What Makes a Business Investable

Top investors reveal the insider checklist for what actually makes a company investible.

This webinar goes inside the minds of institutional investors to understand the core ingredients they look for before committing capital. We define what it means to be ready for investment and explore why domain expertise often matters more than a brilliant idea.

Investibility is built across four pillars – team, traction, governance, financial discipline, and a credible path to returns. Investors back founders who have separated themselves from the business, formalised their governance, and built something that can grow without them at the centre of every decision.

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Lessons for African founders

Optimise for the four pillars: Investors look for a balanced team, market traction, a scalable execution strategy, and a believable path to returns.
Kill the "solo founder" myth: Investors back teams, not individuals. They look for complementary skills, specifically a visionary leader paired with a disciplined, detail-oriented domain expert.
Institutionalise to decentralise: Separate the founder from the business. Formalise your governance to ensure the company can thrive even if you step away.
Due diligence is a two-way street: Conduct your own check on the investor to ensure their exit timeline and values align with your vision.

Panelist profiles

Marie Nielsen Partner ANTLER AFRICA

One of East Africa's Leading Start-up accelerators

John Maingi Investment Manager BRITISH INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT

UK's development finance institution, investing in debt and equity into growth businesses

George Njaramba Investment Manager AFRICINVEST

Pan-African investment firm specialising in private equity, private credit and growth capital investments

Edward Burbidge Head of Emerging Markets ICON

Leads strategic efforts in advising high-growth AfriTech & IndiaTech businesses on M&A and fundraising