Ian Lorenzen

Ian Lorenzen is a seasoned industry leader in African entrepreneur support and ecosystem development. As a Partner and Director at GrowthAfrica, he brings over 12 years of experience in delivering growth and business acceleration services to SMEs and businesses across Africa. With a deep passion for convening and fostering collaborative ecosystems, Ian has played a pivotal role in building impactful partnerships with funders and partners globally.

Professional Experience:

Ian has been serving as Executive Director and Partner at GrowthAfrica since October 2015. In this role, he leads the delivery of growth and business acceleration services to African SMEs and international companies expanding into Africa.

Previous Roles: Before his current position, Ian held roles as Business Facilitator & Partner and Facilitator/Mentor at GrowthAfrica. He was responsible for acquiring new clients and partners, delivering consulting services, and supporting and facilitating the activities of the GrowthHub and participating startups and entrepreneurs.

Expertise:

• Ecosystem Development: Ian excels in ecosystem development, leveraging his expertise to create conducive environments for startups to thrive.
• Contract Negotiation: With a strong background in business facilitation, Ian is skilled in negotiating contracts and partnerships to drive growth and expansion.
• Business Acceleration: He is adept at delivering business acceleration services that help SMEs scale and achieve their growth objectives.
• Networking and Collaboration: Ian is passionate about building networks and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to support entrepreneurship in Africa.

Contributions to ASEB: As a board member of ASEB, Ian brings a wealth of experience in ecosystem development and entrepreneur support. His deep understanding of the African startup landscape and his track record of building impactful collaborations make him a valuable asset to ASEB’s mission of celebrating and supporting the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Vision for ASEB: Ian envisions ASEB as a catalyst for driving positive change and innovation in the African startup ecosystem. He is committed to leveraging ASEB’s platform to highlight the progress and achievements of entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders across the continent. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, Ian aims to foster an inclusive and vibrant ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs to create lasting impact and drive economic growth in Africa.