About AfDES
In 2015, the African Affairs Advisory Group of Montgomery County was selected to host the third African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM III). The event was a success and saw 35 innovative finalists from a pool of 400 applicants from across the US advance to the finale. It is from this event that the African Diaspora Entrepreneurship Summit was born. The overwhelmingly positive response to ADM III from area entrepreneurs revealed a need for a platform for local African born entrepreneurs. The first locally and independently organized AfDES took place at the Silver Spring Civic Center in 2017, with over 80 attendees, 11 speakers, and numerous vendors. In 2018, the event moved to a larger space at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center.
Promoting sustainable economic growth and job creation in Africa
by supporting African diaspora entrepreneurs.
Our Support
In collaboration with Immigrant Community Services, Help Africa and I/O Spaces, Mansa Colabs, LLC, managed stakeholder engagement, event planning, content development and communications for this unique event that connected the African Diaspora to entrepreneurs, leading practicioners and local government.
Learn and Watch Speakers from AfDES
