On this episode of My Tech Story Africa, Alice sits down with Oscar Koome, an investment associate at Acumen and co-host of Mantalk.ke, to explore his remarkable journey from data protection advocate to venture capitalist and media entrepreneur.
Oscar's story began with an unexpected friendship that would shape his entire career trajectory. A high school connection with the son of Cisco's General Counsel led to an internship in London, where Oscar discovered data protection wasn't just compliance,it was a competitive moat.
This revelation sparked a decade-long passion for understanding how technology, governance, and economic opportunity intersect.
From his early work on Africa's data protection regulation to selling cybersecurity products in Nairobi's central business district, Oscar learned to bridge the gap between Fortune 500 frameworks and local African realities.
His path took him through legal practice, where he witnessed PPP deals and REITs transform balance sheets into student housing, revealing finance as the missing middle between big ideas and tangible impact.
Today at Acumen, Oscar focuses on early-stage ventures in climate tech, agriculture, and clean energy sectors he believes are the flywheels of East African growth. His investment philosophy is clear: measure business performance rigorously, eliminate bias, and define impact jointly with founders who know their terrain best.
But Oscar's most audacious experiment may be Mantalk itself. What started as a barbershop podcast evolved into a data-driven exploration of a 35-million-man market across East and Southern Africa, a demographic largely ignored by mainstream marketing. His thesis? While 95% of digital ad spend targets women, men represent an underserved opportunity for local brands beyond betting and alcohol.
Oscar's journey proves that non-linear paths create unique value. By wearing multiple hats, legal, financial, and entrepreneurial, he's positioned to de-risk ventures others might overlook. His anchor? A belief that this generation will witness the Africa that pan-African visionaries dreamed of, and a determination to play his part in making it real.
To keep up with Oscar's journey, check out his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-koome
Check out Mantalk Here:https://www.youtube.com/@ManTalkKe
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