Editions

Speakers:

Aisha Raheem-Bolarinwa. Founder Vision Director, Farmz2U

1. You need a proper understanding of your target market, in order to develop a good solution.

2. Understand the pain points of your users or customers and create solutions they can easily access.

3. Whilst trying to make profit, keep your customers in mind and develop what they can afford.

Nick van der Velde. Project Manager, Bopinc.

1. To attract low-income consumers, your product needs to be understood, desirable, easy, and rewarding.

2. When offering relevant value propositions to your customers, design an integrated behavior change campaign and leverage digital avenues.

3. Make your business rewarding by leveraging partnerships that are very useful in meeting the demands of your consumers.

Authors:

Lelemba Phiri - Operating Partners, Enygma Ventures

1. Equity can be taken at any stage of your business.

2. Equity shouldn’t be taken to acquire assets( a one-off thing), it is key that equity is taken when you have plans to scale(size) your business.

3. The longer you wait and grow your business without equity, the more your business becomes more valuable. Grow your business before inviting an investor.

4, Before you take equity, you need to consider;
i. The stage of your business
ii. What you’re using it for
iii. How much you need 
iv. How long before the investors exit?

5. Sales are the best type of financing for your business.

6. An equity investor will like to see your;
i. Business profitability
ii. Future projections for your business
iii. Market share- how large the market (global )is able to get and how much of it you’re able to access
iv. Risk
v. Debt. The amount of debt you have affects your valuation. The more debt, less valuation for your business 

vi. Traction - the evidence of having achieved something over a period of time.

Lombe Lumbwe - Investment Manager, AgDevCo

1. When sourcing for debt financing be critical in specifying what the debt is for. 

2. Debt shouldn’t be taken if you’re just starting to grow your business, other sources of financing such as crowdfunding from family and friends, grants, or angel investors should be considered.

3. A more mature business will be able to get debt easily than a new business because it has proof of viability.

4. Mitigating risks in agriculture can be difficult.

5. Debt financiers would like to see the following in your business:
i. Reliable access to water and energy 
ii. Land access
iii. Good Product 
iv. Reliable Team 
v. Skillful entrepreneur 

6. Management is key - before you present your business, have a business model that works, i

7. You have to be a credible person and a person of outstanding character because debt financiers will do a background check on you before handing out loans,