The Blue Economy and Blue Tech investment opportunities
Viridian has run the African Angel Academy since 2021, training close to 400 emerging angels from 12 African countries. In partnership with OceanHub Africa and supported by GIZ, we recently presented a masterclass for angels on Blue Tech and the sustainable blue economy. What do these terms mean, and what are the investment opportunities out […]
Mentorship works
By Michelle Matthews, Director: Product at Viridian Viridian is an impact agency working across African entrepreneurial ecosystems: we support and train early-stage investors and finance-ready entrepreneurs to grow, connect and create shared prosperity. Working in the entrepreneurial space for nearly a decade, and as entrepreneurs ourselves, we know that most entrepreneurs experience common challenges: Feeling […]
2022 in Review: This is what Viridian got up to
Our annual reflection always comes with a sense of deep gratitude because we know the time, effort, and commitment it takes to do the work that we do – together. To help us visualise our key moments of the year, we’ve put together a mini report spotlighting the work we’re proud of, and we invite […]
Solopreneurship: The answer to South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis
by Michelle Matthews With the current youth unemployment of 65.5% in South Africa, it is clear most young people will not get a formal job. Realistically, only a small proportion of them could potentially develop into high-growth entrepreneurs. Michelle Matthews discusses how solopreneurship might offer opportunities for South Africa’s unemployed youth. A million jobs, one […]
Angel investors plug early-stage funding gap in Africa
by Alexandra Fraser One of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurial startups in sub-Saharan Africa is funding – particularly early-stage financial support – even though the landscape across the region has evolved over the past few years with more funders and capital deployed in this space. This has been driven primarily by a growing appetite for […]
African Angel Academy partners with Orange Corners
March 2022 We’re thrilled to announce our newest partnership! Orange Corners has partnered with the African Angel Academy to train and mentor members and prospective members from two emerging angel groups – the Congo Business Angel Network (CBA) and Clube Angolano de Investidores Anjo (CAIA) – from the DRC and Angola respectively. This exciting collaboration has […]
9 Free Resources for Women Entrepreneurs and Investors
Happy Women’s Day, South Africa! As a women-led team, we always think about what it means to live and breathe what this day signifies. Women’s Day allows us to look back at history and honour the paths paved for us by women who fought for access, equality, and the right to be human. We’re proud […]
Viridian is hiring!
Viridian is growing, and we’re looking for the following roles to join our team in September 2022. We are a small, growing, results-focused team that is impact-driven and passionate about building South African and African entrepreneurial ecosystems. If you’re interested or know of someone who might fit the profile, have a look here for more […]
The Importance of Strategy for Startups
by Alexandra Fraser So, you want to raise funding for your business in 2022? Before you get there, the first question an angel or any investor will ask you is: what’s your plan? My experience as an angel investor has shown me how a solid plan is often informed by a solid business strategy, and […]
2021 Reflections – This is what Viridian’s year looked like
2021 has been nothing short of memorable and as we close out the year, we’d like to invite you to take a look at our infographic below that shows key highlights from our work into African entrepreneurship ecosystems. Thank you to every one of our partners, clients, and everyone who has contributed to this work. […]