Africa’s tech community pays tribute to Nnena Nkongho

The African tech ecosystem mourns the death of Nnena Nkongho, an African investor who advocated for diversity and excellence. Nkongho passed away on December 26, 2021.

Nkongho has over 15 years of experience identifying, building, and capturing value for African corporations and funds. He is also the founding partner of Otundi Ventures, a pan-African early-stage fund. She was also a founding investor in Digital Growth Africa (DiGAME), one of Africa’s earliest (2016) institutional venture investing organizations, which has invested approximately $35 million in series A/B rounds of high-growth, tech-enabled companies such as Getsmarter (exited to 2U, Inc.), SWVL, 10X Investments, and Rhino Safaris Africa.

She was previously a member of the founding team at Nubuke Investments, a $75 million multi-strategy pan-African fund.

Outside of investing, she briefly served as the Head of Business Development for SOLO Phone Nigeria and the Head of Strategy and Business Development for Etisalat Nigeria.

Previously, she worked for seven years at global financial services firms Morgan Stanley (New York and Hong Kong) and Merrill Lynch (London).

Nkongho was a Kauffman fellow with a B.A. from Princeton University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Nkongho, a Nigerian-American, spent her formative years in the United States, with occasional visits to Nigeria, particularly to see her grandmother in eastern Nigeria. These visits exposed her to the transformation taking place in Africa, prompting her to shift her focus to working in the African investment space.

In this interview, she explained why she is an ardent believer in the power of technology and why she enthusiastically supports the African tech ecosystem.

“My grandmother was a farmer in eastern Nigeria, but she wasn’t a particularly [successful] one.” She would get up at the crack of dawn to go get some water. She would then carry large containers of water on her head to her small plot of land’s rocky soil. Over the last five years, I’ve witnessed how technology has transformed the lives of smallholder farmers like my grandmother. Businesses have used the mobile platform to provide value-added services such as loans for better seeds, automatic irrigation of land, and finding better markets (and pricing) for harvested goods. Investing enabled by technology has the potential to change people’s lives. That, to me, is the most powerful thing you can do.”

The African and global technology ecosystems are in mourning for the loss of a colleague, friend, peer, and mentor. TechCabal has been granted the opportunity to publish tributes sent to us by people who knew and worked with Nkongho during her lifetime as a way of remembering her greatness and contribution to technology communities at home and abroad. May her soul rest in peace for all eternity.

Eghosa Omoigui, founder, EchoVC Partners

 

Idris Bello, founder, LoftyInc

A mutual friend introduced me to Nnena, who was then at Digame Investment, very early on in our Fund journey at LoftyInc Capital. We met, and by the end, she had shortened my VC journey while sharing valuable insights from her own. I’ve kept an eye on her over the last year as she established Otundi and worked harder than anyone I’ve seen to build her new fund. As a result, her death comes as a rude shock, especially at this critical juncture for venture capital on the African continent. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Nnena’s family and friends, as well as the staff at Otundi, on behalf of LoftyInc Capital. She will be sorely missed.

Tomiwa Aladekomo, Big Cabal Media

Nnenna was a wonderful person, generous, cheerful, and overly helpful. She was a close friend and supporter of our work at TechCabal, always willing to offer advice, connections, and knowledge when we needed it. She checked in on us and provided encouragement when it was most needed. We will all miss her terribly. May she rest in peace, and may God console her family and loved ones.

Emilian Popa, Ilara Health

You began as a coworker and gradually evolved into a friend. Your wise counsel and friendship will be missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

Dotun Olowoporoku, Novastar Ventures

Nnena and I first met at a conference in Kigali in 2020. We last had dinner together a few weeks ago at another conference in Abu Dhabi. I’ll be eternally grateful for the time we spent talking and debating. Nnena was extremely thoughtful, willing to assist, and profoundly insightful.

She was one of a rare breed of institutional VCs in Africa who had been active in the region for a long time while remaining genuinely curious about what came next. It’s heartbreaking that we’re losing her at a time when we desperately need more African VC fund managers like her. She’ll be sorely missed.

Iyin Aboyeji, founder, Future Africa

Nnena. What lovely energy and openness to different points of view. Her memories connected her to Africa. Her imagination will resurrect her. An understanding of culture, geography, and technology. Always on the move. We’ve met in New York, London, Dubai, and Nairobi over the years. She was well-versed in these locales. I know I’ll miss her and her perspective on everything.

