Episode 44: Bridging the African diaspora start-ups funding gap - in conversation with Zidi Circle's Fridah Ntarangwi

The Migration & Diaspora Podcast

Hello and welcome to the Migration & Diaspora Podcast, with me your co-host, Aurore.

Today, I'm joined by Fridah Ntarangwi, Founder and Managing Director of Zidi Circle to talk about how Zidi Circle is aiming to bridge the African diaspora venture funding gap.

About Fridah

Originally from Kenya, Fridah founded the first-ever diaspora entrepreneurship incubator out of the Netherlands, Zidicircle supporting the diaspora and migrants with entrepreneurship training, mentorship, match-making and access to investment to succeed as entrepreneurs both in their countries of residence and home countries.

Through her leadership, Zidicircle has collectively graduated hundreds diaspora entrepreneurs and impacted many households both in Europe and Africa. She has also managed several Diaspora Entrepreneurship Programmes including IOM’s Connecting Diaspora for Development (CD4D), SNV’s Green diaspora venture backers programme and Green-Diaspora SME Matching programme, the Diaspora-SME Forum and launched investment products like the Diaspora Venture Backers programme that trains aspiring diaspora investors on how to invest in startups and SMEs in host and home countries.

Fridah was awarded by the EMEN project of the European Union (EU) for promoting inclusive entrepreneurship in the EU and was bestowed the Duisenberg title ‘Woman in Finance’. The Amsterdam’s Municipality’s initiative startup Amsterdam and the Silicon Canals recently listed Fridah as a top female entrepreneur in the Netherlands to watch in 2022. She is passionate about building an inclusive entrepreneurship and financing ecosystem for migrants, developing economies and women entrepreneurs.

Fridah holds a bachelor of Commerce degree from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and a Master of science in Finance from the Duisenberg school of Finance in the Netherlands.

What we talk about

In this interview, we talk about how the African diaspora can step in to bridge the VC funding gap on the continent and in the diaspora. We talk about the need to create investment opportunities and a culture of investing within the African diaspora, beyond traditional channels and how Zidi Circle supports this process.

I'm excited for you to get into this interview, so I'd like to thank you, as always, for tuning in and please do enjoy the show.

Links

• Connect with Zidi Circle: Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook
• Connect with Fridah: Linkedin / Twitter
• Check out all our episodes and subscribe at homelandsadvisory.com/podcast!