Kayode Tokede
VROOM Africa, the African edition of the VROOM Summit in Monaco was recently launched in Lagos.
VROOM is one of the world’s biggest gatherings of investors and businesses seeking funds.
The annual Monaco VROOM Summit was founded by Peter Madsen, one of Europe’s most prominent technology investors.
Masden runs investor events across more than twenty-five countries in Europe and the Middle East. The events culminate every year in an annual VROOM main stage event in Monaco which attracts over 200 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI), Family Offices, and institutional investors who are members of the VROOM Network.
The African debut of VROOM was organised in partnership with Rising Tide Africa, a group of women angel investors harnessing their power, network, passion and capital to create transformative businesses across Africa.
The joint VROOM Africa and Rising Tide Africaevent commenced with opening remarks from Ms Evelyn Oputu, former Managing Director, Bank of Industry, who welcomed His Excellency – Executive Governor of Lagos State,Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Honourable Commissioner Economic and Budget Planning, Mr. Sam Egube.
Egube delivered His Excellency’s Key Note address. Mrs Oputu while pleased with VROOM Africa’s interest to invest in Nigeria emphasised the importance of a cohesive and effective collaboration between VA and RTA in order to create and build a sustainable angel investment ecosystem that connects innovative start-ups with interested local and international investors.
Sanwo-Olu, commended the theme Building Back Better – Investing in Sustainable, Circular Businesses in Nigeria and Africa, noting that this agenda is relevant to the ambition to create a Circular Lagos ecosystem, a core component of building a Greater Lagos. The Governor added that the state will partner with stakeholders to attract new channels for investment in Lagos state and indeed across Nigeria, enabling new investments and nurturing thriving businesses.
Many organisations sent goodwill messages for the launch of VROOM Africa. The Circular Business Platform in its message amplified the need to harness the circular economy for “our collective shared prosperity”. Professor Serge Miranda from Datum Africa advocated the importance of ‘Multiversity in Africa’ where data plays a crucial role in driving skills in a data driven future economy.
General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr Dolapo Fasawe said that LASEPA has a focus on People, Planet and Profitability and that this would enable the organisation to partner with women and the angel investment ecosystem to take collective action with pace and urgency.
