From Classroom to Boardroom: How HSCF Opens Doors to Real-World Investment Discussions for University Students

Picture This: You're 22 and Sitting at the Table with CEOs, Investors, and Industry Leaders

Imagine walking into a room in Accra, Ghana, where electric vehicle manufacturers are discussing carbon credit deals with Switzerland, coffee entrepreneurs are exploring battery swap station partnerships, and venture capitalists are breaking down what makes businesses "revenue-ready" and "capital-eligible." Now imagine you're not just observing—you're participating, learning, and networking with the very people shaping Africa's economic future.

And there are still opportunities for you to join these conversations. We have two more sessions remaining: Kenya (postponed to October 2025) and South Africa (November 2025, alongside the G20 Summit in Johannesburg).

What HSCF Offers: Your Gateway to Global Business Leadership

HSCF by UNUM One Foundation is changing how university students and early career professionals access real-world business environments. Through our partnership with UNUM Capital Investments, we're providing unprecedented access to Investment Roundtable Sessions and the Global Investment Summit: HORIZON across Africa and the Middle East.

The Experience: More Than Just Networking

When you join an HSCF session, you're not getting a sanitized classroom version of business. You're getting the unfiltered reality—complete with the challenges, opportunities, and honest conversations that drive real investment decisions.

Valerie Labi, CEO of Wahu Mobility. Also leading the EV market in West Africa

At the Ghana roundtable, participants witnessed:

• Valerie Labi, CEO of Wahu Mobility, explaining how her company secured a five-year carbon credit contract with Switzerland by securitizing future carbon revenue

• Candid discussions about entrepreneurship barriers, including how women entrepreneurs face additional challenges accessing land as collateral

• Real-time problem-solving around issues like Ghana's lack of legal EV definitions preventing proper regulation and investment

• Strategic thinking about scaling businesses locally versus globally, with practical advice on team building and revenue generation

What You'll Gain: Five Game-Changing Benefits

1. Exposure to Global Business Strategies

Gain context from top industry experts and thought-leaders as they tackle real challenges. Watch how a CEO pivots from hardware manufacturing to creating digital ecosystems, or how entrepreneurs structure deals across international markets.

2. Networking Opportunities

Access a global network of business professionals, enhancing career growth and mentorship opportunities. The connections you make aren't just LinkedIn adds—they're potential collaborators, mentors, and future business partners.

3. Practical Insights into Economic Development

Understand the intersection of technology, investment, and growth. Learn how carbon markets work, why digitization matters for land registry, and how regulatory frameworks can either accelerate or hinder innovation.

4. Leadership Development

Hone leadership skills by actively participating in discussions on projects that are shaping the region. You're not just learning about leadership—you're practicing it in real-time with real stakes.

5. Career Exploration

A unique opportunity to differentiate yourself in the job market. While your peers are still figuring out what industries interest them, you'll have firsthand experience with venture capital, sustainable technology, agricultural innovation, and international development.

The Reality Check: What These Sessions Really Teach You

Business Isn't Just About Good Ideas—It's About Execution

As UNUM's Tina Taylor bluntly stated at the Ghana session: "Many people can't clearly explain what revenue is, much less how to generate it." These roundtables strip away the glamour of entrepreneurship and focus on fundamentals: proper structure, the right team, clear revenue models, and realistic scaling strategies.

Africa's Markets Offer Unique Opportunities

With Ghana having 1.2 acres of land per person—more than double the global average—there are massive opportunities in agriculture, technology, and sustainable development. But success requires understanding local dynamics, regulatory challenges, and cultural contexts that you simply can't learn from textbooks.

Innovation Happens at the Intersection

The most exciting opportunities emerge where different sectors meet. Coffee shops doubling as EV battery swap stations. Pineapple waste becoming sustainable fabric. Carbon credits funding electric vehicle manufacturing. These intersections create entirely new business models and investment opportunities.

Your Next Step: Join the Conversation

HSCF sessions take you beyond theoretical knowledge into practical application. You'll leave with:

• A deeper understanding of how investment decisions are actually made

• Connections to industry leaders across multiple sectors

• Real-world experience that sets you apart in job interviews

• A broader perspective on global business challenges and opportunities

• Confidence to contribute meaningfully to high-level business discussions

The future of business is being shaped by young professionals who understand both global trends and local realities. By participating in HSCF's Investment Roundtable Sessions and HORIZON summits, you're not just preparing for your career—you're actively building it alongside the leaders who will define the next decade of African and Middle Eastern economic development.

Ready to move from observer to participant?

Your seat at the table is waiting.

Upcoming Opportunities: Two Sessions Remaining

• Kenya Session - October 2025 (Postponed from July) Join us as we explore East Africa's dynamic investment landscape and emerging opportunities in technology, agriculture, and sustainable development.

• South Africa Session - November 2025 Our culminating session will take place in Johannesburg alongside the G20 Summit, providing unparalleled access to global leaders and international investment discussions.

HSCF by UNUM One Foundation partners with UNUM Capital Investments to provide university students unprecedented access to real-world investment discussions across Africa and the Middle East.

University students can register for these exclusive opportunities at: Professional Development Registration: Click HERE

Note: Registration is exclusively available to current university students.