LUSAKA, ZAMBIA — The Africa Impact Investment Group (AIIG), in partnership with Deal Source Africa, has opened registration for the Deal Room and Investor Connect ahead of the Africa Impact Summit (AIS) 2026, taking place on 10 -11 June 2026 at Ciela Resort, Lusaka, Zambia.
The Deal Room and Investor Connect are open to:
- High-growth African Businesses seeking growth capital
- Funds seeking to invest in high-growth African businesses
WHY THIS MATTERS: BRIDGING AFRICA’S $331B SME FUNDING GAP
Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the continent’s economy, accounting for approximately 90% of businesses and contributing around 40% of GDP across emerging markets, according to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
Despite their importance, SMEs remain significantly underfinanced, with an estimated $331 billion annual financing gap across sub-Saharan Africa
High-growth enterprises are particularly affected, often caught in the “missing middle”, too large for microfinance, yet too small or too risky for traditional commercial bank lending. Addressing this gap is essential to unlocking inclusive economic growth, job creation, and innovation across the continent.
Zambia reflects both the challenge and the opportunity. SMEs contribute an estimated 40–50% of GDP and over 60% of employment, yet access to growth capital remains limited. At the same time, increased foreign direct investment, driven largely by renewed activity in the mining sector, signals growing investor confidence and the potential to unlock further capital into priority sectors.
AIS 2026 will respond to this opportunity through a curated Deal Room, designed to connect high-potential businesses with investors through structured matchmaking and transaction facilitation.
THE DEAL ROOM & INVESTOR CONNECT
The Deal Room enables:
- Personalised matching based on sector, ticket size, and investment criteria
- Access to experienced transaction advisors throughout the fundraising process
Investor Connect, on the other hand, is tailored for impact funds seeking limited partners and co-investors. It facilitates targeted engagement with institutional investors aligned to fund strategies, improving efficiency and reducing fundraising timelines.
Both platforms are powered by Deal Source Africa, which has hosted 18 deal rooms across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, engaging over 70 impact funds and connecting over 370 businesses to investors, facilitating multiple transactions, including eight deals valued over $2 million in closed deals and $8 million more in the pipeline since launching in 2023. This underscores the potential of structured deal sourcing and advisory support to translate investment interest into actual capital deployment.
Building on this proven model, the Deal Room platform at the AIS2026 aims to move beyond dialogue to execution, providing a pipeline of investment-ready enterprises and enabling meaningful investor engagement that results in funded deals.
“The Deal Rooms and Investor Connect at the 2026 Africa Impact Summit provide a strategic platform for high-potential businesses and investors to connect, explore opportunities, and foster partnerships that accelerate growth and impact across Africa. This is more than a meeting point: it is where impact meets opportunity.” Justina Mensah, Program Lead, Deal Source Africa.
In parallel to the Deal Room and Investor Connect sessions, the summit will host sector-focused discussions and the Africa Impact Investment Awards, which recognise excellence and innovation across the ecosystem. The programme will also include the launch of new research, high-level policy dialogues, and networking platforms to translate commitments into actionable investment outcomes.
“Zambia is at a pivotal moment. We have the investment appetite, the economic momentum, and the entrepreneurial talent. What has been missing is a structured platform to connect our businesses with the right capital. The Africa Impact Summit 2026 and its Deal Room are exactly that, and we are proud to bring this to Lusaka.” Simunza Muyangana, Chairperson, NABII Zambia
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR AIS2026 DEALROOM and INVESTOR CONNECT
AIS DEALROOM
- Business Registration
- Fund Registration
REGISTER HERE.
AIS2026 INVESTOR CONNECT
Limited Spaces. Early registration is strongly encouraged. Apply or sign up by 22 May 2026.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Deal Room & Investor Connect: eyram.mudey@dealsourceafrica.co
Africa Impact Summit: secretariat@nabii.org.zm
Hosts:
ABOUT THE AFRICA IMPACT SUMMIT
The Africa Impact Summit (AIS) is Africa’s top for impact investing, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners to promote financial innovation across the continent. Since it began, the Summit has traveled across Africa: Cape Town, South Africa (2023), Nairobi, Kenya (2024), and Accra, Ghana (2025), following a Study Tour around Lagos, Nigeria. Each year, it expands its reach, visibility, and influence. Over the past three years, AIS has generated significant momentum through high-level policy discussions, curated deal rooms, and multi-stakeholder gatherings focused on unlocking capital, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and removing barriers to inclusive and sustainable investment.
The AIS 2026 will be hosted by NABII Zambia at the Ciela Resort, Lusaka, Zambia, on 10–11 June 2026.
Read more: africaimpactsummit.org
ABOUT THE AFRICA IMPACT INVESTING GROUP
The Africa Impact Investing Group (AIIG) is a dynamic network working with policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and civil society to channel capital towards impactful initiatives that also deliver financial returns. AIIG comprises the African National Advisory Boards for impact investing in Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso; supported by affiliated African Task Forces in Senegal, from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe to build a stronger ecosystem for Impact Investing across the continent.
Read more here https://africaimpactinvest.org/
ABOUT NABII ZAMBIA
The National Advisory Board for Impact Investment Zambia (NABII Zambia) is a non-profit organisation established in 2019 to accelerate Zambia’s impact investment ecosystem. As a GSG Impact National Partner and a member of the Africa Impact Investing Group (AIIG) NABII Zambia mobilises stakeholders and capital in support of a private-sector-driven impact economy that delivers measurable social, environmental, and financial returns.
Read more: nabii.org.zm
ABOUT DEAL SOURCE AFRICA
Deal Source Africa is a comprehensive programme to connect investment-ready African businesses with investors and transaction advisors and African impact funds with investors. Founded by Impact Investing Ghana (IIGh) and the Impact Investors’ Foundation Nigeria (IIF) the platform provides a comprehensive platform to drive capital to African Small and Medium Enterprises with high growth potential for outstanding returns and inclusive growth. Since launching in 2023, it has hosted 18 deal rooms, engaged 72 impact funds and 372 businesses, and facilitated over $2 million in closed deals with $8 million more in the pipeline.
Read more: Deal Source Africa