Nnenna was a true force of nature. She always had the guts to say what everyone else was thinking but was afraid to say. This is where we discovered a common cause. Nobody ever had any doubts about where they stood with her. Her influence in our industry was subtle but powerful.

The Get Smarter deal is one for the ages. Our industry will miss her. May her soul Rest In Peace and may GOD give her family and friends the fortitude to bear the loss.

Steven Grin, managing partner, Lateral Capital

In a world full of deception, Nnena was a friend, colleague, and intellectual sparring partner with no BS. She was insatiably curious and possessed the rare ability to be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. She was a trailblazer and ardent supporter of the African tech ecosystem, particularly at a time when most LPs did not believe in the asset class. I know she was particularly enthusiastic about her work with Kauffman, her new fund, Otundi, and her support for emerging female executives.

We have lost a true lion, one of only a few female general partners in our space. I can only hope that we will all continue to work in her honor, doing our part to keep the momentum going.

Marième Diop – Orange Ventures

It’s been a few days since I received the heartbreaking news of Nnena’s death. I’ve been processing it ever since…, and even after the tears, questions, sorrow, remembrance, and acceptance…, it still hurts to know she’s gone forever.

Nnena was one of my favorite characters. I first met her nearly five years ago. We clicked right away and have remained in touch ever since. She was always encouraging, enthusiastic, empathetic, and incredibly hardworking. We had wonderful conversations once or twice a week for the past six months after she started Otundi Ventures, and she always had great insights on how to address the root cause of gender inequality and biases in our industry.

She worked hard not only to get a seat at the table, but also to build her own and thus pave the way for female investors in Africa.

Nnena cared about people. She loved the arts and creative minds. Even when she was very busy, we sent each other encouraging messages, and she was always advising me to take care of myself. I am glad that she knew how much I valued her, which I told her for the umpteenth time in our last conversation, a few days before she left this world. Nnena, you will be really missed, and I will continue to hold you warmly in my heart. Rest in peace, my friend. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Wale Ayeni – IFC | World Bank Group

This is difficult to write. Nnena was a giant. She was ebullient, extremely dedicated, and cared deeply about Africa. Her passion for the ecosystem and for founders was palpable, and I will miss our hour-long conversations on the ecosystem. I, and we, have lost a colleague and trusted friend. Her energy is irreplaceable. We will miss you Nnena, and we won’t forget. 

IK Kanu, founding partner, Atlantica Ventures

Nnena was always real to me and everyone that met her. She was always positive, smiling, and quick to lend an ear or hand. We met years ago, and strengthened our friendship during our Kauffman Fellowship. She was strong, confident, yet humble and kind. Always laughing and looking forward to better days ahead. Rest well with God my dear friend.

Romain Diaz – Founder & CEO, Satgana

I am deeply saddened that my mentor, Nnena P. Nkongho, has left this world. I met Nnena five years ago in Cape Town, and she has been one of the most important people in my professional development ever since. From a mentor, she became a friend, advisor, and confidant.

I am profoundly grateful for all the countless hours that she selflessly spent to help me figure things out, solve problems, strategise, and grow. 

Every hour I spent with her equated to months of accelerated development, thanks to the right blend that she always brought between validating me and challenging me. She is the one who pushed me to pursue a vision that later gave birth to Satgana. She believed in me when I sometimes didn’t. I wish all entrepreneurs out there find their own Nnena. 

If anything, as I have been told by another dear friend and business partner, I should honour her by making this company as successful as she believed it would become. Thank you for everything, Nnena. You’ll leave a hole in my life and those around you. 

Rest in peace. Much love.

Arun Iyer – Alpha Direct Insurance

Nnena was an incredibly astute individual and investor. In the brief time in which I got to know her and the interactions we had, she became a friend and partner, giving me advice and being open, honest, and straightforward about everything she did, every interaction we had. She gave me the inspiration to aim higher and push harder because she believed in us founders as much as we believed in ourselves. She understood our business so quickly and well, and she had an incredible ability to be forthright and candid while staying supportive and encouraging. She thought like a founder, and her optimism and enthusiasm were infectious.

We lost a true gem of a human being. It’s a big loss for the entire African technology ecosystem and the world at large. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and I pray for her family and loved ones to find the strength and courage to deal with her loss.

