We are convinced that  Africa is a continent of opportunities – with a young population, great entrepreneurial spirit an a vibrant startup-scene. Thats why investments in local startups and SME are the best development aid.

The Africa First Network enables and encourages such investments: We identify capable founders and enrepreneurs and bring them together with like-minded long-term investors. 

Our initiative is based on the book "Africa First! Roadmap for a joint future", which shows how we can mobilise European capital for investment in Africa and lay the foundations for a closer relationship between our continents. So AFN is about turning ideas into action and solving global challenges together.

The presentation of "Africa First" in december 2020 was attended by, among others, Development Minister Gerd Müller and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Since then, it has triggered a wide range of discussions and provided impulses for politics: 

The EU's Global Gateway is similar "to the proposals made by Martin Schoeller and Daniel Schönwitz in their book Africa First", the magazine Business & Diplomacy recently said. 

>>> The book: https://bergundfeierabend.de/afrika-first-englisch/

>>> "Ein EU Wumms für Afrika" - Africa First as an impulse for the Global Gateway: https://africafirst.net/global-gateway-africa-first-network/
 
>>> "Don't leave Africa to China and Russia!" Martin Schoeller presents the Africa First concept in the WirtschaftsWoche magazine: https://www.wiwo.de/my/politik/deutschland/essay-ueberlasst-afrika-nicht-china-und-russland/28645346.html

>>> "An overdue look at German and European economic strategies" - review on stern.de: https://www.stern.de/kultur/buecher/-afrika-first----ein-dringend-ueberfaelliger-neuer-blick-auf-deutsche-und-europaeische-wirtschaftsstrategien-30555246.html

>>> The Nambian interviews Daniel Schönwitz: https://www.namibian.com.na/6223045/archive-read/The-Key-To-Real-Development-Is-Founders-and-Entrepreneurs

Africa First Network

Org chart

Teams

Offices