TAN in 2009

A Review of Operational Activities

This year, 2009, will be a challenging one for the African Network (TAN) organization. The global economic crisis will pose some financial obstacles to overcome, much more than in previous years. As a non-profit organization, TAN depends on organizational sponsorships for our events and conferences, and on membership dues to run operations. Indeed, the economic crisis could potentially limit our ability to execute multiple programs in the USA and Africa as we did in 2008. Nevertheless, with a focused attention on our mission statement and cautious optimism, we look forward to 2009 with positive sentiments hoping that our members and corporate sponsors will deliver.

As the organization expands, there was a need to make new operational appointments. After leading a successful 2008 TAN Conference, Luc Tengueu was appointed the new Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, he will lead TAN Membership Networking Event (MNE), Empowerment Program (TEP) and TANCon 2009. He has since selected Marie-Ange Eyoum as the TANCon USA Chair; Geanie Asante and Dennis Mattews as Co-Directors of the TEP Program. Globally, TAN Conference Africa 2009 goes to Sierra Leone. One time TAN Board Member and now, Founder and CEO Access Point Africa, Conrad Conyanda-Parkzes will lead the TAN African Conference in Sierra Leone. At the same token, Sade Sobande’s role as TAN Public Relation person expanded to include overseeing special projects. This additional role was necessary to accommodate some demands for joint events with some of our affiliates and corporate sponsors.

In all, in addition to the membership monthly events, TAN will host two entrepreneurship conferences this year (USA and Africa), two TEP programs (all in the USA), a joint half-day entrepreneurship workshop with Fenwick & West, LLP., a mid-year social event and an end of the year party for our members, friends and volunteers. Indeed, these are exciting and challenging times for us at TAN. We need committed and passionate individuals to volunteer and help us in this year’s activities. If interested, please send email to info@theafricannetwork.org or TAN executives at tan_executives@theafricannetwork.org.

In 2009, we look forward to your continued support of TAN and its activities. We depend on your ability to spread the words to friends and family about the premier African organization that is focused on promoting entrepreneurship on a global scale. We cannot do it without your support and encouragement, especially in these trying times. It’s our honor to serve you.

Paschal Iwuh
President & CEO
The African Network

Spotlight on Africa: Ghana

By Yaw Owusu

Ghana, the first Sub-Saharan nation to achieve political independence and the second most populous country in West Africa (pop: 22 million), has gone through tremendous changes in the last 25 years, with considerable improvements in national security, governance and economic expansion. Political stability in almost 30 years have helped stimulate GDP growth rate of between 5% and 6% in the last 10 years and 3% to 4% in the preceding decades. Buoyed by the discovery of oil in commercial quantities and set to begin production in first quarter of 2010, Ghana has the world's best-performing stock index this year, with a gain of 46 percent. The gain is fueled, in part, by a relative boom (by Sub-Saharan African standards) in tourism, real estate, financial services and information technology.

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TAN Event Highlights

	August 16, 2008 - Accra, Ghana TANCon Ghana 2008 View site The African Network inaugural conference on the African continent, called TANCon Africa, was held on Saturday August 16, 2008 at the La Palm Beach Royal Hotel, Accra, Ghana. The conference was well attended and featured exhibitions by some local as well international companies and organizations... Read more
	October 11, 2008 - Santa Clara, CA TAN Monthly Networking Event Gloria Guenther and Kurt Wiggins of the Venture Capital Private Equity (VCPE) Roundtable gave an engaging interactive presentation on the VCPE mission and goals, as well as a discussion on starting businesses in overseas markets – particularly in Dubai.
	November 1, 2008 - Palo Alto, CA TANCon US 2008 View site It was another successful year for The African Network yearly conference, TANCon 2008, an all-day event held November 1st at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto, CA.  With over 150 attendee... Read more
	January 24, 2009 - Mountain View, CA TAN Monthly Networking Event Julius Agbonbhase, a Financial Advisor at Waddell & Reed, gave a presentation on financial planning and its relevance for employees and those aspiring to start their own businesses. His presentation covered a wide array of topics including retirement planning, investment planning, risk management, and wealth accumulation.
	March 21, 2009 - Mountain View, CA TAN Monthly Networking Event An engaging presentation on learning what it takes to get to where one wants to go in financing one's business, locally or internationally, was given by Mary Uzoh, who is the City Small Business Development Commissioner in San Jose as well as the founder of Learning Right Technologies - a small business enterprise that specializes in ICT consulting and educational services/tools.

Feature TAN Member

An Interview with Yemi Lalude - Founder of Adlevo Capital

Yemi Lalude is the founder and Managing Partner of Adlevo Capital, a private equity firm focused on technology-enabled infrastructure and services investments in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to founding Adlevo Capital, Yemi Lalude was a Principal at Granite Global Ventures (GGV), a leading Silicon Valley-based expansion stage venture capital firm focused on technology related investments in the US and China. Yemi joined GGV as an early employee on its first fund and was involved in ten investments across three funds.

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