AFRICON 2025 Decoded • Your Ultimate 3-Day Networking Guide & Schedule

AfriCon 2025 is America's definitive meeting place for global commerce and culture, attracting great business minds such as Juls (left), Khadija Aisha Ba (center), and Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (right). (Credit: WikiPedia, Le Monde, and Fildelity Bank NG)

Taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, from September 18-20, 2025, at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park, AfriCon 2025 is an essential event for entrepreneurs eager to expand their networks, secure funding, and explore new markets. 

More than 2,000 participants from around the world will gather for dynamic speakers, biz huddles, pitches, deals and handshakes, and entertainment, all aimed to accelerate your success globally while nourishing you culturally. 

For $100 in general admission and plenty of VIP opportunities, you'll have some of the the best conversations of your life, expand your network, and discover exciting business prospects. 

To make the most of your experience, here's a 3-part guide to help you harness all AfricCon has to offer:

• Explore the core biz, pitch & investment opportunities at AfriCon 2025

• Pinpoint the hour-by-hour schedule and itinerary tracks that align with your goals

• Discover AfriCon speaker bios to identify who you’d most want to connect with

PART 1 → Unique Biz Huddles & Mentorship Circles for Entrepreneurs at AfriCon 2025 💼🤝🚀

Take advantage of various biz huddles and mentorship circles designed to support your vision. Be sure to check out the: 

1. Deal Room for Established B2B Firms and Start-Ups 

Applications for the B2B Deal Room are Open until September 6

Sept. 19 - 20, there will be a B2B Deal Room to meet directly with top U.S. distributors such as Walmart, Costco, Dollar Tree, Kroger, and Whole Foods. This invitation-only experience, hosted at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, GA offers 1:1 and small-group meetings designed to spark distribution deals and lasting partnerships. By showcasing your brand story and products, you’ll gain direct market access while also learning about U.S. consumer trends and pricing strategies. The due date to apply is September 6, 2025.

The Deal Room for Startups provides you a chance to meet top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Micro Village Fund, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Bank, and AFREXIM Bank. This curated experience allows entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas in focused sessions, opening doors to funding and mentorship opportunities. Startups must have applied by August 31, 2025 to secure a spot. If you missed this due date, you can still connect with these investors during AfriCon 2025 panels, networking lounges, and social events.

2. AfriCon Mentorship Circles

These circles provide you the game-changing access you’ve been looking for, offering intimate discussions with leaders in your field. Looking for guidance on a niche topic or a roadmap for your career? There’s a circle for you. Ask about these circles during registration.

3. Pitch Competitions

   
   

Take part in various pitch-offs and gain real feedback and potentially, funding.

4. Marketplace Visibility

Share your brands in the Marketplace, connecting with over 2,000 consumers.

5. Workshops and Panels

Dive into workshops on fundraising for startups, scaling businesses for the AI era, building African luxury brands, advancing sustainable trade, reshaping the global travel narrative, and more.

PART 2 → A Strategic Itinerary & Schedule to Prep, Participate, and Prosper at AfriCon 2025 🎯✨

Pre-Event Prep 

• Get your ticket for the ICON Gala the evening of DAY 3, Sep. 20!

  
  

• Create a list of specific investors, individuals or companies you want to connect with. Review their portfolios and recent trends to understand key focus areas.

• Define what you want to achieve at AfriCon (e.g., securing funding, finding partners, gaining insights).

• Develop a concise and compelling elevator pitch about your business. Practice your 10-second and 20-second pitch to ensure confidence when networking.

• Check the list of speaker bios below and identify who you most want to hear from and connect with during breaks or networking sessions.

• Reach out to potential contacts via Email, LI and IG in advance to schedule one-on-one meetings during the event.

• Engage with speakers and attendees ahead of time to start important conversations.

• Be ready to embrace unexpected connections and opportunities—they often lead to the most valuable outcomes.

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Day 1 • SCHEDULE • THURSDAY, September 18

Morning: Arrival and Registration

1. Arrive early to register and familiarize yourself with the venue.

2. Grab a program guide and map out key sessions you want to attend Friday & Saturday

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Registration 📝

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Opening Reception 🍹🎶

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DAY 2 • SCHEDULE • FRIDAY, September 19

Dive into a full day. Network and pitch your vision and enjoy the Culture Night that evening.

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks / Opening Fireside Chat 🔥

9:55 AM – 10:40 AM – Panel: Bridging the Gap: Africa and the Diaspora 🌍 (Culture)

10:50 AM – 11:00 AM – Lightning Talk / Sponsorship Activation ⚡

10:50 AM – 11:40 AM – Workshop: Startup Fundraising (a16z) 💼

11:00 AM – 11:40 AM – Panel: Finance Ecosystems: Unlocking Capital for Global Export Competitiveness 💰 (Trade)

Afternoon & Evening Sessions: Network with attendees during breaks; introduce yourself and share your goals. 

