From Idea to Impact: How to Build Startups Investors Can’t Ignore

Details

This is not your typical fireside chat on venture capital - it is a masterclass in investor readiness, financial structuring, and building a startup that distrupt the global market.

Join us for an unfiltered and insighful conversation with Zachariah Georgea Wall Street–trained investment banker and co-founder and Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures, one of the continent’s iconic early-stage VC funds. With over 150 investments across 25+ African markets, including breakout names like Flutterwave, Yoco, and Kuda, Zach is not just backing founders, he’s helping shape the future of African tech.

In this high-impact session, Zach will break down what it really takes to raise smart capital, structure your business for long-term success, and build a company that investors believe in and customers can’t live without.

Whether you're a first-time founder or deep in your fundraising journey, this is your chance to tap into the insights, strategies, and financial practices that separate great startups from the rest.

What You Will Learn
🔍 Before the Pitch

What truly fundable startups look like behind the scenes

How to prepare your business, data, and story to attract VC interest

Aligning your vision with investor expectations and market realities

📈 Cracking the African VC Code

The silent signals investors look for (team, traction, clarity, governance)

Navigating Africa’s fragmented but fast-growing investment landscape

What differentiates standout founders from the noise

🚀 After the Funding: Now What?

Common pitfalls post-funding and how to avoid them

Operating with investor confidence and accountability

Building financial controls, growth plans, and internal systems that support scale

💼 Financial Intelligence: From Wall Street to Africa

How global investors assess risk, structure deals, and track ROI

Financial hygiene: cap tables, burn rate, margins, reporting, unit economics

Positioning your startup for future funding rounds or exit

This is more than insight it is a roadmap to building a venture-backable business with substance, scalability, and staying power. Zachariah George does not just speak theory; he has helped shape some of the most iconic African startups through his work at Launch Africa.

If you are ready to master the art of funding, sharpen your financial strategy, and think like a world-class founder—this fireside chat is where your transformation begins.

Sponsored bySpark Eighteen22 On SloaneScalexed

Agenda

---

Speakers

Zachariah George - Startup Bootcamp / Cactus Advisors

Zachariah (Zach) George, who was born in India but grew up in the Middle East, spent seven years as an investment banker on Wall Street with Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. In 2010, intrigued by the growth of venture capital in emerging markets, he came to Cape Town on holiday to watch the FIFA World Cup, and ended up staying permanently.
Zach is the founder & MD of Cactu…

Brian Mlambo - Akha Ventures Partners (CEO & Founder)

I am a passionate entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs to create scalable and impactful ventures. As a Partner at Akha Ventures Partners, I have focused my career on fostering South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by driving innovation, creating opportunities, and supporting sustainable business growth.
Over the y…

Hosted By

Brian Mlambo, CEO & Founder

Introducing Brian Mlambo - an esteemed entrepreneur, dynamic leader, and visionary ecosystem builder. As the CEO & Founder of Akha Ventures and Director for Startup Grind Johannesburg, Brian stands at the pinnacle of business ecosystem creation in South Africa. With a database boasting over 35,000 entrepreneurs, Brian has been the cornerstone for many startups, bringing their aspirations to fruition.

Brian's achievements are vast and noteworthy. In under six months, he amassed a database of over 10,000 SMEs and has graced many media platforms like Jozi FM, Kaya FM, Morning Live, Kasie FM, CliffCentral, and Radio 2000.

A lifelong learner, Brian continually pursues knowledge and innovation. He's organized over 100 entrepreneurship events in recent years, sharing a stage with industry giants such as Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Allon Raiz, Founder of Raizcorp, Vusi Thembekwayo, Group CEO of MyGrowthFund and Lebo Gunguluza, CEO & Founder of The New Gem Group.

Since the tender age of 14, when he clinched the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Step Up 2 A Startup Programme by Primestars, Brian has been a trailblazer in entrepreneurship. He's embarked on ventures that resonate with empowerment, inspiration, and nurturing South Africans toward entrepreneurship. Esteemed mentors like Allon Raiz, Sanjay Soni, and Lindile Xoko have guided him, solidifying his reputation.

Having organized over 100 entrepreneurial events, Brian has touched the lives of 50,000+ South African entrepreneurs over the past 5 years, solidifying his role as an ecosystem pioneer.

Brian's insightful speaking engagements reflect his profound expertise in various domains. Drawing from his rich entrepreneurial experience, he addresses topics that include ecosystem building in Africa, preparing entrepreneurs for investors, the art of effective communication, and digital transformation. His mastery over marketing and sales strategies enriches his perspective, making him a sought-after voice in the business community.

---

Global Partner

Google Cloud (https://cloud.google.com/resources/content/future-of-ai-report?utm_source=events-with-google&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=FY25-Q1-NORTHAM-SMB31054-website-dl-AIThoughtLeader-52420&utm_content=startup-grind&utm_term=-&hl=en)