BDIH, ANB Scout For Talent
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday November 30, 2021 06:00
The talent scouting will be from the BDIH innovators pool, who have received technical and business interventions throughout their incubation and acceleration journey. The Deal Day is a hybrid event featuring startups from Botswana and investors virtually connected via ANB from across the world including EO Angels, Future Females Invest and Jozi Angels. BDIH’s Deal Day intends to expose innovators to potential markets, partners, coaches and investors through the ANB and BDIH partnership. The BDIH selected a pool of companies to participate in the Deal Day based on their solution’s value and societal impact in addressing at least one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The solution’s stage of development with at least a working prototype, the originality of the idea and its potential to scale coupled with the knowledge and capability of the team formed part of the selection criteria.
Acting chief executive officer of BDIH, Tshepo Tsheko acknowledged the importance of angel investors in the innovation ecosystem, as they provide more than money. “They are hands-on investors who contribute their skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts in the businesses they invest in. We are delighted to work with ANB to support the innovators’ growth and wealth creation,” he said. On her part, ANB chairperson, Mythri Sambasivan-George said the first entry into the startup ecosystem was under the auspices of BDIH (then BIH) in late 2019.
Since then, ANB was formally incorporated and the board and its members, now more than 50 private investors, have worked passionately to build mutually impactful partnerships such as with BDIH, which we are proud of. “We will continue to deliver measurable change, value and progress through mentorship, networks and quality deal-flow. We see a high potential, growing private sector in Botswana and beyond.” The Deal Day features the following eight companies offering different solutions, which include Corrugated Minds 'ShareAride', Doctors E- Consult, Skymartbw, IoT Communications, Ipachi Mobile Application, Scoot Logistics, Ked Liphi and Sign Coach. Since its inception, Angel Network Botswana members have funded two startups within the BDIH clientele; Vantage Properties and Organic Naturals Skincare.
The network anticipates consistent quality deal flow from BDIH registered startups through the BDIH-ANB partnership. ANB aims to support existing efforts to facilitate the development and emergence of an active early-stage investment community thereby contributing to the emergence of a new breed of vibrant entrepreneurs who catalyse economic growth and diversification.