Dream VC, a fast-growing venture capital talent firm, focused on training and supporting investors for Africa’s venture ecosystem, today launches its two popular programs: ‘Investor Accelerator’, and ‘Launch into Venture Capital’.
“Our programs have proven to be very interesting, to the Tech and Startup community in Africa, with over 2000 applications across 2021 and 2022,” said Mark Kleyner, Co-Founder & Programs Director at Dream VC. As it celebrates its third-year anniversary, in the coming months Dream VC is set to organize 16x invite-only mixers across 14x countries, for current and aspiring investors to meet its community, learn about Dream VC and discuss how it can drive more funding to African startups, according to Mark.
“In East Africa, we are organizing mixers in Kigali, Nairobi and Kampala, and this should signify how strongly we want to connect more East Africans and East African Diaspora into our programs and the Pan-African investor community,” he said.
East African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are among the African countries Dream VC has focused on this year’s programs. “Ethiopia is definitely one of the key ecosystems of interest to us, whether that’s in terms of growth potential or Dream VC being able to act as a venture catalyst for investors there. There are unique challenges faced when building up the venture ecosystem infrastructure in any country, but the scale is much bigger when we are talking about a country of such geographical size and population,” said Cindy Ai, Co-Founder at Dream VC.
“However, bigger challenges almost always also mean bigger opportunities and more room to foster collaboration. We are excited to engage with valuable local venture players like Kazana Fund to bridge the knowledge and access gap for aspiring and current investors, who will, in turn, contribute greatly to building support systems for Ethiopian entrepreneurs and bolster the economy through innovation,” she said, commenting to New Business Ethiopia on the challenges and opportunities for VC development in Ethiopia.
So far Dream VC has trained over 80 fellows via their flagship Investor Accelerator and Launch into Venture Capital Programs. Past fellows have gone on to launch investment funds, set up accelerators and startup hubs and join new and established investments funds across Africa and beyond.
The company also stated that over 50 African-focused Venture Capital Funds actively contribute to Dream VC’s curriculums. The company stated that Dream VC fellows are currently spread across over 30 countries, across Africa, Europe and the US.
Potential applicants
The two venture capital training programs of Dream VC launched today are both open to any aspiring African focused investors across all African markets, and Africans in the diaspora as well. Investor Accelerator program by Dream VC focuses on training senior professionals including experienced operators, angel investors, and those exceptional entrepreneurs who wish to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the African ecosystem.
While Launch into Venture Capital program by Dream VC targets junior professionals and graduates who wish to build an unparalleled skillset and break into entry-level roles (interns, analysts, associates) in African-Focused VC & Investment Firms.
The applications opened today will be close on April 16th, according to Mark, who indicated that both programs will run in Summer & Autumn – (LIVC for 3 months from June 2023 to late August, and Investor Accelerator for 5 months from June to October, 2023).
Based on past data, and interviews with the founders, Dream VC has a less than 10 percent acceptance rate. Dream VC applicants are taken through a 4-stage application process involving motivational questions, a video assignment, interviews with past fellows and Dream VC staff.
It is stated that providing knowledge, access, and built-in networks to extraordinarily driven, positively minded and collaborative individuals who dream of playing a direct role in birthing innovation in all tech sectors in Africa is the mission of Dream Venture Capital.
To apply to the Launch into VC program, interested applicants should use this link.
To apply to the Investor Accelerator program, interested applicants should use this link.
We are excited to make public our latest project, The Dream VC Investment Memo Bank 🚀 This resource includes historic investment memos on some of the most successful African startups, including @Andela, @Cellulant and more! https://t.co/OTrIMPDqSp
— Dream VC (@_dreamvc_) March 7, 2023