VC-BootCamp 2025
A.I. Investment: New Paradigm
March 11-12, 2025at Stanford University
Featuring:
- A deep dive in AI Investments
- Africa Innovation Potential
In this edition, main topics include:
- A deep dive in AI Investments
- Unlock Africa’s Innovation Potential
- Build Global VC Connections
- Access Exclusive Dealflow
- Connect with LPs
Main Sponsors & Partners:












✦ 7th Edition
What is VC-BootCamp?
VC-BootCamp (VC-BC) is a well-established symposium held annually in Silicon Valley each March. This innovation-centric event takes place at prestigious venues such as Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB), UC Berkeley, and Skydeck.
The mission of VC-BC is to connect venture capitalists, institutional investors, and entrepreneurs from over 60 countries, fostering collaboration and building bridges across ecosystems. The focus for the 2025 edition will be Africa—aiming to unlock its untapped potential and create cross-border collaboration opportunities.
For the past 7 years, the VC-Bootcamp has welcomed over 1000 participants that have engaged in the following:
keynote speakers
who have addressed the opportunities emerging from building bridges between global innovation ecosystems
RECEPTIONS
where corporate executives, leaders, and investors can exchange on strategy, investments and talent attraction
PITCH Competition
for Start-Ups and Scale-Ups
VISITS
to SKYDECK (Plug & Play Incubator), Stanford University, and UC Berkeley
Build Global VC Connections
Collaborate with top VCs from Silicon Valley, Europe, and Africa. Forge partnerships that unlock cross-border opportunities and de-risk emerging market investments.
Access Exclusive Dealflow
Through partnerships with Stanford LISA and SkyDeck, gain access to curated startups ready to scale globally.
Connect with LPs
Meet institutional investors, family offices, and fund-of-funds exploring innovative theses and new regions.
Africa ✦ 1.2 Billion People
on the cusp of Transformative Growth
✦ VC-Bootcamp 2025
Africa Focus
Connecting North American Innovation Ecosystems with Africa
Be part of the movement driving investment into Africa and beyond.
Main topics include:
- Unlock Africa’s Innovation Potential
- Build Global VC Connections
- Access Exclusive Dealflow
- Connect with LPs
The True Size of Africa
- Africa is the world leader in Mobile Money.
- Manufacturing output will double by 2025.
- 122 million users of mobile financial services.
- Unmet demand creates huge opportunity to innovate and scale.
- 54 countries expected to create the world’s largest free trade area.
- Extraordinary Growth and Profitability, if you have the right strategy.
credit: Kai Krause

Schedule
Monday, March 10, 2025
at Stanford
All Day
ME2WE GENERAL EVENTS
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
at Stanford
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
LUNCH
Arbuckle Dining Pavilion (GsB)
1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
NETWORKING
Meet with the VCs and Executives.
Arbuckle Dining Pavilion (GsB)
3:00 - 3:50 pm
VC-University: A Different Perspective
Adam Sterling
Associate Dean at Stanford Law School
3:55 - 4:05 pm
COMMUNITY OPEN MIC
You have 30sec to pitch ANYTHING to the VCs and audIence – Just raise your hand!
4:10 - 4:40 pm
Perspectives from Different Ecosystems
Cindy Zhong
Country Customer Engineering Leader, Canada Startups @ Google Cloud
Roger Luo
AI Builder Turned Investor, Embedding VC
4:40 - 5:00 pm
Perspectives From the Next Generation of VCs
Yuri Curumthaully
African Entrepreneurship Thought Leader
Paul Yung
Venture capital analyst at Monte Carlo Capital
Nadia Knouz
Public/Private Investment Africa
Anuj Totapudi
Managing Partner, N2 Ventures
5:00 - 5:05 pm
COMMUNITY OPEN MIC
You have 30sec to pitch ANYTHING to the VCs and audIence – Just raise your hand!
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Exclusive dinner with venture capitalists, limited partners, and industry leaders
Macarthur Park
27 University Avenue, Palo Alto
AI Adoption: A Linkedin Perspective
Sharat Raghavan
Director of Data Science & Research at LinkedIn; PhD and lecturer at Berkeley
How Can You Influence Your Innovation Ecosystem
Mahendra Ramsinghani
Managing Director, Secure Octane Investment
8:00 - 8:05 pm
COMMUNITY OPEN MIC
You have 30sec to pitch ANYTHING to the VCs and audIence – Just raise your hand!
9:00 pm
NETWORKING with the VCs and Executives
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
in Berkeley
9:00am- 12:00pm
VISITS: SKYDECK (UC BERKELEY ACCELERATOR)
Gregory LaBlanc
Professor at UC Berkeley
George Panagiotakopoulos
Head of Europe & Global Expansion
Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Lunch at Standford GsB
Keynote Speakers

Gregory LaBlanc
International speaker, Investor; Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Berkeley Haas; Academic fellow at Berkeley’s School of Engineering

Hoss - Hosni Zaouali
Co-Founder of Me2We at Stanford University; CEO of ConnectED-Labs, AI Avatars for Education

Sharat Raghavan
Director Data Science & Research @ LinkedIn | PhD & Berkeley Lecturer

George Panagiotakopoulos
Berkeley SkyDeck, Head of Europe & Global Expansion - Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development

Mahendra Ramsinghani
Managing Director, Secure Octane Investments

Roger Luo
AI Builder turned Investor, Embedding VC

Adam Sterling
Associate Dean, Stanford Law School

Cindy Zhong
Country Customer Engineering Leader, Canada Startups, Google Cloud





Maximizing Your Return on Attendance
Explore Africa’s potential - VC Bootcamp connects you with trusted partners and insights to mitigate risks and unlock opportunities.
De-Risking Emerging Market Investments
Collaborate with Local Experts African agencies and enablers provide critical insights into regulatory landscapes, market dynamics, and scaling strategies. Partner with Seasoned VCs & Executives Work with European and African VCs and development agencies already investing in frontier markets to share knowledge and reduce risks. Learn Proven Strategies Gain actionable insights from case studies and panels on navigating cross-border investments and scaling globally."
Connecting with Institutional LPs
Find the right partners to fund your boldest investment theses. LPs Looking for Innovation Meet fund-of-funds, family offices, and institutional investors interested in Africa-focused or cross-border strategies. Raise Capital for Bold Theses Build relationships with LPs exploring high-growth opportunities in Africa or co-investment in global startups. Expand Your Network Engage with LPs eager to connect with forward-thinking US VCs.
Practical Takeaways
Walk away with actionable insights and connections to drive your success. Access to Curated Dealflow Participate in exclusive pitch competitions and startup showcases from Stanford LISA and SkyDeck pipelines. Personalized Matchmaking Opportunities Introductions to LPs, VCs, and African innovation enablers tailored to your interests.

Sponsorship Opportunities
Main Sponsors & Partners:






Registration
StanfordLEAD participants
General Registration
$290 USD
Includes event, dinner, pitch competition, meet the LPs, and executives