Viktoria Ventures’ angel investments role in Africa honoured

• Viktoria Ventures, a leading pan-African angel investing and early-stage startup support organization, has been awarded the prestigious “Angel Network of the Year 2025” at the Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit (AESIS).
• This milestone reflects years of building and professionalizing Africa’s angel investing ecosystem, creating the structures, community, and investor capacity required to scale African innovation.

• Viktoria Ventures continues to expand its continental footprint as a leading angel development platform. To date, the organization has trained 797 angel investors, reaching investors from 38 African countries.

Viktoria Ventures, a leading pan-African angel investing and early-stage startup support organization, has been awarded the prestigious “Angel Network of the Year 2025” at the Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit (AESIS) in Cape Town. Hosted by the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) and VC4A, this recognition marks a defining moment for Viktoria Ventures and the early-stage investing ecosystem across Africa.

This milestone reflects years of building and professionalizing Africa’s angel investing ecosystem, creating the structures, community, and investor capacity required to scale African innovation.

“Our belief has always been simple: if Africa’s startup ecosystem is to thrive, angel investors must be empowered with the right tools, community support, and access to deal flow,” said Stephen Gugu, CEO of Viktoria Ventures. “This award validates our mission to build the network, capacity, and community that drives African innovation forward.”

In the lead-up to AESIS, Viktoria Ventures co-hosted the AESIS Nairobi Investor Meetup alongside Jasiri4Africa, Von Seidels, and the Nairobi Business Angel Network. The event brought together leading investors and ecosystem enablers to debate a critical question:

How can local capital be mobilized to accelerate African innovation?

The conversation underscored a shared call to action: collaboration, aligned incentives, and collective responsibility are essential to unlock local capital and accelerate innovation. The Nairobi gathering galvanized the ecosystem ahead of the continental summit—ultimately culminating in Viktoria Ventures’ recognition in Cape Town.

Driving Angel Investing Through the Angel Leads Program

A key initiative under Viktoria Ventures is the Angel Leads Program, delivered through the African Angel Academy (AAA). The program equips emerging and experienced investors with structured training on angel investing, startup syndication, and deal execution.

Key features of the program include:

• A 6‑week self-paced course complemented by live masterclasses, mentorship, and technical support
• Formation of regional investment syndicates across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and beyond
• Guidance on legal structuring, investment diligence, and engagement with early-stage startups

Since its inception, the program has already:

• Trained 22 angel investors who formed the Moneva Syndicate
• Enabled the Moneva Syndicate to invest in Afyalishe Wellness Ltd, a Kenyan functional foods company

Through the Angel Leads Program, Viktoria Ventures is driving a catalytic ripple effect, strengthening local investment networks and scaling African startups through community-led angel investing.

Read also: Angel Investors in East Africa

Viktoria Ventures on Scaling Angel Investing Across Africa

Viktoria Ventures continues to expand its continental footprint as a leading angel development platform. To date, the organization has:

• Trained 797 angel investors
• Reached investors from 38 African countries
• Delivered a comprehensive curriculum led by experienced ecosystem leaders
• Fostered one of Africa’s most active and connected early-stage investor communities

AAA alumni and partners are now driving change at the highest levels, including Yemi Keri’s election as President of ABAN, further demonstrating the network’s continental influence.

To strengthen investor readiness and deal flow, Viktoria Ventures has also partnered with Africa: The Big Deal, offering alumni priority access to curated investment opportunities.

Looking Ahead: AAA Cohort 13 Launches in 2025

Winning “Angel Network of the Year” is not the destination; it is the beginning of the next chapter. Viktoria Ventures continues to champion a future powered by bold early-stage investors who are ready to lean in and lead.

AAA Cohort 13 launches in 2025, inviting both new and seasoned investors to join the continent’s most influential angel investing platform.