Register for the upcoming USAFRICA Business Expo Week
The USAfrica Business Expo Week, a Business-to-Business (B2B) trade show, conference, and networking event happening around the UN General Assembly, invites businesses interested in finding new buyers, suppliers, and investment opportunities to the September 12 – 22, 2022 event. The Expo will take place in New York, USA.
Participating businesses can network and consult with potential business partners and relevant global business development agencies. Additionally, participants will have access to an exhibition highlighting tools and resources to enable their business to grow.
Interested participants can attend virtually or in person, depending on the tickets they purchase. Attendants from outside the United States of America can opt to pay a standard package of USD 700 or a complete international package of USD 1500.
For more information on the event, visit: USAFRICA Business EXPO WEEK
To purchase tickets to the, visit: USAFRICA EXPO Tickets
Are you a woman digital entrepreneur interested in growing your business? Apply for the eTrade Women Initiative Masterclass before 10 September 2022
eTrade for Women initiative, led by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, invites participants for a Masterclass for women digital entrepreneurs. The Masterclass, which will be held in Lagos, Nigeria, addresses the barriers women entrepreneurs face in exploiting business opportunities from digital technologies to grow their business. The Masterclass is organized in partnership with Damilola Olokesusi, Founder and CEO of Shuttlers, and eTrade for Women Advocate.
Participants in the Masterclass will have an opportunity to engage with renowned business leaders and experts in their fields. The Masterclass will combine inspirational talks, learning sessions, networking, and policy dialogues. Interested applicants need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Be a woman founder of an e-commerce business or of a company that uses digital technologies as part of its business model
- Have a business based in one of the following countries: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda
- Have a track record of 2 to 5 years in this role
- Have an intent to make a difference and impact your ecosystem
To apply for the Masterclass, visit: Applications
Interested in finding an investor? Apply for the Africa Investment Event before 9 October 2022
AFSIC, a large-scale event focused on matching business and investment opportunities in Africa, invites applicants for its annual Investing in Africa event. The 2022 event, which will be held in London on October 10th and 11th, is focused on ensuring attending companies seeking funding meet the right African investors to access the investment they need.
Participating companies will be offered a unique opportunity to discover and develop a robust network of the highest quality business leaders and investors. Additionally, participants will be given access to two days of VIP keynote discussions and premium panels for industry sectors in banking, agriculture, sustainable growth, infrastructure, education, power, and fintech. County-focused sessions will offer insights into individual countries’ investment climates and regulations with attractive investment opportunities.
Interested participants should register with the Africa Business Community to be offered affordable registration rates for the event.
For more information about the event and registration details, visit: Africa Investment Event 2022
How to network your way to building a robust business
If you want to build a robust business, it is important to get out there, make connections, and network with others. Business networking involves connecting with potential customers and other individuals who might refer business to you. It also means making contact with people who can provide key information that can help you grow your business and is based on creating trusting relationships with other businesspeople.
Networking helps you promote your business and can lead to new opportunities, both very important as business owners seek to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Of course, with the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which have meant fewer chances to meet others in person, there has been a shift to networking virtually, which can actually offer you more opportunities to build connections across borders.
Below are some key reasons why networking is important for your small business and tips on how to network well to achieve your business goals.
- Networking is a great way to acquire new business leads. Leveraging the contacts you make when you meet people can open doors for business opportunities. Always communicate professionally when you follow up on leads, be sensitive to timing (for example, send that email when you promised to), and use common courtesy when following up.
- Networking can help you to identify business best practices. Learning from what others do is a valuable strategy for all businesses. For example, suppose you own a wholesale store and belong to an association. Ask around to find programs that other members use for stock management or other critical operational tasks that you can bring back to your own business.
- Regular networking will help you build confidence. It will help you become more familiar with talking to people you don’t know over time, enhancing your communications skills and enabling you to make lasting connections that can bring both positive professional and personal results.
- Networking is a great way to make relevant connections. It will enable you to meet and engage with highly influential people you wouldn’t otherwise be able to talk to or find easily. You can call on these new connections for assistance when you need them. So be sure to ask the right questions to find out if the person you are networking with knows who you want to know.
Don’t wait until you have run out of opportunities to start networking. Be sure to start making these connections to expand the number of opportunities that come your way!