African Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Pipeline 2025
African Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Pipeline
Part of the Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Summit
Entrepreneurship Across Borders: Connecting Africa and Scotland
📍 7 – 8 October 2025
📍 Edinburgh, Scotland
Why the African-Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Matters
The Africa-Scotland entrepreneurial relationship is a powerful alliance waiting to reach its full potential. Africa, with its young, tech-savvy population, abundant natural resources, and fast-growing economies, is witnessing an entrepreneurial boom. Scotland, known for world-class innovation, education, and enterprise infrastructure, is actively seeking to diversify and internationalise its ecosystem.
ASEEP 2025 is the flagship platform bridging Africa’s thriving startup landscape and Scotland’s dynamic innovation economy. Overtwo days, ASEEP 2025 will convene entrepreneurs, investors, academics, diaspora leaders, and policymakers to connect, collaborate, and co-create the future.
🌟 What to Expect
✨ Cross-Border Networking – Build meaningful relationships with African and Scottish founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
🚀 Startup Pitch Arena – Watch high-growth African startups pitch to Scottish judges from Scottish Edge, CivTech, and Firstport.
🎤 World-Class Panels & Fireside Chats – Learn from policymakers, funders, and innovators shaping cross-border entrepreneurship.
🌍 Diaspora Business Showcase – Celebrate diaspora-led innovation as a bridge between continents.
🏛️ Cultural & Innovation Tours – Explore Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre, Data Lab, and Futures Institute.
🗓 Agenda Overview
Day 1 – 7 October | Entrepreneurial & Innovation Tour
📍 Venue: School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Bayes Centre, and partner locations
Welcome & introduction to ASEEP
Guided innovation & Innovation tours
Networking with researchers, investors, and diaspora entrepreneurs
Diaspora Business Showcase (Mastercard Foundation, African founders, and partners)
Day 2 – 8 October | ASEEP Conference
📍 Venue: Royal Scot Club, Edinbugh
Opening Keynote: H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the UK
Fireside Chat: Scotland & Africa – Unlocking Global Startup Growth
Pitch Arena: Top 10 African startups present to leading Scottish judges
Panel Discussions:
Building the Africa–Scotland Startup Pipeline
Investing Across Borders
Innovation in Africa (Agritech, Climate Tech, FinTech, Health & Creative Industries)
The Future of the African–Scottish Entrepreneurial Pipeline
Closing Session: Next steps for Africa–Scotland collaboration
🎤 Featured Speakers & Partners
H.E. Mbelwa Kairuki – Tanzania’s High Commissioner to the UK
Linda Scott CEO – West Lothian Chambers of Commerce
Fash Fasoro CEO – DataKirk
Dr Emma Ives – Enterprise Manager, Bright Red Triangle, Edinburgh Napier University
Dr Seth Amanfo, Director of Mastercard Foundation
Robert Anderson, Managing Director at African Lakes Company.
Michaelle Kubwimana CEO - Kawah Coffee Ltd
James Finnie, ISEO Lead - International Social Enterprise Observatory
Rowen Strachan, Community Manager at Codebase
Scottish Enterprise, Mastercard Foundation, African Forum Scotland, Entrepreneurial Scotland, Be United and more
🎟 Ticket
General Admission (Registration) – Access to all keynotes, panels, and networking sessions.
Join us at ASEEP 2025 — a flagship event bridging Africa’s thriving startup landscape and Scotland’s dynamic innovation economy.
This two-day summit offers unparalleled opportunities to connect, collaborate, and catalyse impact across borders.
