On Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, African Diaspora Network in partnership with Rhodes Trust, Moore Philanthropy, and Atlantic Institute hosted a significant event at Rhodes House in Oxford, UK as part of the Skoll World Forum. This critical conversation discusses both the enduring structural challenges faced by African and African diaspora and/or descendant entrepreneurs, and the opportunities, benefits and solutions available to entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders looking to multiply the impact on the African continent and beyond.
Outlined below are the key strategies and call to action for supporting Black and African entrepreneurs that emerged during the discourse
- Foster Deep, Trust-Based Relationships: Continue cultivating meaningful, trust-driven connections within the venture capital and philanthropic sectors, rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu—emphasizing shared humanity and interconnectedness.
- Prioritize Partnership and Collaboration: Focus on co-empowerment rather than hierarchy—remember, it’s about power with, not power over.
- Champion Black and African Entrepreneurship and Shift the Story of “Underinvestment”: The global Black and African Diaspora entrepreneurs and ventures are overmentored and underfunded. Advocating for the tremendous potential and impact of investing in Black and African entrepreneurs is imperative. Shift the narrative to highlight the untapped venture capital potential of the 96%, not the 4% that reaches Black Entrepreneurs .
- Map and Analyze Existing Research: There is a lack of disaggregating existing data and research. Mapping research on Black and African entrepreneurship identifying gaps and opportunities to build a stronger case for investment will bridge this gap.
- Expand the Global Perspective: Center the global Black and African diaspora, broadening the focus beyond the USA, and work towards connecting networks, fostering cross-border collaboration.
- Explore Non-Traditional Funding Models: Investigate innovative financial models, such as savings and credit organizations, to offer new avenues of support for entrepreneurs.
- Align Values with Strategy: Recognize that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” To drive lasting change, merge the language of finance with the language of values, beliefs, and behaviors, for sustainable growth and impact.
Thank you to all those who attended and contributed to the critical conversation. We are deeply appreciative of our distinguished speakers: Yvonne Moore, Almaz Negash, Lysa John, Katerine Bond, Tanya Charles, Rachel Wood, Erika Seth Davis and Jeffrey Fasegha and to our esteemed partners whose support is invaluable. We invite you to continue the conversation at this year’s African Diaspora Investment Symposium (ADIS) held in Washington, DC on May 28-30. Learn more and register today.
