From the Desk of the Executive Director
May was a reminder of why this work matters.
Not because of any single moment — but because of what all the moments together add up to. 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 King Executive Director, Lagos Angel Network
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Deal of the Month | May 2026 LAN Backs Middleman Technologies
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:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7467500331665620992
What Happened in May
Startup Discovery Africa | 8th May
From Innovation to Scale: Unlocking Capital, Partnerships, and Market Access for Climate Ventures in Africa
Dr. King joined a panel at Startup Discovery 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: https://bit.ly/LLdue-diligence
Looking Ahead
