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There are a lot of reasons why Corporate Venturing should be explored by organisations seeking to grow their market, tap into a unique business space and continue long term value.

From understanding the corporation’s goals, ideation frameworks and exploring the kind of vehicles that make this venturing process possible to getting the right legal structuring to carry out these mandates, one thing is clear…

Innovation rides quickly on the shoulders of professionals who have built the capacity not only to understudy a market but to guide its players towards getting the right solutions to its corporation goals.

The Edge by @dream__vc team is just the right team you need to get this done.👍🏽

A great time with Mark, Kenny and Martin along with my fellow Alumni over the weekend! 🥂

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I Have Graduated from Dream VC 🎉

When I interviewed for the Dream VC LIVC ‘26 fellowship earlier this year, my sole aim was to learn about venture capital and how funds were deployed into startups. I grew up around a lot of failed businesses, and often wondered what made successful businesses thrive. Then I found the Startup/VC space and yearned to be that bridge between founders and access to capital.

Over the course of 16 weeks, 32 hours of live lectures, 300+ hours of live lectures, individual assignments, block projects, all hands, panel sessions, simulations etc, I did not just learn about Venture Capital investing in Africa, I did/gained much more.

I worked on a thesis for Regal Ventures - my fictional (for now) VC firm that backs RegTech startups. Why RegTech? Innovation, technology and digitization are scaling at a rapid rate that outpaces regulations. Fragmentation, bureaucratic processes and lack of clarity makes compliance and implementation almost impossible, especially for founders. My thesis focused on the need to back founders building a centralized solution for regulation and compliance. A RegTech platform that came to mind while working on this thesis was TaxStreem, founded by Kelechi Ibe - a Dream VC alumni.

Beyond working on this thesis, I had the opportunity to really analyze startups, understand the rudiments of building conviction as an investor, write investments memos, interpret market trends, collaborate on block group projects with bright minds like Danladi, Afolake, Andrew, Emmanuel Chinatuka, Jean-Eliel, Cuan, to mention a few. Our final block project with Uchechi, Esther Hamidou Tabayi- M.S. Engineering Management, and June (Dream VC colleagues turned absolute besties 🤭) Portfolio Community Building for a VC Firmc, won third place during the graduation ceremony. What a way to sign out!

What I consider a major win aside from the knowledge gained, certificate, community and exposure, is the relaunch of Founders Stories With Daye (FSWD) during this program. I’m already deploying the insights I gained from Dream VC to building FSWD and speaking to founders all over Africa....

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I graduated from @dream__vc’s Launch Into Venture Capital (LIVC) 2026 cohort, and here is what excites me more.

Africa is entering one of the most interesting moments in its private capital story.

For years, the conversation was about raising funds and getting capital into startups. Today, the conversation in rooms with GPs and LPs is increasingly about something else: returns. Some funds are actively orchestrating exits, while others are asking how we build a market that consistently produces quality outcomes.

And the numbers make that shift hard to ignore. TechCabal Insights recorded 63 M&A transactions in H1 2026, compared with 33 during the same period in 2025, the busiest half-year for African tech M&A it has tracked.

What I find fascinating is that our market, at least for now, looks more like a secondary-sale and acquisition market than an IPO market. That changes how founders build, how investors allocate capital, and how GPs think about value creation from day one.
For Africa to become a more sophisticated investment market, the incentives of founders, GPs, and LPs have to align not just around growth, but around building commercially durable businesses that can generate meaningful returns.

Coming into the investment side of this industry at this stage couldn't be more exciting. We now have enough history to study, enough data to challenge old assumptions, and enough outcomes to start asking better questions about how we raise, allocate, and ultimately return capital.

Going through Dream VC gave me far more than technical skills. It sharpened my judgment, the ability to think through ambiguity, evaluate opportunities, defend an investment view, and make better decisions when the answers aren’t obvious.

