Hello African Catalyst,

At the end of September, we’re closing applications for our 6th CatalyzU Venture Capital Cohort. It’s incredible to think that we’re wrapping up our 6th VC cohort in under two years of operations.

For our 6th cohort, we’re again welcoming a group from 54 Collective (formerly Founders Factory Africa). The team from 54 Collective works across investment, operations, and their Academy. They bring real-world experiences to complement those of external fellows and lectures from VC experts. 

If you’re still undecided about whether the fellowship is for you, grab a slot with one of our founders. Applications close on 27 September. 

We’re adding another feather to our cap: the CatalyzU Sales Success Fellowship will open for applications on 1 October. 

The Sales Success Fellowship is a focused, 5-week program designed to equip aspiring sales professionals, especially those in the BPO sector, with the skills and strategies needed to excel.

We hope to welcome you to our flagship VC or new Sales Success Fellowship in the future. 

Until next time,
Anthea
Head of Operations

Meet the newest Young African Catalysts - graduates of the 5th Cohort of the CatalyzU Venture Capital Fellowship!

Cohort Stats:

• Top 3 sectors: venture capital, financial services and startups
• Top 3 countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya
• The gender split: 45% female / 55% male

Some of our graduates are exploring new career opportunities, so if you're interested in hiring from our cohort, email us [email protected].

See the 5th Cohort Showcase

In our August webinar, Demystifying the VC Winter, we discussed the current VC landscape in Africa, highlighting challenges, funding gaps, and alternative financing for entrepreneurs.

Here are a few takeaways:

Vacancies

Who is Grace Jerolgan?
I am a 28 years old Congolese entrepreneur, passionate about financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa. Currently, I serve as the Co-founder and CEO of Futa, an innovative fintech platform designed to enhance financial stability for employees and support the growth of MSMEs across Africa.

One career highlight since completing the CatalyzU fellowship?
The successful pivot of Futa from a mere payment platform to comprehensive financial tool for businesses and their employees, leveraging payroll data to improve access to credit. We’ve integrated our platform with multiple businesses, positively impacting the financial lives of numerous employees in Cameroon.

What's one trend you're currently obsessed with?
I’m currently obsessed with the SME financing trend. This trend holds immense potential to transform how underserved communities access financial services, particularly in Francophone Africa.

Any lightbulb moments during the Fellowship?
Realizing the power of collaboration within the startup space. The idea of building partnerships not just with industry leaders but also with fellow entrepreneurs became clear as a critical pathway to scale and impact. Today, I’ve had virtual coffee chats and interviews with over 100 entrepreneurs across Africa and many of them are my cohort fellows from CatalyzU.

The type of person you would like to have coffee with next and why?
I would love to have coffee with a leader in the financial technology (fintech) space who has successfully scaled a business across emerging markets. Their insights on navigating the complexities of these markets and fostering innovation would be incredibly valuable to our continued growth at Futa. 

One piece of advice for incoming fellows?
Remain curious and open to learning from everyone you meet. The fellowship is a rare opportunity to broaden your perspective, so take full advantage of the knowledge and experiences shared within the community.

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