Bunmi Akinyemiju is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Venture Garden Group (VGG), a high-growth technology investment holding company that has incubated and invested in fintech companies that provide innovative solutions in multiple sectors of the African economy. He is also a Founding Partner at GreenHouse Capital (GHC) - the venture arm of the Venture Garden Group which has invested in over 20 innovative fintech companies across Africa like Helium Health, Flutterwave, Migo, Appzone and more.
Bunmi is passionate about transforming Africa through technology and has successfully led several impactful change projects through strategic public and private sector partnerships. He studied Computer Science at Michigan State University, USA. In this Founders Connect video, Bunmi shares his background with me, and his experience across decades, innovating, investing and growing businesses in Africa.
Watch the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbvH-8p-ckY
Video timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:58 - Bunmi shares his background, favourite memory as a child.
4:44 - Studying Computer engineering and getting into the corporate world (Artemis).
8:56 - Biggest lessons learned in the American Corporate world.
10:10 - Quitting Coding, assuming new roles at Artemis.
12:51 - Challenges faced at Artemis that have helped with new projects.
15:55 - Meeting with Co-Founders.
19:27 - Challenges from starting Venture Garden Group in 2010s.
26:20 - Advice on B2B Businesses.
28:20 - Biggest Milestones for Venture Garden Group.
30:45 - Synergy between Venture Garden and Greenhouse Capital Africa.
31:36 - Key challenges as a VC and it is different from working 22 years as an operator.
33:45 - Companies founded so far.
34:39 - Favourite Sstartup founded so far? The Most Memorable.
37:47 - Anything you will do differently if you could go back?
41:39 - Kind of Founders Bunmi invests in. Qualities he looks for.
44:19 - People Bunmi has learned from.
48:43 - Activities outside work.
49:45 - Questions he wants to be asked, Conclusion.