a woman in today’s ecosystem. Expect candid stories from the field, practical insights you can apply immediately, and an open Q&A where no question is off-limits. You’ll also get access to our free She Wins Checklist—a simple but powerful tool to support your startup-building journey.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a woman navigating an early-stage business, or someone who supports women-led ventures, this is your chance to connect with a like-minded community, learn from lived experiences, and walk away with clarity, confidence, and actionable tools.
Reserve your spot today and join the conversation that puts women founders front and center.
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.
🎙️ The Countdown Begins…
We’re back — louder, bolder, and realer than ever.
The Beta Mode: Season 3 is loading, and this time, we’re peeling back the layers. No filters. Just the raw, uncut journeys of African innovators who are building, breaking, and rebuilding — all in real-time.
You’ll hear:
- The truths behind the headlines
- The bold lessons they wish they knew earlier
- The grit it takes to innovate across the continent
Whether you're building something yourself or just curious about what it really takes, this season is your front-row seat to the hustle behind the highlight reel.
Season 3 drops soon.
Get your headphones ready. 🔥
Ecosystem
News, Events, and Updates by Jesse
News
🌍 13 African Startups Set to Pitch at Africa Tech Summit London – Spotlight on Innovation and Global Opportunity
On June 7, 13 startups from 9 African countries will pitch at Africa Tech Summit London, spotlighting bold innovations in fintech, agritech, healthtech, and more. From Nigeria’s GetEquity to Zimbabwe’s YouFarm, these ventures are putting African tech on the global map.
Big stage. Bigger opportunity.
Tom Jackson
Funding and Resources
Sabou Capital is Offering Funding for High-Growth, Tech-Enabled SMEs Across Africa.
Eligibility: Startups in secondary cities across West and Central Africa, working in Agriculture, Fintech, Climate Tech, Healthcare, Logistics, or Mobility.
Support: Access to tailored technical assistance and funding between $350K–$1.5M for businesses with proven traction.
Deadline: Rolling applications
Events
Business Accelerator Masterclass – June 7, Johannesburg
June 7, Johannesburg – Learn practical tools, gain expert insights, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs.
For: Founders, small business owners & aspiring entrepreneurs.
Marketing + Red Wine
An intimate evening of bold ideas, personal brand refinement, and real connection — all over a glass of red.
Lagos | 3PM–8PM
Africa Tech Summit London
June 5–6, 2025 – Connect with African tech leaders, investors, and innovators at one of the leading global platforms spotlighting Africa’s tech ecosystem.
Deep Learning Indaba 2025
June 5–6, 2025 – Connect with African tech leaders, investors, and innovators at one of the leading global platforms spotlighting Africa’s tech ecosystem.
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