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XL Africa Academy

Welcome!

The XL Africa Academy consists out of nine intensive training modules, designed to complement mentorship. As with the entire XL Africa program, these modules are created to help companies looking to raise post-seed capital in order to scale. The advanced content is brief and action oriented: what are the most important things you need to focus on to accelerate funding, corporate partnerships and growth?

Format

  • Instructor led video
  • Guest speaker video
  • Supplementary written content
  • Additional reading materials
  • Worksheets

WHY INVEST YOUR TIME?

You Will…

  • Learn the subtleties of communicating with investors and navigating the challenging process of fundraising, from an experienced investor
  • Understand how to graduate from the Lean Canvas framework to scaling your business frameworks
  • Address the next set of questions and issues that follow completion of initial product delivery and early traction in your first market

With The Goals Of…

  • Focusing discussions with mentors on the most urgent issues and most advanced advice
  • Preparing for professional discussions with investors throughout the program but especially during the November 2017 residency
  • Accelerating progress towards success in the long and often frustrating processes of fundraising, corporate partnership and scaling
  • Building on your initial success and breaking out of the pack.
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About XL Africa

XL Africa is a Pan-African program focused on supporting Africa’s top performing pre-series A companies. XL Africa provides bespoke advice on customer acquisition, company valuations, growth strategies, governance as well as access to investors.

XL Africa Academy was designed to enhance the overall learning experience for Pre-Series A startups of XL Africa program and beyond.

XL Africa is supported by the World Bank Group, with financial assistance from the Governments of Finland, Norway and Sweden, and managed by implementing partners IMC Worldwide, VC4A, and Koltai&Co.

Creators of the XL Africa curriculum

Michael Goldberg

Michael Goldberg

Michael Goldberg is an international business leader, entrepreneur and professor with over 20 years of experience across a wide range of fields including venture capital, international corporate business development, academia and non-governmental organizations.

As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Design and Innovation at Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management, he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on entrepreneurship, design, innovation and finance. In 2004, Michael co-founded the Bridge Investment Fund L.P., a venture capital firm investing in Israeli Medical Devise companies.

Prior to that, he was awarded a Fulbright Senior Specialist fellowship to teach entrepreneurship and collaborate with faculty at the Polytechnic of Namibia, the first institution of higher education in Namibia. He has successfully launched businesses and lectured on entrepreneurship in global markets as diverse as Israel, China, Vietnam, Turkey, South Africa, Greece and Germany.

Don Gooding

Don Gooding

Don Gooding has worked in and around entrepreneurship his entire career as an investor, small business owner, mentor, ecosystem catalyst and thought leader. He was Executive Director of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development from October 2010 to June 2016, during which he became a leader in numerous entrepreneur related initiatives including the Top Gun accelerator – which he grew from one to four simultaneous locations during his tenure – Blackstone Accelerates Growth, and Maine Startup and Create Week.

His work was recognized by Mainebiz (the DzNextdz award) and the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce (for economic development), and he helped MCED win nationally competitive grants from the Small Business Administration and the Economic Development Administration. He served as Vice Chair of the Maine Angels for four years, helping to rejuvenate an organization that is now the third most active angel group in New England.

He has personally invested in 19 companies over almost 20 years, and continues an active mentoring relationship with several portfolio companies, although he is not currently making new investments. Currently he runs his own independent consultancy, Gooding Growth, and is host of the local entrepreneur television show Greenlight Maine.