What if the key to raising funds in Africa lies not in the simple quality of a project, but in the art of thinking like those who hold the capital? Loïc Mackosso, founder of ARIES Investissement, has turned this conviction into a rigorous method that makes African entrepreneurs attractive partners for investors. Here’s how he works his financial alchemy.
The challenge: Seeing a partner where others see only a fund-seeker
In an ecosystem where too many entrepreneurs approach investors as supplicants, Loïc practices strategic partnership. His premise is that a capital investor doesn’t simply buy a project; they buy a team, a vision, and a partnership. The real challenge is to systematize this mental transformation, mastering the codes and expectations that determine 90% of investment decisions.
The expert: The Pan-African capital “concierge”
Formerly with the Development Bank of Central African States, Loïc Mackosso founded ARIES Investissement in 2015. Far from limiting himself to an intermediary role, he developed integrated expertise: he is simultaneously the strategist who understands investor psychology, the legal expert who masters shareholder agreement structuring, and the practitioner who has raised hundreds of millions for his clients. This triple competence allows him to control the entire value chain, from pitch preparation to closing.
His method: The alchemy of investor partnership
Having a good project is not enough. “Imagine you are the driver of a vehicle and someone wants to get in. Naturally, they will want to make sure you know how to drive and that your vehicle is in good condition.” The investor is that passenger—they don’t just bring fuel, they accompany you on the adventure. For Loïc, any project rests on three legs:
- Time: Can you dedicate yourself 100% to your business?
- Knowledge/Competence: Do you know your sector inside out?
- Money: The investor brings what’s missing, in exchange for a share of control.
Your “storytelling” must answer 5 crucial questions:
- What urgent and concrete problem are you solving?
- How is your solution innovative and disruptive?
- What is the real size of your market?
- What are your distinctive skills?
- How will the investor concretely make money?
Loïc prefers an entrepreneur who clearly presents the risks and their mitigation plans over a dreamer who only envisions success. “Show that you know the risks of your sector; it’s the best proof of your seriousness.”
The result: From orphan startup to win-win partnership
This methodology transforms promising but poorly presented projects into irresistible investment opportunities. By mastering both the human and technical dimensions of fundraising, Loïc enables his clients to attract not donors, but strategic partners. The result is a virtuous cycle: entrepreneurs who retain control while accessing capital, and investors who find in Africa the returns and impact they seek.
From theory to action
This fundraising philosophy is just the tip of the iceberg. In his exclusive case study “How Loïc Mackosso Helped Companies Convince the Most Demanding Investors and Raise Millions of Euros in Africa,” he reveals his most refined techniques: investor due diligence, shareholder agreement negotiation, and roadshow preparation.
- If you are ready to change your perspective on fundraising and master the art of investor partnership, access his case study on ENTOURAGE+.
- If you want to go further and adapt his method to your projects, book a session with Loïc Mackosso on Entourage and discuss your challenges and financing trajectory in Africa one-on-one.
