Dickson Mushabe appointed as International Partner of WBAF

Dickson Mushabe, Chief Executive Officer Hostalite, has been appointed as International Partner for Uganda by the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), a global platform that provides funding opportunities to entrepreneurs and businesses.

The appointment means Mr. Mushabe will now represent Uganda at the Grand Assembly of the World Business Angels Investment Forum.

The inclusion of Uganda in WBAF provides a wide range of opportunities for Uganda’s start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses and opens doors for economic development.

“ With this new appointment, Uganda has joined the largest forum of the world’s equity investment markets and will now be able to connect more with the global investors market, which will open up splendid opportunities for the country. Now local Uganda angel investors, incubation centres, accelerators, private equity funds, co-investment funds, technology parks, corporate ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs will have more opportunity to connect with global leaders in the same field.”

Baybars Altuntas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the World Business Angels Investment Forum says “As an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnerships for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the WBAF supports start-ups, develops entrepreneurial ecosystems, and helps venture capital and companies connect with international companies, fin-techs and other relevant institutions. We are confident about our contribution to the economic development of the country by facilitating connections with entrepreneurial ecosystems. We strongly believe that Uganda will soon become a country that can foster the development of its economy in a more entrepreneurial atmosphere.”

Dickson Mushabe is a member of the Advisory Council of the Global Shapers, an Initiative of the World Economic Forum and a former Director on the Board of ICT Association of Uganda – ICTAU.

Mr. Mushabe’s appointment and Uganda’s inclusion into the WBAF provides a wide range of opportunities for the country’s start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses and opens doors for economic development.

Ranked as the world’s most entrepreneurial country by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Uganda has more than 55 percent of its youth population involved in new or established businesses. The country also has the youngest population in the world with more than 77 percent of its people being under the age of 25.

Commenting on his appointment to the global body, Mr. Dickson Mushabe expressed his enthusiasm that the more opportunities would be created for deeper engagement of angel investment in funding startups in Uganda to maximise their potential.

“WBAF brings together top business leaders from all over the world and when you have this kind of multi-stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurs will have greater access to not just financing but also the expertise and innovative techniques that startups need to thrive,” Mr. Mushabe said.
WBAF has made significant strides in African participation in its agenda, including the recent appointment of the African Development Bank Group as a global member to its board.
“I am confident that by including AfDB, WBAF will be able to provide a wide range of opportunities for start-ups, scaleups and high growth businesses in Africa—ones that will open the doors for economic development,” said Baybars Altuntas WBAF’s Executive Chairman at the announcement of the new board appointments.

He continued to stress the importance of working through such partnerships to contribute towards Africa’s economic development. “By working together across borders, with a common vision, and with these smart dynamics in mind, we are well placed to bring about positive change in the Africa and global economy.”

As a partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), WBAF promotes access to finance for businesses from start-up to scale-up, with the goal of generating more jobs and social justice worldwide. The Forum engages with a wide range of institutions to help shape the global agenda. These institutions include Qatar Development Bank, Middle East Business Angels Network (MBAN), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO-ITPO) and the World Entrepreneurship Forum.