Lagos Angel Network
June Newsletter
From the Desk of the Executive Director
May was a reminder of why this work matters.
Capital is moving into the right hands. Conversations are happening in rooms that need to hear them. Angels are getting sharper. Founders are getting better support. An ecosystem that, quietly and deliberately, is becoming more structured, more informed, and more intentional.
This is the through line at LAN. We are not just facilitating deals or hosting events. We are building a community of people who take early-stage investing seriously, who understand that how capital moves in Africa, and who it moves to, has consequences far beyond any single portfolio company.
May gave us evidence of that. The people in our rooms are showing up differently than they were a year ago. That is not an accident. It is the result of consistent, deliberate work — by our members, our partners, our founders, and our team.
We are grateful for every person who is part of this. And we are just getting started.
Dr Solomon KingExecutive Director, Lagos Angel Network
What Happened in June
LAN Backs Middleman Technologies Inc.
The Lagos Angel Network is pleased to announce the latest addition to its portfolio: Middleman Technologies Inc., an AI-powered trade infrastructure platform simplifying procurement, payments, logistics, and importation for African SMEs trading with Asia.
Co-founded by Adeola Owosho and Omolara Sanni, Middleman operates through a single platform, giving African SMEs everything they need to source, pay for, and ship goods from China with confidence.
Thank you to every angel who participated across the deep dive sessions, diligence conversations, and investment process. Your time, insight, and support made this possible.
For more details, please see the full announcement on LinkedIn:
Startup Discovery Africa | 8th May
Dr. King joined a panel at Startup Discovery Africa on Unlocking Capital, Partnerships, and Market Access for Climate Ventures in Africa, bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem participants around the question of how climate ventures in Africa move from innovation to scale.
One message cut through the room: impact without profitability is difficult to sustain. Profitable businesses create jobs, scale solutions, and drive lasting impact. For founders building in the climate space, that framing is not a constraint. It is the strategy.
Antler AMA | 21st May
Building the Right Strategy for Your Startup
Dr. King joined Antler for an AMA session tackling what it actually takes to build a fundable startup — and the right attitude toward capital at each stage of the journey.
On the importance of angel capital specifically, the conversation was clear: at the earliest stage, funding is not just about money. It is about access, mentorship, and the kind of informed involvement that accelerates a company's trajectory in ways capital alone cannot.
On strategy and funding, one line landed particularly well: impression gets you into the room. Your figures get you the cheque.
Lunch and Learn | 21st May
Due Diligence for Angels: What Actually Matters
Our May Lunch and Learn brought together active and aspiring angel investors for a live, practical session on one of the most important skills in early-stage investing — knowing what to look for before you commit capital.
Led by an experienced practitioner from the legal and investment ecosystem, the session went beyond frameworks and into the room — with two founders pitching live and the floor open for the kind of honest, direct evaluation that sharpens judgement in real time.
If you missed it, the recording is available here:
Up Coming Event: Lunch & Learn (June)
Portfolio Management: Risk, Governance & Follow-On Strategy
This June, Lagos Angel Network’s Lunch & Learn tackles a critical topic:
𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸, 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗢𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆.
Most investors spend a lot of time learning how to source and evaluate deals. Far fewer spend time learning what happens after the cheque is written.
How do you monitor portfolio companies effectively? When should you participate in a follow-on round? What are the earliest signs that a company is in distress? How involved should investors be after investing? And what does good governance actually look like at angel stage?
Join us for a practical, investor-focused conversation