54 fellows from 22 countries have been chosen by the African venture capital talent network Dream VC to join the 2023 cohort of its renowned VC accelerator program, which aids current and aspiring investors in breaking into the African venture space.
Since its founding in 2021, Dream VC has trained more than 80 African and Africa-focused investment professionals, many of whom are now serving in various leadership and investment roles for top African venture and tech companies.
With a thorough curriculum, hands-on training, and close contact with top investors, its yearly remote venture capital fellowship programs “Launch into VC” and “Investor Accelerator (IA)” serve as the launchpads for prospective and current investors to enter the African venture space.
The 54 participants in the most recent IA program, which is a thorough course for seasoned professionals, active investors, and senior operators who want to become ecosystem builders in Africa, have now been announced by Dream VC. Alumni from the program have gone on to work for companies managing US $1.1 billion in assets under management and hold significant decision-making positions within VC and PE firms, which have helped to drive millions of dollars in investment into African startups.
The application process to join the community is extremely competitive and discerning, with a program acceptance rate of 12%. The cohort for this year has doubled in size to include 54 fellows from 22 different countries worldwide. It is the first cohort in history to have a majority from East Africa, with Kenyans making up a sizable 15% of the cohort and 43% of the cohort identifying as female.
Numerous fellows come from ecosystems that Dream VC is just beginning to represent, such as Botswana, Algeria, Somaliland, and Burundi.
