Alternative VC Investing: Building Stronger Last-Mile Ecosystems to Drive Startup Growth in Africa with David Ogundeko

Episode 158 with David Ogundeko, a poet, entrepreneur, and venture steward. David is the founder and CEO of Funema, a last-mile, impact-driven, alternative investment company with a presence in Pennsylvania, Lagos, and Cape Town.

Funema is an impact venture building company investing cash-in-kind, providing a combination of capital and venture-building services to early-stage companies. These companies focus on developing B2B vertical market software solutions that drive the digital transformation of small businesses, empowering them to evolve into thriving, tech-enabled enterprises.

David shares his philosophy at Funema, where the mission is grounded in the belief that they are graced with the ability to support, partner with, and co-create innovative solutions alongside visionary entrepreneurs. These efforts are aimed at addressing the unique developmental challenges of underserved communities in emerging markets by leveraging inclusive innovations and contextualised technologies.

What We Discuss With David

• Funema's venture-building-for-equity model and how it operates effectively in emerging markets.
• The misalignment of traditional VC models with the needs of emerging markets and the alternative approaches required.
• Funema’s distinctive approach to “building visionary people” and its impact on the African investment landscape.
• Strategies for developing a talent pipeline equipped for long-term leadership roles and sustained success.
• The essential business skills entrepreneurs in emerging markets need to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.

Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Family, Technology, and Inclusion: How a Tunisian Online Accelerator is Empowering Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Talent? Make sure to check it out!

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Connect with Terser:
LinkedIn – Terser Adamu
Instagram – unlockingafrica
Twitter (X) – @TerserAdamu

Connect with David:
LinkedIn – David Ogundeko
Twitter (X) – @TeleDaveDeko

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