AVCA Conference

Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill
Monday, 27 - Thursday, 30 April 2026

Join us in Abidjan for #AVCA2027!

Save The Date

Thank you to all the speakers, sponsors, delegates and partners who joined us both in Nairobi and virtually.

The conference took a dynamic approach this year, where industry leaders explored how the industry is challenging conventional models and charting new pathways for growth across the continent. Together, we examined innovative investment structures, the growing role of local institutional allocators, private credit and alternative financing solutions, and the venture ecosystems accelerating digital transformation and entrepreneurship.

Thank you, Nairobi! From thought-provoking discussions to the invaluable connections made, the city provided the perfect backdrop for Africa’s leading private capital gathering.

We hope to see you at our upcoming events, including the AVCA Sustainable Investing in Africa Summit in London this October, and continuing the conversation and seeing the community come together again next year in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Save the date >>

2026 Keynote Speaker

Private Capital Conference
Uncharted Routes to Success 

Dr. James Mwangi

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Equity Group Holdings Plc.

Dr. James Mwangi is one of Africa’s most renowned thought leaders, a disruptive entrepreneur and philanthropist. As a champion of sustainable socio-economic transformation, James believes that individuals and societies have the potential to solve their socio-economic challenges sustainably if they are given the opportunity and access to resources.

Raised by a hard-working widowed mother, Grace, among seven siblings, James witnessed at an early age the daily struggles in his family and community to eke a livelihood. This inspired him to better his circumstances and be the first in his village to attend university. He became determined to strive for inclusion, providing access to opportunities and empowering those around him to transform their lives. With this purpose in mind, James left a lucrative job in a leading bank in 1991 to join Equity Building Society, a technically insolvent financial institution ranked 66 out of 66, which had been threatened with closure by the regulator. He was driven by the vision of Equity to advocate for formal financial access to the 96% of the Kenyan population that was excluded and condemned as unbankable.

Boris Kodjoe
Boris Kodjoe

2026 Keynote Speaker

VC Summit
Global Vision, Local Impact

Boris Kodjoe

Actor, Director, Producer, Investor, and Philanthropist

Boris Kodjoe is an actor, director, producer, investor and philanthropist. He is known for his roles in House of Cards, The Last Man on Earth, Brown Sugar, Soul Food, the Resident Evil franchise, and The Real Husbands of Hollywood. His movies have grossed over US$1bn at the box office.

As an investor, Boris’ portfolio includes high-potential companies led by diverse founders globally through venture capital partners such as Silverbacks Holdings, across his expansive network in tech, sports, and entertainment. His investments include Therabody, PROTO, UNest, HiDef, and more.

Boris is a German-Ghanaian dual citizen who received his degree in Business from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he attended on a tennis scholarship. He has 25+ years of business development and advisory expertise in entertainment, media, and tech.

What we achieved together

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Delegates
Network with over 800 delegates from more than 50 countries around the world
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Capital Allocators
Engage with over 226 institutional investors, deepen your connections and gain valuable insights into industry trends
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Speakers
Discuss the most pertinent issue impacting the industry with over 190 industry expert speakers

The AVCA 2026 agenda will explore the next wave of transformation shaping Africa’s investment landscape and examine how innovative capital models, strengthened local allocator participation, and emerging asset classes are generating and amplifying returns across the continent.

Key focus areas include: 

📈Innovative investment structures that unlock scalable and inclusive growth.

🛡️Private credit and alternative financing solutions driving resilience across markets. 

🛠️Infrastructure and real-asset opportunities enabling long-term value creation and economic stability. 

 

🌱The expanding role of local institutional allocators in shaping capital flows and driving sustainable economic development.

⚡Venture ecosystems accelerating technology advancement and digital transformation.

Who attends the Annual AVCA Conference and VC Summit?

Why Nairobi?

Nairobi - a city synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurial energy and investor momentum - offers the perfect backdrop to explore how Africa’s capital markets are breaking boundaries and setting the pace for a new future. 

East Africa’s private capital activity surged in 2025, delivering its second-highest Q1–Q3 deal volume on record, reflecting growing deal flow, increased transaction activity and rising investor confidence not just in Kenya, but across its neighboring markets poised for growth. 

The Annual AVCA Conference is complimentary for qualified Limited Partners (LPs), classified as non-retail investors in private capital funds, limited to three complimentary passes per organisation. This includes full-time employees of development finance institutions (DFIs), endowments, single-family offices, insurance companies, public and private pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds.