IN THE VALLEY

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast bridging the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle in Africa.A question ? Write to us contact@silverbacksvalley.comFor our first #WomeninVC special, the Valley welcomes two women trailblazing their way into Africa's venture capital ecosystem. Fope Adelowo is a Principal at Helios Investments Partners, the largest Africa-focused private equity fund. Lexi Novitske is a General Partner at Norrsken22 an early growth fund focused on bridging the funding gap for startups at the Series A and Series B level. Together, Fope and Lexi discuss the ramifications of making it as women in Africa's venture capital space.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH FOPE & LEXI1.) "I invested my own money into what I believed in"Lexi Novitske recounts how she first arrived in Nigeria and the potential of the startup ecosystem she discovered. She describes the risks she took at the start of her journey and how it led her to collaborate with unicorn founders and fellow VCs to launch Norrsken22 - a venture capital fund that addresses the Series A, Series B funding gap in Africa.2.) "I witnessed the creation of things that did not exist"Fope Adelowo looks back on her career and how her interest in tech remained prevalent. As a trained engineer turned investment banker, she entered the world of private equity with a willingness to support founders to build their ideas to transform Africa.3.) "There remains a barrier for women to come into the top of finance"Showcasing more confidence that one actually has within her, developing a comfort with risk and a sense of the value of one's own insights, having an ecosystem of supporters and mentors, calling out certain behaviours.. Fope and Lexi explain what they believe has helped them in their careers and call on other women in finance to look out for the younger generation.4.) "I enjoy breaking barriers"What drives women to the top of the venture capital ecosystem in Africa ? Fope and Lexi recount what has fueled their ambition as individuals as well as members of an exciting ecosystem working towards solving Africa's pressing development challenges with innovation.5.) "In finance, there needs to be room for people to be their true selves"Talking to their younger selves, Fope and Lexi share intimate advice on what they would have done differently in their personal lives and careers. They look at how the industry has evolved and why the next generation can contribute to shaping new trends for women to break into venture capital more so than before.Fope and Lexi recommend:Invest Like the Best - By Patrick O'Shaughnessy ColossusFreakonomics - By Stephen J. DubnerAll-In Podcast - By Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks & David FriedbergWhere should we begin podcast - By Esther Perel

"It's more than basketball, it's about legacy"Welcome to Silverbacks Valley, a podcast bridging the worlds of #venturecapital, #tech, #sports, #media and #lifestyle in Africa. Listen to the full episode at https://silverbacksvalley.comA question ? Write to us contact@silverbacksvalley.comEstablished in 2020, the Cape Town Tigers are South Africa's basketball champions. They qualified for the first season of the Basketball Africa League, and made it up to the first round of the playoffs in the second season in 2022. In 2023, the team welcomed the afrobeats music mogul Mr Eazi as an investor, former LA Lakers assistant coach Rasheed Hazzard as head coach and NBA G-League guard Zaire Wade in its roster. The Tigers are set to compete for the third Season of the BAL, Silverbacks Valley brings you their origin story with co-founders Chante Butler, Dia Martin, William "BJ" McFarlan and Raphael Alexander Edwards.5 IDEAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CAPE TOWN TIGERS IN THE VALLEY 1. Why not present an opportunity for us all to do something big"The Cape Town Tigers co-founders look back on the friendship and former high school rivalry that led to the unexpected pairing of two African-American women with two former basketball players. 2. "From a PowerPoint to a championship"Bringing a new team to a championship title is not an easy task : the Cape Town Tigers did it twice. The co-founders dwell on what made their team successful, and why building the organization from the ground up was a key element of that recipe. They reveal their vision of sports business and why education as well as social responsibility are as relevant to them as other elements of the business such as fan engagement or merchandising. 3. "As a black woman, owning a team wasn't on my map"In Africa's sports landscape, the Cape Town Tigers are an outlier : the organization is co-owned and co-managed by two women. Chante Butler and Dia Martin recount how they seized the opportunity when it presented itself. They also reflect on building a legacy for women in sports and how they hope to inspire other women to take risks and testing their limits. 4. "We are uniquely positioned to become a global brand"The Cape Town Tigers dream big, and they dream beyond basketball. The co-founders reflect upon their unique position as a team playing in the Basketball Africa League that has the ability to play on different geographies. They also speak on the role that culture plays in building the Tigers as Africa's basketball powerhouse and why the franchise can be used as a vessel to connect the greater black diaspora and community. 5. "It's about creating a legacy"The Cape Town Tigers share their inspirations and how their respective families as well as the family they became through entrepreneurship fuels their motivation. They also reveal their aspirations for the blueprint they are establishing for sports business as well as for the next generation of black and African entrepreneurs.

For its first episode, Silverbacks Valley welcomes Mr Eazi, a music superstar who has surpassed a billion streams and collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé, J Balvin and Major Lazer. Mr Eazi is also a VC investor and CEO of emPawa, a music talent incubator representing over 100 artists. He's a board member in our parent company, Silverbacks Holdings and joined our portfolio company, the Cape Town Tigers basketball team, as an investor.5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH MR. EAZI1.) "I never really left technology"Most of you will know Mr. Eazi for his ability to produce certified dancefloor hits. But how did it all start ? Mr Eazi tells all about starting out his journey in entrepreneurship in a now defunct incubator 440NG and getting his first funding. At the time, music was a hobby but he realized it had good potential. He's always considered creative industries and the world of tech and startups to be similar : how did he leverage his training then as a tech entrepreneur to break through the music industry ? how does he leverage his music platform today to pursue his own aspirations in the tech industry and how he got involved in Chika Nwobi's Decagon.2.) "I love investing in talent"How does Mr Eazi leverage his instinct for picking good talent ? Beyond music and tech, Mr Eazi is also heavily involved in the sports industry. His betting sports company betPawa has invested in the Ghanaian Premier League. In Cameroon, he backs a foundation which trains over thirty people - men and women and has invested in the talent of the boxer Stephane Fondjo, a top 300 in his weight category. Most recently, he has invested in the two times national basketball champion of South Africa - the Capetown Tigers - a team newly created to compete in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) of the NBA.3.) "I turned down a major deal from one of the biggest music company in the world"What is Mr Eazi's favorite transaction story ? Why did he turn down a six million dollar deal from a music company and how did he get his company to now be worth four times that amount ? Mr. Eazi underscores the importance of creative and economic freedom for the artists that his company emPawa collaborates with. Why is intellectual property crucial to him ?4.) "I'd tell my younger self to pitch more"What would Mr. Eazi tell his younger self? How did Mr Eazi's upbringing foster his curiosity and knack for experimentation ? Mr Eazi advises on how to identify the right spaces where you can share your ideas and the type of support, beyond investment, that one needs to make impossible ideas become possible.5.) "I am driven by creative and economic freedom"What motivates Mr. Eazi ? Why does he run away from things that are too structured ? Mr Eazi speaks on the importance of the orange economy and why it appeals to him.

Welcome to Silverbacks Valley ! A podcast bridging the worlds of VC, tech, media, sports & lifestyle in Africa, hosted by Ibrahim Sagna. Coming to you soon.