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About

Only together can we create a better world for every living person. Every small action you take can have a profound ripple effect on vulnerable communities that experience the world with a level of hardship that Europeans are lucky enough never to have to go through. In Africa, entrepreneurs face tremendous challenges. Aside from meeting basic needs like food, water, and education, entrepreneurs face an uphill battle to build a tech startup. This is where we can help. Counder has feet on the ground since 2018, arriving with just hand luggage and an idea for a pioneering ecosystem that will propel African entrepreneurs to achieve the level of success that European business leaders have enjoyed. SEON, the startup revolutionising security in Africa, is proof that the bridge between German engineering and local talent, including sales experts that understand the fine details of doing business in Africa is a winning combination.

Ubuntu

Another key element of that winning combination is the African mindset. Ubuntu is a great expression that explains this mindset. It means I am because we are. In Africa, passion, hope, and togetherness are the traits that will foster the next wave of innovation. We can’t do great things alone. And at the heart of the digital revolution is the mobile-first generation. This tech-savvy, ambitious, youthful workforce is ready to build and they are hungry to solve some of the nation’s biggest problems. There are countless problems that technology can overcome that will improve the quality of life for Africans. African e-entrepreneurs are already transforming the agricultural sector through digitalisation. And mobile and digital technologies have helped boost financial inclusion in Africa significantly in recent years. However, more than half a billion people still live without access to electricity. New power system innovation (technology, policy, business models, etc.) can shape a socially inclusive energy transition for the continent. These are just some of the areas where tech entrepreneurs can have a real impact.

Diversity

At Counder we are multidisciplinarians focused on where we can have the biggest impact. We are architects, mathematicians, engineers, artisans, line workers and much more. A shared purpose brings us together. Our lofty goal is to build a knowledge bridge that will connect proven entrepreneurs and international investors in Europe with ambitious local talent in Africa. This connection between the raw high potential of Africa and the established know-how of European business leaders will unlock tremendous opportunities of which the continent has never seen before.

To solve real problems and sustain life on our planet it is urgent and imperative that we tackle existential threats like climate change, hunger and pandemics as a diverse team. This won’t work if we continue to work in isolation.

Now is our chance to generate a momentous impact that will reshape life in Africa as we know it.

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Climate action is reshaping the global economy. Consumers are shifting towards climate-friendly products. Governments, aiming for net-zero, are shifting policy and committing billions of dollars to climate action. New technologies, processes, and energy sources are being developed, revolutionizing markets and redefining country resource endowments. Carbon markets are flourishing, fostering new business models and sectors, while facilitating large-scale deployment of low-carbon solutions. Africa is inherently well-positioned to tap into new climate-related business opportunitiesIntrinsic Competitiveness: Africa has abundant affordable land, untapped renewable energy potential, and a growing, increasingly skilled workforce, all of which are key cost drivers of climate action. Africa’s soils are also weathered and often acidic, offering significant opportunities for regenerative agriculture. Readily Available Opportunities To Tap Into Carbon Revenues: By prioritizing low-carbon business models, and incorporating carbon revenue, existing African businesses can drive affordability, amplify sustainable practices, and empower local communities, addressing climate change and providing global climate solutions. Potential For And Urgency Around Co-Benefits: Socio-economic challenges drive significant potential for co- benefits in Africa. Many actors with the capability, experience, and (community) connections to realise co-benefits have the opportunity to transform their business model to reduce dependency on philanthropic funding. ACV identifies opportunities to develop climate-smart businesses on the African continent following three key modelsTechnology Transfer to Africa: Identify leading global businesses with exciting carbon technologies, then bring them to Africa. Leverage our deep knowledge of Africa to develop appropriate entry strategies for applicable technologies, and build effective teams to launch businesses across the continent. Scaling Out Successes Across Africa: Identify home-grown African climate tech businesses that are gaining traction in the market in which they were developed and help them rapidly accelerate into new markets, leveraging local know-how and relationships, and augmenting typically overstretched management teams. Adding carbon revenues to business model: Identify businesses on the continent with under exploited carbon potential (e.g., electro moto manufacturers who are not monetizing their carbon). Provide skills and capabilties to add carbon revenues to these businesses, increasing profitabilty, adding value, and speeding growth. How We Work Sometimes we develop a concept ourselves and attract the right founder, sometimes we find a founder with a great idea. In all cases, we roll up our sleeves, iterate and improve on concepts, continuously inject capital as key milestones are met, and leverage our networks and expertise to give the business the best chance of success.

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SI

SevenGen Investment Partners

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