NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

By Meghan McCormick

“If you empower a woman, you empower a nation.” That is the driving motivation behind Rising Tide Africa, a female angel investing network co-founded by Yemi Keri and Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien in Lagos, Nigeria.

While any early stage entrepreneur working in an African market will lament the state of angel investing on the continent, Keri believes that a culture of investment has always been there. “Culturally you are not termed an angel investor, but every so often you assist a family member or a friend. You give them money to start up something or to grow their business. It’s really done informally,” said Keri.

Photo courtesy of UN Women / Karin Schermbrucker.