What does it take to move an entire ecosystem forward?
Sometimes, it starts with a room full of people who believe deeply and are all aligned around one theme: Momentum.
That was the atmosphere on May 23, 2025, as The Builders Summit by Founders Connect unfolded at Balmoral Convention Centre. With over a thousand tech founders, investors, operators, talents, and dreamers in the room, the energy was undeniable.
There was an unspoken understanding that Africa’s tech story is still being written and that the people in that room were shaping the next chapter.
A milestone moment for the ecosystem
In a sector that thrives on resilience, collaboration, and bold innovation, The Builders Summit 2025 represented far more than just another industry event, it was a cultural reset. The kind of convening that reminds us all why storytelling, intentional networks, and purposeful conversations remain the lifeblood of scalable African ventures.
The summit served as a mirror and a map showing us who we are as a community and what we could become. At a time when founders are navigating tough markets, creators are rethinking value and influence, and investors are becoming more discerning, the theme of Momentum could not have been more apt.
Peace Itimi, Founder of Founders Connect and the visionary behind the event, set the tone early on:
“Momentum is literally the catalyst for growth and innovation. If you never take a step, you never get to where you want to get to. It’s progress that builds over time.”
From that moment, the day took off with an electric charge
A day of stories, strategy, and sparks
You could feel the intensity in every corner- ideas exchanged between sessions and countless moments where people paused and thought, “Yes, this is exactly what I needed to hear.”
In a conversation between Peace Itimi and David Adeleke, she reflected on her driving force, stating that her mission centers on impacting African builders. Her words were a challenge to everyone in the room to be intentional with their work and to tell their own stories because, as she noted, “Africans don’t tell their stories enough.”
And that theme echoed throughout the day.
In a session on the power of media in ecosystem growth, Joyce Imiegha and Tomiwa Aladekomo discussed the critical role media plays in accelerating growth for founders and talents. Joyce emphasized the importance of storytelling, how sharing your journey, no matter what stage you’re in, builds trust, visibility, and momentum..
One of the most engaging sessions of the day centered on how African founders can win in tough markets – a topic that resonated with nearly everyone in the room.
Damilola Teidi, Head of Platform and Networks at Ventures Platform, offered practical insight rooted in her experience as an investor. She mentioned what she looks our for in founders before investing – founders who can evolve. Her advice felt less like investor criteria and more like survival tools for entrepreneurs navigating unpredictable terrain.
Ireayo Oladunjoye, Managing Director at Endeavor, also stressed the importance of storytelling but added a layer: collaboration. She encouraged founders to work more closely with industry players and build together.
Creators in the spotlight
But the summit didn’t stop at tech, it created space for creatives, recognizing their growing influence in shaping Africa’s innovation landscape.
In a highly anticipated keynote, Fisayo Fosudo delivered a compelling session on what it means to be a creator of value. After all, who doesn’t want to build a thriving career from creativity?
Fisayo shared practical, actionable insights on how creatives can turn their craft into sustainable income. He emphasized the importance of showing up with your best work, building trust with your audience, and maintaining consistency as the bedrock of mastery and long-term success.
And when it came to unlocking funding for creatives, Nora Awolowo, Fuad Lawal, Wale Lawal, and David Adeleke led a rich panel discussion on the state and future of the creator economy. From monetization models to building credibility, they shared insights that left the room buzzing.
Momentum forward: The path to 2026
As the event drew to a close and conversations transitioned from the room to LinkedIn profiles and DM exchanges, one thing was clear: The Builders Summit 2025 wasn’t just a moment, it was a call to action. It created alignment across industries, connecting everyone from tech founders to creatives, operators to storytellers, and igniting a shared sense of responsibility to push the ecosystem forward.
But momentum doesn’t end with inspiration, it thrives on execution.
The real measure of the summit’s impact will be seen in the ideas that turn into startups, the content that finds new audiences, the collaborations that scale, and the communities that grow stronger. Every connection made, note taken, and challenge issued was a seed and 2026 is the harvest year.
With the bar set high and a renewed sense of clarity and purpose, the countdown to The Builders Summit 2026 is already underway. Expect not just more stories, but stories of results. Not just more builders, but builders who took action.
