About
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Kola is an experienced investor, insightful non-executive director, and company chair who is passionate about supporting the growth of startups. He is the founding partner at the Pan-African early-stage VC fund, Ventures Platform Fund.
He has a proven track record of success in leading investments in over 100 companies across Africa, India, and the US. This includes payment companies like Paystack and healthcare companies like MDaaS. Kola was also the founder and former CEO of Emerging Platforms, a leading enterprise software provider in West Africa. He has established extensive networks in the private sector, development partners, financiers, governments, and regulators.
With vast experience in Africa's most significant economic market, Kola is an entrepreneur, technology operator, and venture capital investor. He brings expertise across various sectors, including venture capital, technology, media, agriculture, infrastructure, publishing, and real estate. Additionally, he has a strong interest in the arts.
Kola actively participates in mentoring programs such as XL Africa, the World Bank Accelerator, and Google Launchpad Accelerator. He serves on the boards of multiple organizations, including ARM Financial Advisers, Iron Global Markets, and Reliance HMO. He is the chair of the board of governors of the Lagos Angel Network.
As an avid art patron, Kola chairs the advisory board of the Yemisi Shyllon Art Museum and is a member of the Africa Acquisitions Committee (AAC) at the Tate Museum. He is also a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and a fellow of the Aspen Institute USA (ALIWA).
Kola holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. He has furthered his education at prestigious institutions such as Berkeley, Harvard, and the Lagos Business School.
With a passion for mentoring and advising young entrepreneurs who are creating solutions for underserved markets, Kola has been invited to speak at numerous local and international events on topics like technology, entrepreneurship, social change, and more. Notably, he gave a TED talk at TEDxEuston on the topic "Who will own our future unicorns?" and spoke at Techcrunch Startup Battlefield Africa 2019.
Kola has received multiple awards and has been featured in various lists, recognizing his contributions to the Nigerian tech industry and beyond.
In his free time, he enjoys writing on his blog and Twitter about topics he is passionate about, reading books, and spending time with his family.
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