What does it really take to build globally competitive startups from the African continent?In this electrifying episode, we sit down with Michele Wanjiku, the Africa Regional Lead at Endeavor Catalyst – a $500M+ global co-investment fund backing high-growth entrepreneurs across emerging markets. Michele breaks down how Endeavor identifies exceptional founders, invests alongside top-tier global VCs, and helps scale startups across borders.🎯 Whether you're a startup founder, investor, or ecosystem enabler, this episode is your masterclass in scaling African innovation.📈 What You’ll Learn:- How Endeavor Catalyst turned a $10M philanthropic fund into $70M+ (7x cash-on-cash)- The secret behind co-investing only alongside the world's best VCs- Why Africa’s “PayPal Mafias” are shaping the continent’s startup future- Lessons from InstaDeep's $700M AI exit and the power of the multiplier effect- Why picking the wrong investor could doom your company (yes, even at Seed stage)🌍 Endeavor’s Africa Portfolio Highlights:- 40+ African startups funded- 4 unicorns: Flutterwave, MNT-Halan, TymeBank, and Moniepoint- First Africa exit: InstaDeep (Tunisian AI startup, acquired for $700M)- Backed founders now mentoring and funding the next generation💡 Wisdom Nuggets from Michele:“You can build a global company from anywhere.”“Your investor is not just capital—they’re a long-term partner.”“Scaling your startup means scaling yourself first.”“Don't over-engineer terms—keep your rounds clean and founder-friendly.”📌 Who Is Michele Wanjiku?🇰🇪 Africa Regional Lead, Endeavor Catalyst🧠 Strategic Advisor at Chui Ventures🌍 Startup ecosystem connector, investor matchmaker, and advocate for founder-friendly capital🥾 Outdoor enthusiast, foodie, ex-New Yorker, and emerging market optimist📣 Connect with Michele & Endeavor:🔗 Michele Wanjiku on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-wanjiku-644a06a1/🌐 Endeavor Catalyst: https://endeavor.org/catalyst/🌍 Your Local Endeavor Office: https://endeavor.org/🧠 Founders, take note:If you're building in Africa and have global ambitions—Endeavor wants to hear from you.#FullScalePodcast #EndeavorCatalyst #MicheleWanjiku #AfricanStartups #VCinAfrica #StartupInvesting #TechAfrica #FounderFunding #ScaleUpAfrica #WomenInVC #MultiplieEffect #InstaDeep #Flutterwave #Moniepoint #AfricaRising @FullScalePodcast .
00:00 - behind the scenes
07:42 - intro.
08:40 - About Michele Wanjiku.
11:03 - How did Michele get into start up?
14:24 - What does Endeavor do?
18:36 - What is a co- investment fund?
22:03 - Who is an Endeavor entrepreneur?
25:10 - How to join Endeavor?
28:08 - Biggest exciting trends.
32:15 - How do Endeavor link with new co- investors.
35:08 - Example of a multiplier effect connection in action.
39:30 - Evolving Trends in Africa for investment landscapes.
44:42 - Biggest challenges for a start up?
49:14 - Common mistakes for a start up?
54:31 - Founders time capsule.
57:23 - Surprise question.
1:00:02 - Outro and conclusion .
