Intro

I’m a highly entrepreneurial strategist with a depth of experience building and investing in early-stage startups. I’m passionate about bringing people together to solve some of the most defining problems we face today. I resist the urge to define myself - or my work - too narrowly. I thrive in that fertile space where cross-pollination occurs.

My bio

Startups

I’m interested in catalysing bottom-up innovation to solve some of the most pressing challenges we face today. I’m particularly interested in solutions and approaches that are deeply imaginative, highly scalable, and create positive impact. While I’m not able to engage with most startups on a 1-1 basis, I’ve created and curated a set of resources to help startups on their scaling journey.

Resources

Customer Development - slides

Validation - slides

Fundraising - collection of resources

Investing

I founded Origin Twenty to invest in African tech at pre-seed and seed. I’m sector agnostic, but have a heavy leaning towards highly scalable, infrastructure-led solutions. I come from a background of commercialising deeptech. I like unsexy tech, the stuff that sits in the background powering other technology solutions.

Get involved

Invest with me

Apply for funding (African startups only)

Learn more about investing in Africa

Speaking

I’ve spoken at international conferences, on virtual and in-person panels, and have been invited into companies as a guest speaker. I’m interested in engaging with audiences in settings where meaningful discussion can take place. I speak to start conversations, and to move them forward.

Topics

  • As a natural introvert, I’ve found that my superpowers as a leader stem from my authentic expression of self: my vulnerability, my desire to build deep connections, my commitment to levelling the playing field. I use my personal story to help us all expand our capacity for vulnerability, understanding, connection, and courage.

  • It is our collective responsibility to build a better future. I categorically believe we will not get there without the contributions and participation of the widest set of individuals. And yet we build homogeneity into our organisations. There is much to be said about the benefits of diversity for the bottom line - I engage from the personal perspective, the human story that we can all connect to, and that can drive us to act.

  • The African continent is poised for large scale transformation - if we can catalyse and direct capital to power the next frontier of tech solutions. I founded Origin Twenty because of the incredible opportunity in front of us to supercharge the next generation of African founders.

  • I love to build and I love helping others build. I’ve spoken on entrepreneurship at a range of organisations and forums including universities like UCL, accelerators, incubators and investors like YSYS, Black Seed, Benue Capital, and more.

Writing

I mainly write fiction and poetry. I currently publish nonfiction via my Medium page. I will soon be launching a newsletter - I Used to Live There - to chronicle parts of my personal journey and invite others to share parts of their stories that don’t typically find space for expression.

Explore

Let's connect.

Let's connect.