Dear Readers,

Africa’s age-old problems cannot be solved with outdated methods. The continent’s immense challenges require more than petty ideas, piecemeal approaches, isolated efforts, small capital, or inside-the-box, technocratic solutions. If anyone believes I am wrong, I can only say, suit yourself and be content with the status quo, and see where it leads. I am certain of where we are heading if we maintain the current path.

We have seen where the status quo and conventional thinking have taken us: nowhere. It is clearly time to change our way of thinking, our perspectives, the models we use, and the strategies we adopt. At the very least, we can learn from those who have succeeded or try new proposals to see where they lead us. In Africa, failure should not be our primary concern; rather, it is the missed opportunities that should truly pain us.

For me, it’s time for expansive, outside-the-box thinking, collaborative efforts, creative models, and bold moves. Those who are comfortable with the current norms will always remind you to settle, arguing predictably that “this is not how it’s done.” They will tell you that savvy investors are accustomed to a certain way of thinking, and therefore you should comply. They suggest that modern investors have a set way of doing things, and you should not deviate. But I question, is this truly the case?

Do investors truly desire the status quo? I highly doubt it.

I believe those who have reached the top 1% of the 1% are constantly seeking exciting initiatives, smarter ways of doing things, and most importantly, especially these days, how much impact they are making. They have moved past the stage where profit alone, the foundation of traditional capitalism, is their sole focus. I also believe there is nothing more tedious to them than the status quo, repeating the same boring methods. My point is that, if not all, a growing number of investors are looking for change and impact.

Unfortunately, these individuals often do not encounter many truly interesting proposals, as they are often surrounded by nay-saying gatekeepers, technocrats, and guardians of the status quo. What truly surprises me is when the investment world, which tolerates the failure of 90% of startups, is afraid of exploring new opportunities. This paradigm must drastically change, particularly when we consider solving Africa’s immense problems.

My argument is straightforward: you cannot solve old problems with outdated solutions. We must constantly seek miraculously impactful solutions, and there is no reason why, through a concerted effort, we cannot solve these problems. Africa’s problems are not God-ordained, nor are they the destiny of Africa’s population.

All we need is to figure out the right formulas to address them. We need to have the courage to face these huge challenges head-on, explore beyond our comfort zones, and experiment with radical solutions.

Now, to conclude my “old man’s gibberish colloquium,” let me propose a radical solution for us to consider: the holistic economic ecosystem approach. The specific one I am referring to is the Impact Africa Economic Ecosystem (IAEE) alternative, which is what we are currently developing. I believe people should be aware of this and be given the opportunity to participate if they desire.

The Impact Africa Economic Ecosystem’s (IAEE) primary mission for the next decade is to bring the IAEE to life: a fully integrated, multi-sector, Pan-African economic system. The IAEE aims to establish and support 50,000 Economically Sustainable Communities (ESCs) throughout Africa.

The establishment of AIIH stems from a strong belief that Africa’s huge problems cannot be solved with petty ideas, micro-projects, small investments, or individualized efforts. Aid alone cannot address Africa’s pain points, which are characterized by a critical lack of investment that stifles economic growth and development across the continent. Investors often grapple with investment phobia, stemming from perceived risks and uncertainties, discouraging substantial financial commitments. Most initiatives are approached piecemeal, focusing on singular projects rather than comprehensive, integrated solutions. This fragmented strategy mostly leads to separate and individual efforts that fail to create significant impact.

IAEE is a bold and aggressive solution to addressing Africa’s pressing challenges. It targets to impact 50,000 communities throughout Africa, directly affecting 250 million people and indirectly impacting 1 billion. With a goal of achieving 1 trillion USD in assets under management, IAEE will become the single most impactful initiative on the continent.

Under the IAEE umbrella, farmers will thrive in self-sustaining modern rural towns, women will process agricultural products for direct export or local sales, and youth will engage in technology projects. Urban community development will feature supermarkets, banks, educational centers, health facilities, and alternative energy solutions. The farms will supply produce to supermarkets, logistics will manage storage and transportation, and a construction subsidiary will build community structures. The bank will provide financing, creating a synergistic ecosystem that supports and enriches all participants.

To realize this ambitious vision, IAEE is raising 20 billion USD in capital over the next five years through debt financing via convertible notes. Our unique Pooled Impact Investment Capital Account (PIICA) model offers various strategies, including PIICA-PI (Profit-and-Invest) and PIICA-IP (Invest-and-Profit), PIICA-EPC (Exclusive Provider Corporate), and PIICA-Sponsor strategies.

By participating in the IAEE platform, investors and sponsors not only contribute to making an impact but also receive benefits such as a 5% annual interest, an exclusive 25% discount when converting to equity, and preferential opportunities for doing business with IAEE. IAEE’s motto, “Building a Better World Together Using the Best Model Ever,” reflects a commitment to collaborative progress and sustainable impact. By leveraging the Impact, Collective, and PIICA’s profit-then-invest model, we prioritize financial success alongside social and environmental responsibility. This approach fosters a community-driven ecosystem where profits are reinvested to enhance lives and empower communities, striving for a brighter, more equitable future for all.

IAEE operates as an innovative startup under a private LLC structure, distinct from traditional private equity, venture capital, and hedge fund models. We are dedicated to developing a collaborative impact investment platform that connects impact investors with opportunities designed to foster meaningful change across the continent. Our exclusive focus enables the creation of a comprehensive economic ecosystem prioritizing sustainability and social responsibility. The IAEE process consists of four distinct phases guiding the lifecycle of investments. Phase 1, capital mobilization, involves gathering financial resources from various sources to create a pool of capital. Phase 2, investment selection, allocates identified capital to potential investment opportunities through thorough due diligence and market analysis. Phase 3, implementation and operation, deploys capital into selected investments and manages those assets effectively. Phase 4, maturity and conversion, marks the final stage where investments reach their peak value, focusing on realizing returns and converting investments into liquid capital for reinvestment or distribution.

To conclude, when I considered sharing this blog, I felt I had to clarify something first. I know many will immediately object to the mere fact that we conceived such a daring idea. They will try their best to first justify and rationalize why it won’t work, or if that fails, they will outrightly attempt to corrupt our effort or threaten us by mentioning past anecdotes, simply because they are afraid of change and stepping out of their comfort zones. But I ask, what better approach is there to prove something doesn’t work unless you try it? Yes, we have failed many times, but the point is not to give up, but to keep trying until it is done. That is the beauty of being alive: you get the opportunity to learn from mistakes and failures and grow. Therefore, dear readers, it is my honor to invite you to join us and to collectively experiment with this initiative to see where it takes us. Hopefully to a better place, as we cannot get any lower or worse than we are now.

Sincerely,
Fisseha Habtemariam