Thank you to Mark, Cindy, our guest speakers, alumni, fellows, and the entire Dream VC team for organizing LIVC ’26 and holding us to an incredibly high standard. I’d like to think this is part of what CIA training would feel like.

And to my cohort members and future LPs 😂cheers to an incredible future ahead. You made the experience beautiful.

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Officially a Dream VC alumna 🤗💜

A few months ago, I gave myself a chance to fully immerse myself in something I had been curious about for a long time, and I’m so glad I did.

Our 2026 LIVC cohort brought together 47 fellows across 24 locations and 17 nationalities, with women making up 60% of the cohort. Some of my favorite parts of the experience were the people, the team projects, the laughs, and all the conversations in between.

There were some fun wins along the way too 🥹 Our Fat Hippo Capital Fund II presentation was selected as a finalist, and on graduation day, a different team I worked with placed 3rd for our Portfolio Connect Community Action Plan. 🥉

And somehow, during the same week my sister graduated, I also put together Tabayi Ventures, a mock VC fund deck, and it ended up being one of the decks I’m most proud of. 😂

Dream VC challenged me, stretched me, and gave me a space to learn by actually doing. I loved the FSS sessions, hearing from people across the investment ecosystem, and learning alongside fellows from so many different backgrounds and countries.

And the best part? I’m not leaving Dream VC. Graduation just means I get to experience the community differently now. Being a Dream VC alumna is for life, and I’m excited to keep building with, learning from, and eventually meeting even more of this community in person. 💜

I’m also continuing to support @dream__vc on the African Investment Salaries Survey 2026 and the report that will come from it, helping build better data around compensation and talent across Africa’s investment ecosystem.

If you work across the African investment ecosystem, the survey link is in my bio.

And if you’ve been watching my Dream VC journey thinking you might want to do it too, interest for the 2027 cohort is now open 👀

I’m leaving the program ready to keep building, take bigger chances on myself, and go after what will challenge me and help me grow.

To one of my favorite experiences and a community I get to be part of for life 🥂💜

Dream VC alumna has a nice ring to it. 🤭

#DreamVC #VentureCapital #InvestInAfrica #Africa EmergingMarkets

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Day 24/30. I’d start with these 4 exact steps.

1. I’d immediately focus on bridging the gap between what I learnt in school and what is actually being practised.

As someone who believes in structure, I’d choose programmes that are curated and have a proven track record of actually doing this.

For Finance/Consulting, I’d recommend @edubridgeacademy
For Venture Capital, @dream__vc
For Accounting, @leversacademy

2. Build a portfolio:

Financial models. Investment research. Company analysis. Anything that can show someone, “I may be early in my career, but I can actually do the work.”

3. Get practical experience:

I’d look for internships, projects, case competitions and volunteer opportunities. Anything that gives me the opportunity to practise what I’m learning.

4. I’d network ALOT, both warm and cold.

I’d speak to people already in Finance, attend industry events, reach out to professionals and use LinkedIn to share my process as I build my portfolio.

I’d talk to people to learn, connect and make myself visible.

The goal? If I’ve met you, you don’t forget me. 😂

Because getting into Finance isn’t just about knowing things.

It’s about knowing the work, doing the work and making sure the right people know you can do the work.

#30DaysWithSalem #FinanceCareers #Finance #CareerGrowth #YoungProfessionals

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A few weeks ago, we wrapped up Block 2 of the Dream VC LIVC program, and it was a great learning curve for me.@dream__vc

Beyond four weeks of classes, working on the Diamond and Square (DaS) Framework for 5 startups, creating a Full Scorecard Analysis on a Kenyan travel/logistics startup, and writing a long form investment memo on a telehealth startup based in Cote D'Ivoire, here are some lessons I learned from Block 2;

📍Sourcing startups is a preliminary step in making an investment decision, and it doesn’t just start and end with glossing through a pitch deck or populating an excel/google sheet. In-depth analysis needs to be carried out to decide whether a startup is a good fit or not for a VC firm.

