In Paris for 24 Hours, ATG Samata Participates in an Exchange on Southern and East African Funding Organized by Kottin Partners and Dama Advisory at Builders Factory
Paris, France – 5 May 2025 – Taking advantage of a brief 24-hour visit to Paris, the partners of the ATG Samata fund participated in a morning event organized by the Parisian firms Kottin Partners and Dama Advisory at the Builders Factory. This meeting brought together leading investors for an in-depth discussion on venture capital funding, particularly in the current « winter funding » context and the specificities of investing in Africa.
The event, enhanced by a convivial breakfast organized by Kottin Partners and Dama Advisory and hosted by the Builders Factory, facilitated constructive exchanges between key players such as Julien Gakpe and Sylvain Jottreau from Bpifrance, the French Sovereign Fund, Edouard Crespo from the Family Office A&G Invest, Tongaï David Makoni (Private Sector and Foundations Partnerships at GPE of the World Bank), Ghita Zniber Founding Partner of the Moroccan fund Kalys Ventures, Me Justin Kottin, founder of the law firm Kottin Partners, Me Eugene Saint-Gregoire founder of the law firm Dama & Co Avocat and the Private Placement Advisory firm Dama Advisory, as well as the founders of ATG Samata: Lisa Thomas and Lelemba Phiri, who traveled to Paris specifically for this occasion.
The discussions addressed crucial themes for the investment ecosystem, including:
- Fundraising for a VC during « winter funding »: Participants shared their perspectives and strategies for navigating a more cautious funding environment.
- The perceived risk of investing in Africa: The issue of political risk, often raised by French investors, was discussed with insights from ATG Samata’s on-the-ground experience in order to minimize it and maximize the potential of companies in the world’s youngest continent.
- The merger behind ATG Samata: Lisa Thomas and Lelemba Phiri explained the motivations and synergies resulting from the union of two experienced GPs.
- ATG Samata’s investment thesis: The Limited Partners (LPs) and investors present questioned ATG Samata about their focus on innovative, inclusive and impactful female-led and gender-diverse teams in Southern and East Africa. The GPs explained that this thesis enabled them to take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity available at this intersection whilst creating impact.
- Synergies between female venture capital funds in Africa: The opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing among women investors on the continent was explained, with several initiatives for support and opportunity sharing.
- The M&A market and partnerships between African start-ups: The prospects for consolidation and growth through strategic alliances were discussed, in a context where many investors are beginning to seek liquidity for their funds reaching the end of their liquidation period.
This event, made possible by the hospitality of the Builders Factory (Martin Cregut) and the exceptional trip of the ATG Samata team to Paris and whose convivial breakfast was organized by Kottin Partners and Dama Advisory, demonstrates the commitment of ATG Samata, Kottin Partners, and Dama Advisory to fostering exchanges and building a more informed and collaborative investment ecosystem, particularly concerning the African continent.
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