Call for Contributors: Book on the Future of Venture Funding in Emerging Markets
Startup Picnic Venture Studio, in partnership with our associated company Bula Buka Publishers, which I founded over 10 years ago, we are launching a collaborative project to compile a book tentatively titled “Future of Venture Funding in Emerging Markets.” This is a call for contributors to be part of this important publication, which is planned for release in 2026.
We are seeking founders, investors, operators, and thought leaders in startups, venture capital, private equity, venture studios, and any type of fund to share technical insights, unique experiences, and lessons learned from emerging markets and including their perspective on what the future of venture funding in emerging markets will or should be.
Contributors are encouraged to provide content that goes beyond averages and conventional metrics, passing what we call a “non-ergodicity and fat-tail test.”
For context: imagine ten startups each raising $1 million. Nine fail completely, and one succeeds spectacularly, scaling to $100 million. A simple average would suggest each startup “made” $10 million, which is misleading and hides the true distribution of risk and reward. This illustrates the fat-tail phenomenon, where extreme outcomes dominate returns. Understanding these dynamics is essential in venture funding, and this book will focus on insights that uncover the real patterns behind success, failure, and market potential.
Who Should Contribute
- Founders, executives, or operators from anywhere in the world.
- Venture capitalists, angel investors, venture studio professionals or anyone with experience with other types of venture funds.
- Contributors with technical knowledge and unique experiences that can offer fresh perspectives on venture funding.
Contributors should submit a detailed profile including name, age, and why they qualify to contribute. Profiles must be attached to the submission.
Submission details:
- Deadline: 12 December 2025
- Send to: venturebook@startuppicnic.co.za
About Emerging Markets
Emerging markets are economies with rapid growth potential, youthful populations, and evolving entrepreneurial ecosystems. Examples include:
- Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt
- Asia: India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines
- Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile
- Eastern Europe & Middle East: Poland, Turkey, UAE, Israel
These regions offer significant opportunities for venture funding but require nuanced strategies to navigate higher risk, market volatility, and infrastructure gaps.
Why Venture Studios Are Critical
Venture studios—also called startup studios or startup factories—are gaining traction worldwide, creating companies from internal ideas rather than just investing in external startups. They provide operational infrastructure, talent, and repeatable playbooks, leading to higher success rates.
Global examples: Rocket Internet (Germany), Betaworks (USA), eFounders (France), Antler (Singapore)
Emerging market pioneers: Enygma Ventures (Africa), StartupBootcamp AfriTech (Africa), 54 Collective (South Africa)
Key advantages of venture studios:
- Systematic risk reduction
- Resource sharing and operational efficiency
- Rapid iteration and learning
- Market timing agility
By applying industrialized entrepreneurship, studios can reduce startup randomness, leverage shared technology and talent, and address non-ergodic outcomes where extreme successes dominate returns.
About Startup Picnic Venture Studio
SPVS’ founding focus is on converting African intellectual property (IP) into scalable ventures. Leveraging AI, technology, and operational expertise, we transform manuscripts, stories, and cultural content into books, films, series, merchandise, and derivative products.
Bula Buka Publishers
Publishes titles to major retailers and provides a platform for emerging African authors.
About me
I’m the founder of Startup Picnic Venture Studio and Bula Buka Publishers, a publisher for over 10 years. I’ve authored 10 books and pioneered the “Diary Chronicles” genre, a distinctive African literary category that has opened new readership markets across the continent.
With 12+ years in publishing, I have deep experience in manuscript acquisition, publishing, distribution, and monetizing intellectual property. I’m currently a Venture Fellow with VC Labs Venture Studio, refining models for funding, scaling, and commercializing African IP.
I write about innovation, economics, township economies, entrepreneurship, Ubuntu Stoicism, behavior, and ergodicity. My background in product development spans hundreds of products across publishing, fashion, beverages, education, music tech, and events, giving me a multidisciplinary edge in spotting opportunities and scaling IP into multiple commercial verticals.
Why This Book Matters
This book is both a learning journey and a knowledge-sharing initiative. I want to explore how venture studios can serve as engines of economic development in Africa and other emerging markets. Contributors will help shape the understanding of venture funding dynamics, highlighting lessons that go beyond averages and reveal true upside potential.
By participating, you can share your unique perspective, influence emerging market venture practices, and join a community of experts shaping the future of funding.
Submission Reminder
- Deadline: 12 December 2025
- Email: venturebook@startuppicnic.co.za
- Attach a profile with name, age, and qualifications.
This book will be published by Bula Buka Publishers in 2026, creating a platform for innovative thought leadership in venture funding across emerging markets.
Startup Picnic Venture Studio, in partnership with our associated company Bula Buka Publishers, which I founded over 10 years ago, we are launching a collaborative project to compile a book tentatively titled “Future of Venture Funding in Emerging Markets.” This is a call for contributors to be part of this important publication, which is planned…