📍Due diligence is non-negotiable. Think of it as the in-person questions you ask or the back stage findings you carry out before saying yes to spending the rest of your life with someone. From looking at the startup’s product, its tech stack, to its founding team, legal documents and even its financials….the DD process isn’t one you skip through. It demands thoroughness and attention to lots of details.

📍Conviction is one of an investor’s invaluable asset. Knowing whether or not to pass a startup for further DD, pitching it to an IC or going ahead with an investment is just as important as every other step in the pipeline.

One of the highlights of this Block was collaborating on an investment memo on SunFi and pitching that to a Mock IC panel. Working on this project alongside bright minds like Danladi Momodu, Emmanuel Chinatuka and Jean-Eliel Koumi was such a rewarding exercise.

And my first IC experience? It felt like being in a hot seat and having to answer rapid fire questions. But an opportunity I cherished, nonetheless. Here’s to creating a lasting impact in the African Startup/VC ecosystem.

As always, it's Day 1 out here.

#dreamvc #venturecapital #Africanvc #startups #vcecosystem

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Rounded off Block 1 last month and here are some insights that stood out for me;

✓ VC thrives on pattern recognition - From recognizing why certain concepts work in the LATAM, SEA or the African ecosystems, to spotting trends, and making a conclusion, I’m gradually learning that the VC world does not function in isolation.

✓ VC is a “people business” - I’ve come to understand that venture capital, as much as it involves financing startups and supporting innovation, thrives on people. This means that relationships play a huge part in deal flow, information circulation, and in even how the ecosystem stays active.

✓ VC is a numbers game - This particular one is something I’m still easing into. With VC, you have to do the maths. You need to understand the TAM, SOM, SAM, Cap tables, metrics, traction, and the likes.

✓ Empathy - Prior to now, I used to envision VCs as a stoic bunch, and that nothing really ever got to them. They own the cake, and all you have to do is meet them on a good day and get a piece of the cake too. But after learning about the work that goes into writing an investment thesis, finding LPs, sourcing the right startups, getting past hurdle rates, and still having only 1/10 startups return probably a 3X on investments, I’m more empathetic towards VCs.

Founders, I still love you, but it’s a shared love now. Don’t hate me. 😄

Can you spot me?

#dreamvc #venturecapital #vc #vcinvestor #startups

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💭 One lesson from Dream VC that changed how I think about startups.

Before the fellowship, I naturally focused on the product. If a startup was solving a meaningful problem with a compelling solution, I saw it as a strong company.

Now, I’ve learned that investors look at much more than the product.

📈 Is the market large enough?

🌍 Can it scale?

💰 Do the unit economics make sense?

👥 Can the founders execute?

One takeaway that’s really stuck with me:

A great product may get your attention. A great business is what earns an investment.

I’m grateful to @dream__vc for challenging the way I think about evaluating startups, and I know this is only the beginning of my learning journey.

💬 What’s one lesson that has changed the way you think about your industry?

#DreamVC #VentureCapital #Startups #HealthTech #Africa Entrepreneurship Innovation Investing

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I literally dreamed about a moment like this.

For so long, venture capital felt like one of those spaces I admired from afar. This year, I decided to stop overthinking, take the leap of faith, and go for it.

And now I get to say that I’ve been accepted into Dream VC’s LIVC 2026 cohort 🥹✨

This opportunity means so much to me. I’m excited to learn, grow, and be surrounded by people who are passionate about investing, innovation, and the future of Africa and the diaspora.

A huge thank you to @dream__vc for creating such an incredible platform and opening doors for emerging investors. I’m so grateful and so excited for what’s ahead.

