2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress: The Speed City-Africa Innovation Network
Building Bridges: Indiana-Africa Innovation Pipeline | June 2-5, 2025
Indiana's Venture Ecosystem: Impressive Growth
$1.05B
2024 Deal Value
Indiana's highest-ever venture capital value
166
Total Deals
Up from 156 deals in 2023
#6
National Ranking
In deal count growth rate
Indiana is positioning itself as an emerging player through consistent deal growth, increased focus on entrepreneurship, and developing a strong pipeline of VC-backable companies—all despite challenging national venture capital conditions.
Sector Strengths & Diversification
Indiana's venture ecosystem shows strength across multiple sectors, leveraging existing strengths in manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture while nurturing emerging technologies. Tech leads with $549.36M across 139 deals, while Agbioscience nearly doubled from 2023, reaching $64.25M across 14 deals.
Strategic Events: Building Connections
African Cocktail at High Alpha Innovation
June 3rd - Sponsored by Alloy, TechPoint, and Elevate Ventures. Network with leaders who have launched over 30 successful B2B SaaS companies and invested over $120M in Indiana startups.
God's Entrepreneurs Breakfast
June 3rd, 7:30am-10am - Sponsored by JDA Worldwide. Connect through shared principles of purpose-driven business, social impact focus, and community development initiatives.
Philanthropy and Business Networking
June 4th, 6pm-9pm - Powered by JP Morgan Chase Global Philanthropy, Proof Accelerator, and Sagamore Institute. Expand your social capital while exploring market-based solutions.
African Market Opportunity
600% Growth
African startup ecosystem growth since 2015
456 Million Youth
Projected African youth population by 2035
9% Tertiary Enrollment
Increasing demand for higher education
Africa represents a significant growth opportunity with 65% of its population under 25 years old by 2030. Key markets like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa lead in venture investments, with fintech being a primary driver despite challenges in early-stage capital access and regulatory complexity.
DeVoe School of Business Virtual Education Initiative
Market Opportunity
- 456 million youth by 2035
- 65% under 25 years old by 2030
- Only 9% tertiary enrollment rate
Program Capabilities
- ACBSP-accredited business programs
- Expertise in virtual learning delivery
- Faith-based leadership development
Strategic Impact
- Potential to reach 100,000+ students
- Customized curriculum for local challenges
- Cross-cultural business leadership
The DeVoe School of Business will showcase its virtual education initiative on June 5th, addressing the growing demand for higher education across Africa through specialized programs in technology and entrepreneurship.
Expected Outcomes & Impact
Short-term Results
- Direct business connections
- Knowledge transfer in key sectors
- Initial investment commitments
Partnership Development
- Regular trade missions
- Joint venture formations
- Market entry support
Long-term Impact
- Cross-continental investments
- Technology transfer initiatives
- Enhanced trade relationships
The GEC events are designed to produce both immediate connections and sustainable economic relationships between Indiana and African markets, creating pathways for mutual growth and investment opportunities across continents.
