Thank you for being here. Text Geohabari

On the 5th edition of The Space Ecosystem Playbook, we’re joined by two leaders shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape: Agnes Tsuma, Expert at the Joint Innovation Facility (Africa–Europe Digital Innovation Bridge), and Ian Lorenzen, Executive Director and Partner at GrowthAfrica.

In this candid conversation hosted by Charles Mwangi, we dive into what it really takes to build sustainable innovation ecosystems in Africa:

• Why local banks and blended finance are critical for startup growth
• How to make startups truly bankable, beyond grants
• Translating research in academic institutions into go-to-market products
• Breaking silos between research, industry, and government
• Rethinking how we measure success in academia — shifting from papers published to actual products
• What startup success really means: raising money, driving sales, or creating lasting impact?
• Why teaching innovation and entrepreneurship must align with realities on the ground

It’s a rich discussion on funding, innovation, and reimagining what it truly means to build Africa’s startup ecosystem.