The African Network 2007 Conference
The intent of this note is to provide you a brief summary of the TANCon 2007 that was held in October 13, 2007 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Palo Alto CA.
TAN stands for The African Network and it is a 501(c6) not-for-profit organization headquartered in Silicon Valley, with a focus on fostering and enabling entrepreneurship and technological innovation in Africa through networking and education. TAN endeavors to cultivate an ecosystem that empowers the entrepreneur and showcases Africa's potential as a major emerging market. (www.theafricannetwork.org)
The theme of TANCon 2007 was Roadmap to Entrepreneurship. The conference agenda covered several capabilities, components, ingredients, processes and steps that are key to succeed as an entrepreneur. The messages were delivered by respective experts in the different areas using some practical examples and simulation based exercises. The presenters featured include an array of successful entrepreneur from abroad as well as silicon valley. Also included were several senior level execs from Silicon Valley based companies, law firms, VC's and executives from Non- Profit agencies.
Agenda:
Keynote Address 1 Jack Holden Founder Gold Star, An American who is a successful entrepreneur for over 25 years in West Africa
Keynote Address 2 Ken Coleman Chairman Accelry's Inc, Silicon Valley's well respected entrepreneur and executive
Keynote Address 3 Matt Flannery Co-Founder and CEO, KIVA.org
1. Breaking the 9-5 Infinite Loop covered about the basics on what it takes to be an entrepreneurs, making the transition, challenges, do's, don'ts..etc. The panel featured
Chinedu Echeruo - Founder and CEO, Hopstop.com
Nosa Omoigui - Chairman & CEO, Nervana
Ike Eze - Entrepreneur and Private Investor
Gordon Williams - Co-Founder TAN
2. Raising Capital This session covered on how to raise the necessary funds, readiness, do's and don'ts in working with the VC's and management companies. The panel was featured:
Eghosa Omoigui Director Intel Strategic Investments (iCapital)
Yemi Lalude Founder and Managing Director, Adelvo Capital
Mark Morris V/P Business Development Gold Star
Doug Kelly Partner Alloy Ventures
3. Legal A-Z This session provided the basic how to's from legal perspective including a practical simulation on entrepreneur readiness when starting a venture. The presenters featured:
Kwesi Baiden Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP
Barry Kraemer Fenwick & West LLP
Khoa Do Partner DLA Piper
Two more brief panels were also held covering Gold Star Biodiesel Operation in Africa and Dreams to Realty success stories by few African Entrepreneurs.
The presentation by Jack Holden, an American who has been living in Ghana for the last 25 years was a refreshing one. It was a survival kit or a model for any one who would like to invest in Africa. Jack is a global investor and possesses wisdom and maturity to share practical experience. He presented the opportunities on the horizon and tips on how to do business in Africa. The young entrepreneurs who presented in the 9-5 infinite loop panel also clearly outlined the key to success such as having vision, idea/product, readiness, capital and networking. The VC firms panel was key to set the expectation and the level of readiness required by VC's.
Last but not least, Ken Colman's experience sharing presentation was outstanding. Ken clearly presented success and failure examples and provided tips and guidance. He covered what it means to deliver a product acceptable by customer standards, the art of managing people, how things turned out different than initial plans (common wisdom has always been wrong). Ken noted some success factors as Talent, hard work , self confidence , courage, self management, willing to take risk, team work , Leaders Lead and finally there is more to life than achieving fame. On execution, Ken's message was that executives need to ask if their behavior is consistent with what they are trying to achieve " feeling good with making less impact is No Good!" He was asked if entrepreneurship can be taught and the answer was you can learn some skills but not all.
In summary the conference addressed key topics that are timely, it was organized and well attended. For more information you can read the following article on the event:
http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/TAN-Conf-2007-Is-Entrepreneurship-Teachable.html
http://ladybrille.blogspot.com/2007/10/tan-conf-2007-is-entrepreneurship.html
TAN stands for The African Network and it is a 501(c6) not-for-profit organization headquartered in Silicon Valley, with a focus on fostering and enabling entrepreneurship and technological innovation in Africa through networking and education. TAN endeavors to cultivate an ecosystem that empowers the entrepreneur and showcases Africa's potential as a major emerging market. (www.theafricannetwork.org)
The theme of TANCon 2007 was Roadmap to Entrepreneurship. The conference agenda covered several capabilities, components, ingredients, processes and steps that are key to succeed as an entrepreneur. The messages were delivered by respective experts in the different areas using some practical examples and simulation based exercises. The presenters featured include an array of successful entrepreneur from abroad as well as silicon valley. Also included were several senior level execs from Silicon Valley based companies, law firms, VC's and executives from Non- Profit agencies.
Agenda:
Keynote Address 1 Jack Holden Founder Gold Star, An American who is a successful entrepreneur for over 25 years in West Africa
Keynote Address 2 Ken Coleman Chairman Accelry's Inc, Silicon Valley's well respected entrepreneur and executive
Keynote Address 3 Matt Flannery Co-Founder and CEO, KIVA.org
1. Breaking the 9-5 Infinite Loop covered about the basics on what it takes to be an entrepreneurs, making the transition, challenges, do's, don'ts..etc. The panel featured
Chinedu Echeruo - Founder and CEO, Hopstop.com
Nosa Omoigui - Chairman & CEO, Nervana
Ike Eze - Entrepreneur and Private Investor
Gordon Williams - Co-Founder TAN
2. Raising Capital This session covered on how to raise the necessary funds, readiness, do's and don'ts in working with the VC's and management companies. The panel was featured:
Eghosa Omoigui Director Intel Strategic Investments (iCapital)
Yemi Lalude Founder and Managing Director, Adelvo Capital
Mark Morris V/P Business Development Gold Star
Doug Kelly Partner Alloy Ventures
3. Legal A-Z This session provided the basic how to's from legal perspective including a practical simulation on entrepreneur readiness when starting a venture. The presenters featured:
Kwesi Baiden Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP
Barry Kraemer Fenwick & West LLP
Khoa Do Partner DLA Piper
Two more brief panels were also held covering Gold Star Biodiesel Operation in Africa and Dreams to Realty success stories by few African Entrepreneurs.
The presentation by Jack Holden, an American who has been living in Ghana for the last 25 years was a refreshing one. It was a survival kit or a model for any one who would like to invest in Africa. Jack is a global investor and possesses wisdom and maturity to share practical experience. He presented the opportunities on the horizon and tips on how to do business in Africa. The young entrepreneurs who presented in the 9-5 infinite loop panel also clearly outlined the key to success such as having vision, idea/product, readiness, capital and networking. The VC firms panel was key to set the expectation and the level of readiness required by VC's.
Last but not least, Ken Colman's experience sharing presentation was outstanding. Ken clearly presented success and failure examples and provided tips and guidance. He covered what it means to deliver a product acceptable by customer standards, the art of managing people, how things turned out different than initial plans (common wisdom has always been wrong). Ken noted some success factors as Talent, hard work , self confidence , courage, self management, willing to take risk, team work , Leaders Lead and finally there is more to life than achieving fame. On execution, Ken's message was that executives need to ask if their behavior is consistent with what they are trying to achieve " feeling good with making less impact is No Good!" He was asked if entrepreneurship can be taught and the answer was you can learn some skills but not all.
In summary the conference addressed key topics that are timely, it was organized and well attended. For more information you can read the following article on the event:
http://www.evancarmichael.com/African-Accounts/1508/TAN-Conf-2007-Is-Entrepreneurship-Teachable.html
http://ladybrille.blogspot.com/2007/10/tan-conf-2007-is-entrepreneurship.html
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