This is only the beginning 💫

#DreamVC #LIVC2026 #VentureCapital #AfricanVC #WomenInVC

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Episode 6 | Safe and sound back in Lagos—but what a ride. 🚗💨

In just two hours on the road to Oyo, we almost had a fatal accident. By the grace of God, after I finished my morning devotional, the Holy Spirit told me to pray—and exactly 7 minutes later, we avoided disaster. It was just like Anthony Joshua’s accident on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway—same road, same close call. The driver didn’t even flinch, but I knew we were spared. 🥺

So today, I’m taking a much needed break. I met up with my friend, my learned colleague in Nigeria 😅 and then had a meeting for my mentorship/apprenticeship program. I can’t stress this enough—giving back to the Nigerian community is everything. For me, it’s about building the next generation of legal pros who can compete globally. More on that soon. ✨

To end the night, I went to @laughtercave_ stand-up with my @dream__vc crew. Special shoutout to my cousin @thephage, the future comedy king! If you need a laugh, follow him and check out the Laughter Cave in Ikoyi! Was a fun time.

#ReverseJapa #VidaInLagos #LagosLiving #NextGenLawyers #DreamVC

Outfit:
Top @alexanderwangny
Skirt @bxfrox

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New series 🚀

Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing what I’m learning about African healthcare infrastructure, digital health, regulation, and investing through @dream__vc.

One thing I’ve learned already:

The biggest opportunities are not always the most visible.

This week, I found myself digging into the issue of counterfeit and substandard medicines across Africa.

A 2024 systematic review estimated that 22.6% of medicines sampled across Africa were substandard or falsified.

That statistic made me stop.

Because this isn’t only a healthcare problem.

It’s a supply chain problem.
A trust problem.
A regulatory problem.

The more I learn, the more I believe some of the most interesting opportunities may sit beneath the surface:

💊 Pharmaceutical distribution

📦 Traceability systems

⚖️ Regulatory technology

🏥 Healthcare infrastructure

As I continue this journey, I’ll be sharing one insight each week and exploring the trends, challenges, and investment opportunities shaping healthcare across the continent.

Question for this week:

If access to medicine is improving, but trust in the supply chain remains a challenge, where should innovators and investors focus their attention?

Sources:

• Mekonnen et al. (2024): Estimated prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines sampled across Africa: 22.6%

• WHO: Substandard and Falsified Medical Products Fact Sheet

• Salient Advisory: Innovations in Digitizing Health Supply Chains in Africa

#HealthTech #Africa #HealthcareInfrastructure #DigitalHealth #VentureCapital DreamVC AfricanStartups HealthInnovation

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This is how I look on Monday (and some Friday) evenings.

Absorbing the lessons at @dream__vc and building a deeper understanding of what venture capital looks like in practice, and how my skills and experience can create value in the ecosystem.

So far, it's been eye-opening.

One of my favourite things to learn is why fintechs are the craze.

To be fair, I started seeing the signal when I kept coming back to "embedded finance" while thinking of the apps & sectors that excite me.

I realized that even my favourite platforms all need infrastructure to collect money: Chowdeck, Canva, Spotify, Netflix etc...

All the sectors I'm excited about need payment gateways and rails—healthtech, cybersecurity, e-commerce.

So yes, fintech is hyped. But it's not hyped for nothing. We need the core financial infrastructure to scale other verticals.

Apart from remittance, another type of fintech I think will get more attention in the coming years—especially in Africa—will be credit infrastructure and lending.

I've always had a hunch about this due to a mix of personal and work experience. I worked at @remedialhealth_africa, a healthtech startup that enables BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) inventory financing for pharmacies.

Granted, credit execution in emerging markets is incredibly tough—macroeconomic shocks and FX volatility can easily squeeze margins if underwriting isn't airtight. A good model lives and dies by its structural execution.

But that's a deeper thesis for another day.

Today, I'm inviting you on a journey.

Over the next few months, I'll be unpacking the frameworks I'm learning, and my investment perspectives. And spotlighting some incredible people I'm learning with, as well as those who make this journey even better.

If you are building, investing, or just curious about where innovation and tech ecosystems are moving next—stay tuned.

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