Kigali – The inaugural Norrsken Africa Week is set to convene over 1000 investors, trade delegates, and entrepreneurs in Kigali on November 8 and 9. This event, hosted at the Norrsken East Africa campus, aims to foster connections between African investors and innovators, particularly focusing on technological entrepreneurship.

According to Africa News Agency, the host and organizer of the event, Norrsken Africa Week seeks to bridge the gap between global investors from Europe and the Middle East and their African counterparts. The gathering is set against a backdrop of declining funding for African startups, which fell to $1 billion in the first half of 2023 from $1.5 billion in the latter half of 2022 and $1.8 billion in the first half of the same year. The event organizers emphasize the importance of building non-cyclical, trust-based relationships to support innovation and capital flow in Africa.

Participants at Norrsken Africa Week will include venture capital investors from Africa and Europe, representatives from funds of funds and development banks, a delegation of European businesses, civil servants, regulators, founders, and startup support organizations. The event is designed to facilitate meaningful interactions and partnerships between these diverse groups.

Pascal Murasira, the General Manager of Norrsken East Africa, highlights the significance of the event in bringing together global investors, African venture capital firms, and limited partners. He notes that the Norrsken House in Kigali, which will serve as the venue for the event, is not only a hub for innovation but also plays a vital role in linking investors, talent, and innovators across Africa.

Founded in 2016, the Norrsken Ecosystem is a global nonprofit focused on assisting entrepreneurs in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. The Norrsken House Kigali campus, established on the site of the former Belgian School in central Kigali, is a dynamic community hosting over 1,000 entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses dedicated to solving Africa’s significant challenges.