Rossie E. Turman III, partner and chair of Lowenstein's international finance practice and co-chair of the firm's Africa practice, speaks with Akua Okunseinde, co-founder of the natural skincare brand Karité, about her journey as a founder, the brand's deep roots in Ghana and Africa, and some of the sustainable initiatives that are core to its mission. Akua describes how her family-owned business enterprise came about, how her background in marketing at large corporations informed her perspective as a founder, and the cross-border challenges of sourcing, packaging, and meeting regulatory requirements across continents.

Speakers:

Rossie E. Turman III, Partner and Chair, International Finance; Co-chair, Africa Practice
Akua Okunseinde, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, Karité Shea Butter

Hosts Raquel Smith and Tolulope “Tolu” Adetayo speak with Africa-focused technology venture capital investor Eloho Omame about her career; Africa’s investment potential due to its impressive scale of market and pace of growth; and what she looks for when she invests, such as the ambition and strategy of the founding team, the accessibility of the market in question, and the structure of the deal. Eloho also discusses how she co-founded FirstCheck Africa, a female-led, female-focused angel fund, and the data she’s seen that indicates female-led companies perform better.

Speakers:

Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo, Law Clerk, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Eloho Omame, Partner at TLcom Capital LLP

In the final episode in of this three-part series, the hosts discuss good corporate housekeeping for startups in Africa, particularly the concepts of optics and risk. How well a company keeps its books and records sends a signal to investors; it is important to maintain orderly documentation of corporate governance documents such as board minutes, as well as IP assignments, and founders’ agreements, in order to be best prepared for the due diligence process.

Speakers:

Rossie E. Turman III, Partner and Chair, International Finance; Co-chair, Africa Practice
Deangeor Chin, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo, Law Clerk, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

In Part Two of their discussion of the legal challenges facing startups in the African VC system, Rossie E. Turman III, Deangeor Chin, Raquel Smith, and Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo address the topic of possible pitfalls in the way that startups allocate company ownership or capital structure issues, particularly in negotiating terms with potential investors. They explain managing the expectations investors may have regarding their potential returns, liquidation preference, or degree of control, as well as challenges arising from cross border transactions, vesting and exiting, and recordkeeping.

Speakers:

Rossie E. Turman III, Partner and Chair, International Finance; Co-chair, Africa Practice
Deangeor Chin, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice
Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo, Law Clerk, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Lowenstein Sandler is proud to launch its latest podcast: “LS Africa Presents: Venture Voices,” hosted by Rossie E. Turman III, Deangeor Chin, Raquel Smith, and Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo. The podcast will explore the stories that define Africa's emerging company and venture capital landscape, featuring interviews with the audacious founders, visionary investors, and everyday individuals shaping Africa's venture landscape. We'll delve into the triumphs and the challenges, the risks, and the rewards. In this podcast series, we'll tell the stories of the entrepreneurs, investors, and others in the African ECVC ecosystem who are leading the way in the growing African markets, those who are succeeding, and those who have stumbled.

Speakers:

Rossie E. Turman III, Partner and Chair, International Finance; Co-chair, Africa Practice
Deangeor Chin, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice
Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo, Law Clerk, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital

Today on “LS Africa Presents: Venture Voices,” Raquel Smith and Deangeor Chin speak with Janade du Plessis, a South African investor, entrepreneur, and researcher who is managing partner of Launch Africa Ventures and Five35 Venture, and an angel investor and impact investor through his investment company, Abrazo Capital. Janade discusses how emerging company and impact investing in Africa have evolved over the last 20 years, how the African VC ecosystem has grown from $25M ten years ago to $6B today, and how his fund balances seeking returns and contributing to sustainable development.

Speakers:

Deangeor Chin, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Janade du Plessis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Launch Africa Ventures and Five35 Ventures

Today on “LS Africa Presents: Venture Voices,” Rossie E. Turman III, Deangeor Chin, Raquel Smith, and Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo present the first in a three-episode series on legal challenges in the startup space in Africa. They discuss how and where to structure your startup or high-growth entity, providing examples of common legal issues and potential solutions and emphasizing the importance of familiarity and comfort for investors.

Speakers:

Rossie E. Turman III, Partner and Chair, International Finance; Co-chair, Africa Practice
Deangeor Chin, Counsel, Africa Practice, Debt Finance, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
Raquel Smith, Counsel, Africa Practice
Tolulope "Tolu" Adetayo, Law Clerk, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital