Challenge: Fragmented support, regulatory misfit
Angola’s startup ecosystem was in its formative stages, marked by strong grassroots momentum but lacking the formal structures to support sustained growth. Despite early promise, key challenges hindered progress:
- Fragmented support: While founder-led communities and informal initiatives like the Founders Forum were thriving in Luanda, the country lacked institutional coordination to scale these efforts nationally.
- Regulatory constraints: The legislative and policy environment was not adapted to the needs of startups, making it difficult for early-stage ventures to differentiate themselves from traditional SMEs.
- Need for strategic alignment: With 18 government agencies and stakeholders such as the World Bank and IFC involved, there was an urgent need to align diverse perspectives into a coherent strategy.