Africa Platform 2010: Missing Middle Summit
Date & Time: Saturday, October 23, 2010; Noon – 5:00pm
Location:The Desmond Tutu Center
180 10th Avenue (btwn 20th & 21st) New York, NY 10011
View Full Agenda & Speaker Bios: Click Here
About the Africa Platform
The Africa Platform 2010 focused on the SME finance gap (the “Missing Middle”), featuring expert panels of investors, intermediaries and entrepreneurs discussing the challenges and innovations of operating within this space. This year’s theme stemed from SACCA’s role in supporting the Missing Middle Initiative, launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Missing Middle represents the segment of capital which is larger than microfinance, yet smaller than institutional financing, and is largely absent in emerging markets. Financing targeted at small to medium enterprises (SMEs) is the next wave of capital development following microfinance, with the potential to create significant social impact as well as competitive market rate returns.
Summit Agenda
Opening
Welcome:Claude Roxborough III, US-President, SACCAIntroduction to Missing Middle: J. Skyler Fernandes, COO, SACCA
Entrepreneur Panel
Creating a Buzz on Both Sides of the AtlanticIdentifying entrepreneurs which have trans-Atlantic & scalable business models
Moderator:
Delilah Rothenberg, Board Member, Business Council for Peace (Bpeace)
Panelists:
Selena Cuffe, President & CEO, Heritage Link Brands
Nvalaye Kourouma, CEO, Afric Xpress
Dean Levitt, Chief of Culture, MadMimi.com
Magatte Wade, CEO, Tiossano Tribe, & Founder, Adina World Beverages
Intermediary Panel
The Search For High Impact Entrepreneurs & InvestorsFinancial Intermediaries, Institutions & Non-Profit Organizations
Moderator:
Randall Kempner, Executive Director, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)
Panelists:
Joel Montgomery, Director of International Expansion, Endeavor
Mitchell Strauss, Special Advisor, Socially Responsible Investment Finance, OPIC
Andreas Widmer, Co-Founder, SevenFund
Stuart Yasgur, Managing Director, Ashoka
Investor Panel
Broadening SME Finance Options: Why Investing in Africa Matters & Makes SenseSocial Impact Investing / Returns Driven Investing / Balanced Investing (Social + Returns)
Moderator:
Teresa Clarke, CEO, Africa.com
Panelists:
Steve Beck, CEO, SpringHill Equity Partners
Gustavo Eiben, Head of North America Investor Relations, Aureos Capital
Peter J. Malika, Director of East Africa, E+Co
Thomas McPartland, Executive Vice President, ELMA Philanthropies Services
Closing
Keynote: Michael Fairbanks, Co-Founder, SevenFund
Host Committee Members
Adam Blumenthal - VP, SACCA
Amini Kajunju - President, Angel Africa
Ammanuel Zegeye - VP, SACCA
Andrea Bohmert - Co-Managing Partner, Hasso Plattner Ventures Africa
Andreas Zeller - Managing Partner, Open Capital Advisors
Ankur Jain - Chairman & CEO, Kairos Society
Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson - Principal, Universal Creativ Solutions, Community Mobilizer, Ashoka´s Changemakers
Bart Meijs - Founding Partner, InReturn Capital
Ben Stone - Senior Vice President & General Council, Indego Africa
Ben White - Founder, VC4Africa.com
Delilah Rothenberg - Board Member, Bpeace
Donna Katzin - Executive Director, Shared Interest
Edward Chidothe - VP, SACCA
Glenn D. Dunmire III - Board Member, Earth Water Resources
James Manyika - Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Jerryanne Heath - CEO, ConceptLink Consulting
John R. Dilyard Ph.D - Associate Professor, St Francis College
Keet van Zyl - Executive Director, PoweredbyVC
Lauri Elliott - Founder, AfriBiz Media
Lena Sene - Partner, Impact Capital Partners
Linda Rottenberg - Co-Founder & CEO, ENDEAVOR
Magda du Preez - Advisory Board, SACCA; President, Informed Talent Decisions LLC
Magogodi Makhene - Co-Founding Managing Director, Zenzele Circle
Malcolm Elvey - Advisory Board, SACCA, Chairman, Collaborative Capital
Mark Agterdenbosch - General Manager; Southern African Netherlands Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Martin Ganda - President, Seeds of Africa Foundation
Michael Strong - Chief Visionary Officer, Conscious Capitalism, Inc.
Paul Mansour - Co-Managing Partner, Archway Business Partners
Roger Frank - Founder & Managing Director, i3 Advisors LLC
Sean Kane - Board Member & Strategic Advisor, Heart Social Investments
Tim Bergstrom - Director, South African International Business Program, Corporate Council on Africa
Trevor S. Harris - Co-Director, CEASA - Columbia Business School
William Foote - Founder & CEO, Root Capital
Yana Ayesha Watson - Board Member, MFCNY; Manager, Dalberg Global Development Advisors