11:50 AM – 12:30 PM – Workshop: How to Tell Your Founder-Led Story 📖

11:50 AM – 12:30 PM – Panel: Culture, Control, & Commerce: Navigating the Global Music Economy 🎶

12:40 PM – 1:10 PM – Midday Keynote 🎤

1:05 PM – 2:15 PM – LUNCH 🍽️

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM – Lightning Talk ⚡

2:20 PM – 3:15 PM – Beauty Workshop 💄

2:30 PM – 3:10 PM – Panel: Upgrading Your Career for the AI Era 🤖 (Trade)

3:25 PM – 4:05 PM – Panel: Beauty Beyond Borders: Scaling Black Brands for the Global Diaspora 🌎 (Beauty)

3:25 PM – 4:15 PM – Workshop: Building Wealth Through Real Estate 🏘️

4:15 PM – 4:55 PM – Panel: Digital Railroads, Powering U.S.–Nigeria Commerce Through Fintech 💻 (Trade)

4:25 PM – 5:05 PM – Workshop: Trade Ready: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Compete, Connect & Scale 💼 (Trade)

5:05 PM – 5:45 PM – Panel: Borderless Business: How the Diaspora is Driving Global Entrepreneurship 🌍

5:15 PM – 6:05 PM – Market Access Readiness Support + Quality Standards 📈 (Trade)

6:05 PM – 6:25 PM – Closing Keynote

Evening!

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Culture Night 🎶💃

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DAY 3 • SCHEDULE • SATURDAY September 20

Continue networking and follow-up up with contacts you’ve met and discuss potential partnerships.

Attend the Pitch Competitions & the evening ICON GALA!

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks 👋

9:50 AM – 10:10 AM – Fireside Chat 🔥

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM – Panel: Script to Scale: Financing Stories that Shape Africa’s Global Image 🎬 (Film)

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM – Fashion Workshop 👗

11:10 AM – 11:55 AM – Panel: Getting Ready for the U.S. Market 🌎 (Trade)

11:10 AM – 11:55 AM – Workshop: Film 🎥12:05 PM – 12:25 PM – Midday Keynote 🎤

12:25 PM – 1:25 PM – LUNCH 🍽️

1:35 PM – 2:20 PM – Panel: The Rise of African Luxury and Breaking into Global Retail 🛍️

1:35 PM – 2:20 PM – Workshop: Africa Diaspora Export Program Roadmap by NEPC Director 🌍 (Film)

2:30 PM – 2:40 PM – Lightning Talk / Sponsorship Activation ⚡

2:30 PM – 3:20 PM – Panel: Building the Framework to Power Africa's Global Aspirations 🌍 (Trade)

2:40 PM – 3:20 PM – Panel: Sports ⚽

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM – Panel: Diaspora Destinations: Rewriting the Narrative in Global Travel ✈️ (Travel)

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM – Panel: Green is the New Gold: How Africa Can Lead in Sustainable, Scalable, and Investable Trade 🌱 (Trade)

Evening ICON Gala: Celebrate at the Icon Gala for a spirited and glamorous networking environment.

8:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Icon Gala ✨

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Post-Event To Do's

• Follow-up with customers, new friends, and connections by sending a personalized message. 

• Apply relevant insights, making next moves to invest and collaborate.

• Consider being an expert for AfriCon 2026. If you haven’t already, think about getting more involved with AfriCon! Become a speaker, sponsor, vendor, ambassador, partner, or community liaison. There’s a need for experts in Creative Industries (film, music, fashion, and art), Technology & Innovation (AI, fintech, Web3), Trade & Entrepreneurship, Financial Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Culture & Identity, and Travel & Lifestyle.

PART 3 → Now, Here’s a Recap of Top Speakers, Bios & Links So You Can Follow and Connect 🎤📖🔗

Investor Gurus

• Kofi Ampadu is a partner at Andreessen Horowitz where he leads the Talent x Opportunity Initiative (TxO). TxO aims to identify entrepreneurs who have the talent, drive, and ideas to build great businesses, but lack the typical network and resources to do so.

• Efe Ukala is a seasoned investment lawyer and the founder of ImpactHER, an organization focused on bridging the financing gap for women-led small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa.

• Temi Butler is a Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at HarbourView Equity Partners, bringing over four years of experience at Goldman Sachs.

Banking Titans

• Mabel Ndagi is a Nigerian development leader and Executive Director at the Bank of Industry (BOI), where she oversees programs designed to empower underserved communities, particularly women and youth, through access to capital and capacity-building initiatives. She has been instrumental in launching the Rural Area Programme on Investment and Development (RAPID), which provides grants up to ₦10 million to rural businesses, aiming to reduce rural-urban migration and stimulate local economies.

• Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc in Nigeria. With over 30 years of experience in the banking sector, she has held leadership positions at institutions such as Zenith Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Enterprise Bank.

• Mustafa Chike-Obi, a Nigerian financial titan, is Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc, President of the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria and the Chairman of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency.

Sustainable Artisans & Fashion Moguls 

• Wilglory Tanjong is a Cameroonian-American entrepreneur and founder of Anima Iris, a luxury handbag brand that merges African craftsmanship with sustainable fashion, worn by celebrities like Beyoncé.

