Discussing Angel Investment in the Middle East and North Africa at Techne Conference with Craig Mullett
Craig Mullett is the President of Branison Group, an M&A advisory firm based near New York City, and is also an active angel investor with the Angel Investor Forum, a member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA). He is the founder of AngelHub, Africa’s first angel group, and has been instrumental in establishing the SA Business Angels Network and Trident Angels, the first angel group in the Caribbean. Craig is also a founding limited partner of Launch Africa, with numerous direct seed-stage investments in sectors such as artificial intelligence, agritech, insurtech, cloud computing software, and medical devices.
Craig has been featured in interviews on startup investing by major outlets like The New York Times, Forbes, Financial Mail, Authority, and Inc. He previously served as Director of Corporate Development for Amphenol Corporation (a former KKR portfolio company) and was a non-executive director of Volex Group. In South Africa, Craig founded and sold HomeWorths and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte.
Venture Mentorship and Education
Craig also serves as a Venture Mentor at Yale University, holds an MBA from Nyenrode University (Netherlands), a BCom(Honors) from University of Cape Town (South Africa), and is a graduate of the International Leadership Academy of the United Nations in Jordan.
Participation in Techne Conference
When asked about his participation in the Techne Conference, Craig explained that he is keen on understanding the technological developments happening in the Middle East and North Africa. He is also participating as a speaker on various panels during the conference, aiming to learn about the regional tech ecosystem and gain insights into future trends.
Engagement with Entrepreneurs and Investors
Craig noted that he met numerous passionate entrepreneurs eager to seek his advice on building their businesses and securing funding. Additionally, he had discussions with several investors on how to improve and enhance angel investment across the Middle East and North Africa.
Innovation and Economic Growth
Craig emphasized that innovation is the most effective means of fostering economic growth, with small and medium-sized enterprises playing a critical role in driving this innovation. He sees startups as seeds with the potential for rapid growth, led by visionary entrepreneurs who pursue their goals with determination. He expressed his enthusiasm about witnessing this innovation firsthand in Alexandria and across the region.
