Fifth India-Africa Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit to Feature Former Microsoft India Chairman Ravi Venkatesan in a Power-Packed Speaker Line-Up

– Distinguished speaker line-up announced for the fifth edition of IABN’s flagship summit in Nairobi

Mumbai, 25 June 2025: The India Africa Business Network (IABN) has unveiled the speaker line-up for the fifth edition of the India-Africa Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 17–18 July 2025. Hosted in collaboration with Kenya Investment Authority, India Kenya Business Council, TiE Africa, and other ecosystem partners, the summit will open with a keynote address by Ravi Venkatesan, Chair, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Founder, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, as well as former UNICEF Special Representative for Young People and Innovation.

Joining him are prominent business leaders, policymakers, and impact investors, including Raman Roy, Chairman and Managing Director, Quatrro, widely regarded as the pioneer of India’s BPO industry; H.E. Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology; and John Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Investment Authority. The sessions will set the tone for rich discussions on emerging business opportunities across the two regions.

Other confirmed speakers include Anita George, former Senior Director of the World Bank Group’s Global Practice on Energy and Extractive Industries; Dr Shreeram Iyer, Chairman and Group CEO, Prisma.ai; Shailendra Kumar, Co-Founder and CIO, Narnolia; Dr Tonny K. Omwansa, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Innovation Agency; Vimal Shah, Co-Founder and Chairman, Bidco Africa; Bimal Kantaria, Managing Director, Elgon Kenya; RCM Reddy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Schoolnet India Ltd; Satya Narayanan R, Founder and Chairman, CL Educate; Harry ’Tomi Davies, Founder, Lagos Angel Network, and former President, African Business Angel Network; Pradeep Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, CyberMedia (India) Ltd; Anirudh Damani, Managing Partner, Artha Venture Fund; and Sushil Jiwarajka, Chairman and Managing Director, Essjay Ericsson Pvt. Ltd.

Drawing participation from influential voices across sectors and regions, this exclusive, invitation-only summit is a premier platform for advancing business partnerships, knowledge exchange, and investment opportunities between India’s $4 trillion economy and Africa’s $3.5 trillion frontier markets.

“The presence of these eminent leaders signals a deepening commitment to the India–Africa growth corridor,” said Baljinder Sharma, Convenor, IABN. “This year’s summit aims to inspire actionable collaboration and build sustainable bridges between two of the world’s most dynamic entrepreneurial regions.”

The 2025 edition will spotlight high-impact sectors like energy, agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, education, and critical minerals, enabling deep conversations around joint ventures, market access, and capital mobilisation. Building on the success of the four previous editions held in Mauritius and Kenya, the India-Africa Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit will drive deeper collaboration between India and Africa, establishing itself as a leading forum for building cross-border businesses, driving strategic policy, and creating opportunities for startups to scale across the Global South.