On Thursday November 28, a diverse group of academics, practitioners, and entrepreneurship enthusiasts came together at Utrecht University (UU) for a workshop on entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa. Hosted by UU’s Institutions for Open Societies Platform Bottom-up Initiatives for Societal Change and the UU Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe), Allan Gray Centre for Africa Entrepreneurship (AGCAE), Innovation for Policy Foundation and the American University in Cairo, the hybrid event welcomed participants both in-person and online, with over 120 joining remotely (mainly from Africa).
The afternoon started with a warm welcome from Erik Stam (Utrecht University & Stellenbosch University), setting a collaborative tone for the session. The first presentation by Phumlani Nkontwana (AGCAE, Stellenbosch University) introduced the African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index (AEEI). This index provides a structured way to evaluate entrepreneurial ecosystems, focusing on seven key dimensions like governance, finance, and human capital. Rigorous methodology and robustness checks provided a solid foundation for comparing entrepreneurial ecosystems across the continent, while there is ample room for improvement in terms of finding alternative and better data sources to capture the nuances of entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Milou Derks (RVO & Eindhoven University of Technology) then shed light on the importance of context-specific entrepreneurship support. Her research revealed that many donor-driven programs often fail to account for local nuances, with standardized approaches not always aligning with on-the-ground realities. She shared case studies from countries and regions like Burundi and North Mozambique, which illustrated both the challenges and the potential for more thoughtful interventions.
After the coffee break, the workshop resumed with Erik Stam diving into the big picture of entrepreneurship in Africa. He emphasized the need to look beyond just new business activity and consider the full spectrum – from ideation to unicorn status. The data-driven analysis revealed fascinating insights into the entrepreneurial dynamics across different African countries, uncovering opportunities and limitations of the data sets. For example, this approach revealed that different countries excel at different stages of the entrepreneurial process, suggesting that blanket policies for entrepreneurship support may not be effective across the continent.
Image credit: Anurag W
The workshop’s final discussions brought fresh and inspiring perspectives. Ayman Ismail (American University in Cairo) explored the potential of the MENA region to cultivate indigenous unicorns, emphasizing how entrepreneurial ecosystems need to evolve to support these ambitions. Kenneth Amaeshi (European University Institute) introduced the OKOBI Model, rooted in Nigerian traditions of collective prosperity. This approach builds on local practices, like community cooperatives, to create inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. It was an inspiring presentation of how culture and local traditions can serve as a foundation for shared growth.
Image credit: Anurag W
The workshop was a reminder of how much there is to learn about entrepreneurial ecosystem development, entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Africa. The participants—whether in Utrecht or online—left with ideas to reflect on and a sense of responsibility to take these conversations forward. While there are no easy answers, the discussions underscored the importance of collaboration and curiosity in supporting Africa’s entrepreneurial potential.
Image credit: Tim Gelissen
