Are African Startups the Next Growth Engines of the World? - with Mika & Hisham at P1 Ventures | The Perfect Pitch Podcast Ep10

The Perfect Pitch Podcast by Lucidity Insights

In this episode of The Perfect Pitch Podcast, we sit down with Mikael Hajjar and Hisham Halbouny, Managing Partners at P1 Ventures, to uncover the secrets of scaling startups in Africa. Mika and Hisham share their unique insights into why they think Africa is the most interesting startup ecosystem today. They speak into why they prioritize authentic, resilient founders that can grow their businesses with velocity, and why having a deep connection to the problems they’re solving is critical.
The conversation highlights the exciting opportunities emerging in Africa’s fintech, AI, and tech infrastructure sectors; and with interesting real-life examples of players making major strides on the continent.
Don’t miss this compelling episode filled with stories of resilience, innovation, and the rise of Africa as a startup powerhouse. Listen now to be inspired and informed about the future of business on the continent.
- P1 Ventures Investment Profile (Lucidity Insights)
- P1 Ventures website
- Mikael's LinkedIn Profile
- Hisham's LinkedIn

"The Perfect Pitch," is a newly launched Podcast Show by Lucidity Insights. Join LucidityInsights.com for an exclusive masterclass series featuring top Venture Capitalists in the Middle East & Africa region. Get all the essential insights to kickstart your fundraising journey. 🚀
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Chapitres

1. Intro & Welcome (00:00:00)

2. What it's like to invest in African Startups (00:01:30)

3. Finding Resilient & Authentic African Founders (00:03:45)

4. The Story of Yassir: Building Success in Algeria (00:05:20)

5. Africa's Best Investment Vintage Yet (00:07:45)

6. Africa's Top Startup Ecosystems (00:10:10)

7. Morocco's Inflection Point (00:12:30)

8. Mika's Journey for African Entrepreneurship (00:15:15)

9. Hisham's Transition from Investment Banking to VC (00:19:40)

10. The Story of Chari: Morocco's $100M+ Startup (00:24:00)

11. What Founders Often Don't Know About VCs (00:28:30)

12. Markets & Execution is Paramount (00:31:00)

13. Lessons from Failures: Backing Repeat Founders (00:33:45)

14. The Rise of African Unicorns (00:38:10)

15. AI and other Futuristic Sectors in Africa (00:41:00)

16. Why African Talent is Primed for Success (00:44:30)

17. The future of Exits and IPOs in Africa (00:48:00)

18. How P1 Ventures Supports Founders (00:51:45)

19. What Makes a Perfect Pitch? (00:55:00)