Oui Capital, a Lagos-based venture capital firm, has built one of the most recognisable portfolios in Africa’s tech ecosystem, with bets on startups like Moniepoint and Cauridor. The firm built its portfolio with one operating philosophy: invest early, work closely with founders after the cheque clears, and run a small, hands-on team.
In January, Oui added Pius Bankong as its newest investment associate. He comes from the kind of background that increasingly matters and is becoming prevalent in African venture capital.
Bankong had spent his career as an operator, leading business operations at fast-growing early-stage startups and working closely with founders and CEOs on product-market fit, fundraising, strategic partnerships, expansion, and team building.
He has also been a founder himself through the fintech startup Stead Money. He also advises early-stage companies on the side, several of which later raised capital, grew revenue, and expanded their customer base.
That background matters because it speaks to a quiet shift in how African VC is being staffed. For years, the dominant entry route into the asset class was a financial one: investment banking, consulting, or a foreign MBA. Increasingly, funds are recruiting operators who have built and run companies on the continent into investment seats.
