Navigating Due Diligence

Learn the secrets to building a bulletproof data room.

This session explores due diligence from legal, financial, and institutional perspectives. Rather than viewing it as an invasive audit, founders can use this phase to prove their investor-grade status, build credibility, and justify a higher valuation. A disorganised data room or slow Q&A responses are among the most common reasons investors walk away, not the business model itself. Preparation is about demonstrating the management quality that investors ultimately bet on.

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Lessons for African founders

Start your internal audit early: Do not wait for the investor's checklist. Identify and fix your own red flags, before they become deal-breakers.
A disorganised data room signals a disorganised business: Your data room is the first test of management quality. Ensure it is logically structured, and contains consistent financials.
Speed and quality build conviction: Investors measure your response time during Q&A. Data gaps or hesitation create deal fatigue, a common reason investors pull out of a transaction.
Watch for "hockey stick" red flags: Be ready to defend your projections with data. Unexplained spikes or a lack of written contracts for key suppliers are immediate warning signs.

Panelist profiles

David Owino Managing Partner ASCENT CAPITAL

Leads Ascent Capital Advisors in mobilizing $200M+ for SMEs across East Africa as Chairman of EAVCA

Thembie Vuma Investment Director BRITISH INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT

Leads private debt strategy at BII, investing in high-impact businesses that power East Africa's development

Mahesh Acharya Partner ENS AFRICA

Internationally recognised legal advisor on M&A due diligence, FinTech regulation, and cross-border transactions

Faheem Chowdhury Fundraising Lead MANUFACTURING AFRICA

Transactions lead for Manufacturing Africa which has supported 200+ deals in 5 years

Deepa Doshi Deals Advisory Partner BDO EAST AFRICA

30+ years in finance and due diligence to lead East Africa's investment momentum, with a pivotal role in the UK-funded Manufacturing Africa initiative