Africa/Week 2025 convened founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders in Kigali from November 20–21 for a two-day gathering focused on accelerating Africa’s entrepreneurial and innovation landscape. Hosted by Norrsken, the event served as a continental platform for candid discussions on challenges, pathways to long-term solutions, and catalytic collaboration among more than 1,200 community members, partners, speakers, and attendees. The forum aimed to spark connections, strengthen networks, and empower the next generation of African builders driving transformative businesses and industries across the continent. ALSO READ: Norrsken House Kigali welcomes impact entrepreneurs to expanded campus According to the Managing Director of Norrsken East Africa, Elie Habimana, Africa/Week this year is important because the continent is entering a defining moment that demands visionary doers rather than spectators. He said the gathering was built for people creating companies, industries, and solutions that can withstand the uncertainty of today’s global environment. “This is a season for builders, especially African builders who choose action over anxiety, and this week is intentionally designed as more than a programme; it must be a platform where honest conversation sparks ideas and ideas turn into collaborations,” he noted. Habimana explained that Norrsken’s mission is to empower the next generation of African innovators by bringing together the capital providers, ecosystem enablers, and operators who collectively shape the continent’s entrepreneurial infrastructure. “We sit at a unique intersection where investors, founders, and operators meet, which gives each one here both insights and responsibility, and the real power of this week lies in the relationships formed in this room,” he added. ALSO READ: Africa/Week: Interactive discussion with President Kagame Africa/Week 2025 returned after the successful first edition, which was also the official inauguration of Norrsken House Kigali in 2023. The goal for this year’s event was to underscore the importance of African ownership in designing systems to fund African innovation, from basic sectors to emerging technologies like AI and the creative industries. As part of Africa/Week, Norrsken hosted the inaugural Capital & Returns Forum, which convened experts in the finance industry as well as technology entrepreneurs, investors, and startup enablers, who explored how diverse funding mechanisms can become market-fit tools for backing entrepreneurs and building a systematic foundation for growing companies that deliver on impact and return on investment without compromising either goals. After roughly 15 years of venture capital and a professional startup industry in Africa, and with more than $20 billion invested in thousands of startups, Africa Week was a continental gathering to reflect on progress and plan what comes next in the next decade of African innovation. ALSO READ:What Norrsken means to Rwandan startups Tech enthusiasts share their views Daniel Koiko said Africa/Week offered a rare opportunity for his organisation operating in Nigeria and Ghana to plug into East Africa’s innovation landscape while forming new relationships across the continent. He emphasised that the gathering brought together a diverse mix of founders, enablers, investors, and partners, describing the experience as uniquely accessible and rich in practical lessons. “Norrsken gives you a platform where people from different backgrounds showcase real progress across the ecosystem, which helps an individual break down insights in a way anyone can learn from, while letting you connect with people who’ve actually scaled,” he said. He added that the environment encouraged open knowledge-sharing, which he said is critical for helping African startups leapfrog common challenges. Koiko also praised the structure and intentionality behind the event. “The level of depth and detail in how this space is curated makes it one of a kind in Africa. I hope that Norrsken hubs could expand into more countries,” he noted. Abisinuola Adedeji said Africa/Week gave her the chance to engage directly with founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers from across the continent, offering a clearer picture of how different markets operate. She explained that the interactions helped her understand what African entrepreneurs truly need to scale. Coming from Nigeria, she found the exposure to businesses from East Africa and Europe especially valuable, noting that it broadened her perspective on how to tailor solutions for African founders. “Meeting players from across the ecosystem showed me how they think and what they’re building toward. I’m going home with better ways to implement ideas that fit the realities of the African market,” she said. She encouraged fellow builders to stay engaged and draw inspiration from real-world interactions. “Whatever you’re building, keep building, go out, meet people, and don’t lose heart,” she added. ALSO READ: Kagame graces Africa/Week in Kigali Emilijan Gega described Africa/Week as a premier platform for connecting with high-calibre founders, investors, and ecosystem players across Africa. He said the event’s curated mix of attendees created opportunities for casual yet meaningful networking. “This is possibly one of the best events for meeting people, with a curated list of high-quality participants,” he noted. Gega highlighted the forum’s role in supporting founders and scaling talent, adding that the conversations and panels offered valuable insights for driving growth and deploying capital effectively. “It helps us support founders who want to make meaningful change and find incredible talent for their ventures,” he said. He also praised the creative and welcoming environment, from the artistic displays to the architecture, calling it a model for future Norrsken hubs. “Keep going—more Norrsken houses around the world, please,” he said ALSO READ:Norrsken House launches new facility to accommodate more innovators, entrepreneurs Saloni Bhojwani, attending Africa/Week for the first time. She praised the event for its atmosphere and the ease of connecting with founders and investors across the continent. She said the curated format made discussions more meaningful. “It doesn’t feel crowded—people are relaxed, and it’s incredibly easy to have real conversations,” she noted. She highlighted a panel featuring super-app founders as one of the most compelling sessions, especially given her background as both an investor and operator. “The focus on localisation strategies was fascinating, and I’m excited to see how those companies evolve over the next decade,” she said. Bhojwani added that the overall experience stood out compared to major global tech events. “Having attended large conferences in Europe, this one feels far more intentional and personal,” she remarked, while also expressing appreciation for Kigali’s welcoming environment and climate.
