Idris Bello

Venture capital investor who has backed 45 startups across 12 African countries over the past decade. Co-founded one of the first seed-stage funds focused on Francophone West Africa. MBA from Lagos Business School, started his career at Goldman Sachs in London before returning to Lagos at 27 because he was tired of explaining African markets to people who had never been there. His portfolio includes 3 companies valued at over M and one spectacular failure he writes about openly. Covers the African startup ecosystem, what global VCs get wrong about the continent, why infrastructure constraints create different kinds of innovation, and the difference between building for Palo Alto and building for Lagos. Known for his 'Investor Memo' series where he publishes his actual investment memos (with permission) and explains his reasoning. Thinks the next decade of tech innovation will be defined by emerging markets, not Silicon Valley. Plays competitive table tennis with the same intensity he brings to term sheet negotiations.