After building a successful career in media & entertainment, Biola Alabi dove into the world of angel investing in 2016. Actively engaging in various startup investments across Africa, she naturally immersed herself in the continent’s startup ecosystem. As she did so, Biola quickly saw a significant funding gap for female founders.
“This realization deeply resonated with me and my fellow angel investors, as we had experienced fundraising challenges as entrepreneurs.”
Biola recognized this gap as an opportunity that would eventually lead her to becoming a General Partner at Acasia Ventures, a fund with a presence in Cairo, Nigeria, and Dubai, committed to fostering investment across the African continent.
In 2023, Biola discovered VC Unlocked and was drawn to the program’s emphasis on theory and practical advice, gender diversity and community building. She took the leap and joined the 10th cohort of VC Unlocked Silicon Valley.
VC Unlocked gave Biola a clear and unfiltered understanding of the difficulties fund managers encounter, regardless of whether they were experienced veterans with a track record of successful funds or newcomers beginning their first venture.
The program provided a much-needed dose of reality on the path of an emerging fund manager. However, it also reinforced the notion that the opportunities within Africa are too vast and promising to be deterred by these obstacles.”
Biola Alabi
As a General Partner, Biola recognizes that navigating this path can often feel like a solitary journey. After joining 46 diverse emerging venture capitalists hailing from 21 different countries in VC Unlocked, Biola walked away from the program with a robust support network.
“This community of emerging managers has become invaluable partners in my ongoing journey. This program has opened doors to a global community of peers, where the richness of diversity enhances our collective growth.”
Leaving VC Unlocked, Biola’s optimism about the future of African venture capital is ‘stronger than ever’. She departed from VC Unlocked with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, equipped with the knowledge and connections necessary with an aim to create a lasting influence on the African venture capital landscape.
Interested in VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley? Join our 2024 waitlist here.
DISCLAIMER: 500 GLOBAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ARE OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C. (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES.
ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS BLOG IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ...
DISCLAIMER: 500 GLOBAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ARE OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L.L.C. (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L.L.C. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES.
ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS BLOG IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL 500 GLOBAL PERSONNEL, OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS QUOTED AND ARE NOT THE VIEWS OF 500 GLOBAL OR ITS AFFILIATES. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN MAY HAVE BEEN OBTAINED FROM THIRD-PARTY SOURCES, INCLUDING FROM PORTFOLIO COMPANIES OF FUNDS MANAGED BY 500 GLOBAL. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN AND WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. IN ADDITION, THIS CONTENT MAY INCLUDE THIRD-PARTY ADVERTISEMENTS OR LINKS; 500 GLOBAL HAS NOT REVIEWED SUCH ADVERTISEMENTS AND DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY ADVERTISING CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS POST BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT, LEGAL, TAX OR ACCOUNTING ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS POST, BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES. FURTHER, NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN IS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING THEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND.
ALL LOGOS AND TRADEMARKS OF THIRD PARTIES REFERENCED HEREIN ARE THE LOGOS AND TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS AND ANY INCLUSION OF SUCH TRADEMARK OR LOGO DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE ANY APPROVAL, ENDORSEMENT OR SPONSORSHIP OF 500 GLOBAL BY SUCH OWNERS.