Craig McLeod – Box Commerce

Nnena Nkongho was one of the greatest champions of the African tech ecosystem as a VC, leader, pioneer and, hands down, one of its smartest players. She was a great mentor, friend and peer. In an ecosystem of only a handful of giants, she stood tall. She will be missed.

Leonard Stiegeler – Founder, Pulse Africa

I was deeply saddened to hear of Nnenna’s passing.

She was a kind, joyous, and thoughtful person that I was lucky to meet in different places around Africa & in the UAE, over the years. Every time we met, we had great discussions and I left smarter than I had come.

Nnenna’s impact in the African technology and venture capital space will live on. Her support for entrepreneurs, businesses, and industries will facilitate opportunities for young people and economies for generations to come.

My thoughts are with her loved ones and friends.

Ibrahim Sagna – AFREXIMBANK

Some people show up in your life and leave without notice, not realising how they have impacted you. Such individuals are so consumed by their mission to share what they know that they are not counting or keeping tabs of their impact. Instead, they remain busy improving other people’s lives. Rumi—Persian poet and philosopher—reminds us that, “a candle never loses any of its light while lighting up another candle”.

Nnena Nkongho is such a candle. She is that sister who comes into your life without notice; that missionary who enlightens you with the breadth of her knowledge and network in African tech investment and leaves you forever impacted. I had just moved to Cairo, and in one small trip, she had managed to plug me into the local ecosystem and left me at first curious, then ultimately full of passion for the sector and its players. 

The reality is that Nnena was not just remarkable because of her knowledge, network, or dedication to startups. She was remarkable because her fundamental character combined humility and ingenuity on the one hand, and calmness and a zest for life on the other. She gave and gave. She was selfless. We will all miss a phenomenal human. 

Her departure leaves many of us in shock. May she rest in perfect peace. Hereby extending our most sincere condolences to her family. 

Samer Salty, Managing Partner, Zouk Capital

You could always tell you are in the presence of a gentle soul when you are speaking with Nnena. She always cared about people, regardless of their walk of life. For her, doing good is good business. It was a great pleasure to have worked with her and  known her. We will miss you, Nnena.

Ido Sum, Andreata, and the TLcom team

We met Nnena first in 2013, through a mutual friend at Kuramo, one of Africa’s very first fund of funds. She was just out of Columbia Business School, helping Africa founders in the very early days of the African tech ecosystem, and keen to play a role in its formation. Our first chat was a sign for the years to come. She was a super open, honest, smart, nice, deliberate, and driven person.

We remained friends, and over the years after she joined DiGAME, started sharing investment opportunities and insights with each other. Nnena was a voice we listened to. Grounded, rounded, thoughtful, and most importantly, in the early days of African tech, a true optimist. 

In the coming years, our paths crossed many more times. Drinks in Cape Town, dinners in Kigali, Zooms, WhatsApp messages… She was always keen to collaborate. She was full of good humour and lightened the load of life with a good laugh. When Nnena decided to launch her own fund, we couldn’t have been happier. A women-led team, with a great perspective of the scene’s evolvement and exits expertise, nothing could stand in her way. 

Our last catch up was just a few weeks back. As always, future-looking, with her eyes set to conquer the next summit ahead. Little did we know at that time… 

We stand broken-hearted at the loss of one of our true friends in this journey. Nnena will forever be in our hearts. A true leader, early visionary and, above all, a mensch. You will forever be in our hearts.

Raj Kulasingam, Senior Counsel, Dentons

I met Nnena many years ago when venture in Africa was a desert. Since then, whenever we met, I was always struck by her warmth, genuineness, and willingness to share her experience and knowledge.

Her passing will be felt by many I know. I hope we can remember her not only for the contributions she made but also for her warmth and humanity.

Stephan Breban, CEO, Giants’ Shoulders Capital Limited

The first thing to say is that this has hit me far more than I expected. Maybe because she was always so full of life. I’ve lost people closer to me, and in the current environment, it should not be too shocking. But this is. I know many people know her and remember her fondly. There will be many tributes to her intelligence and general investment and tech brilliance, and so I’m going for another angle. I’m going to share my favourite memory of Nnena. We met many times in many different cities, and she would always know the best spot for coffee. She was a proper authority. The first time I met her in London, I knew I had to do something special. No coffee was ever going to impress her, so I took her here, a Victorian urinal that had been converted to a coffee shop. Not sure I can say she loved it, but I made an impression! If you ever get to London, please visit Fitzrovia, have a coffee there, and try to imagine Nnena’s reaction.