  
  

• Khadija Aisha Ba is a Senegalese fashion designer renowned for her innovative reinterpretation of traditional garments, particularly the boubou. Through her brand, L’Artisane, she infuses modern elements into classic designs, creating unique pieces that have inspired local and international audiences.

High-Level Activists

• Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye is a Senegalese-American entrepreneur and activist who founded Ami Colé in 2021, a beauty brand nourishing melanin-rich skin through clean, inclusive products.

  
  

• Hannatu Musawa is a Nigerian human rights lawyer and the current Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, passionate about gender equality and social justice. She leverages her platform to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage and support initiatives such as the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes.

Culture, Tourism & Industry Chiefs

• Afie Braimoh, Honorable Commissioner for the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Cooperatives in Edo State, Nigeria, leverages over 20 years of experience in project management, finance, and technology to drive economic development.

  
  

• Inyene Benson is a distinguished leader in Nigeria's maritime industry, serving as the CEO of Knots & Gear Marine Supply Limited, a premier marine support services provider. 

Political Leaders

• Mayor Andre Dickens has built his leadership on a forward-thinking agenda focused on inclusive growth, public safety, housing, and infrastructure under the "Moving Atlanta Forward" framework, which emphasizes opportunity, equity, and ethical governance.

  
  

Beauty & Travel Innovators

• Jackie Asamoah, formerly known as Jackie Aina, is a Nigerian-American beauty influencer and entrepreneur with over 2 million followers on Instagram. She co-founded the fragrance and lifestyle brand FORVR Mood with her partner, Denis Asamoah.

• Tisha Thompson, a proud member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, has built a multifaceted career in fashion design, hairdressing, and makeup artistry. She founded Lys Beauty, a global beauty disrupter. 

• Khadi Thiam, multifaceted entrepreneur and cultural curator, is a leader in the arts and travel sectors. As founder of Khady360 | Travel Made Intentional, she curates transformative travel experiences that achieve cultural immersion and personal growth. 

• Tayo Aina is a viral YouTuber, filmmaker, and entrepreneur with 1.2 million followers, inspiring audiences by showcasing Africa’s diverse cultures, travel experiences, and lifestyle opportunities.

• Eni Popoola is a Nigerian-American beauty, style, and lifestyle influencer and content creator based in New York City, who went from Harvard and Columbia Law training to partnering with major beauty brands such as Lancôme, NARS, COVERGIRL, and Sephora.

Wellness Warriors

• Odessa Chambers is a wellness coach and the founder of the Chambers Center for Well-Being in Morristown, New Jersey, offering a range of holistic health services including fitness, nutrition counseling, and stress management.

Musical & Film Pioneers

• Wale, Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter, synthesizes hip-hop with elements of D.C. go-go music, earning acclaim for his introspective lyrics and vibrant performances.

  
  

• Azie Tesfai, accomplished actress and entrepreneur, is heralded for her role on "Supergirl" and commitment to empowering underrepresented voices in Hollywood.

  
  

• Juls is a British-Ghanaian producer, DJ, and pioneering musician of the "Banku" sound—a fusion of Afrobeats, hip-hop, and highlife.

• Tuma Basa, born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Iowa and Zimbabwe, is a prominent music industry executive passionate about curating playlists that elevate African music on global platforms.

  
  

• Niyi Osidipe is the Head of United-Masters, a firm that empowers independent artists, helping them connect global brands, expand their reach, and ensure they retain ownership of their masters. 

Everyone's bio is not included here, but the following speakers are also experts making an impact in their industries:

Camillo Do-Regos ● Nana Agyeman ● Chris Oshiafi ● Seyi Ebenezer ● Justin Ug ● Ayokunle Olowkande ● Claude Kameni ● Wilglory Tanjon ● Ozzy Etopi ● Mary Omatiga ● Jonnell Carol Minifee ● Olasunkanmi Owoymi ● Titus Oluwokere ● Charles Oligo ● Mankaprr Conteh ● DJ Obi ● Kalule Guwatudde ● Iretidayo Zaccheaus ● Moky Makura ● Ebun Feludu ● Jemilah Alghali ● Tenille Clarke ● The Oddity ● Tomi Talabi ● Jhordan Gibbs ● Chiney ● Ini Cash

This concludes your AfriCon 2025 Guide.

With strategic preparation and purposeful participation, you’ll harness the full value of the conference and rise to new levels of success.

If this guide was helpful, share it with your people—together, we will turn opportunities into meaningful growth and lasting impact.

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Malena Amusa is the CEO and Founder of Artsy-Preneur.com, a business and marketing incubator helping your big ideas achieve maximum impact through coaching, workshops, and powerful learning experiences. A pro journalist, educator, comms strategist, serial entrepreneur, and former nationally-touring dancer, Malena has reached millions globally, helping small and mega firms transform their marketing, engagement strategy, and messaging to advance new market share, embolden brand leadership, and fuel sales and growth. Malena is based in St. Louis, Mo., serving the world.