General Partner
Fatou has 20 years of extensive experience across financial services and European capital markets (equity derivatives, fixed income, FX, commodities, futures, CFDs), investment banking, and international DFI roles, which she has recently leveraged to transition into impact and VC investments in Africa. That breadth of experience has allowed her to develop a strong network throughout the VC ecosystem.
She has been dedicated to increasing and providing access to finance for youth- and female-led startups and SMEs in Africa through hands-on acceleration of eight companies, early-stage investments of $2M in 12 tech-enabled startups (43% female- founded/led), the establishment of a $35M impact fund (Impact Credit Guarantee), and the management of a second $80M impact fund (AGF) (both of which have created 14,000+ jobs on the continent).
A Paris IX Dauphine graduate (BA/MA Economics, MSc Banking & Finance) and Bayes Business School London alumna, her bilingual capabilities and pan-African network uniquely position Five35 Ventures to source premium deal flow and deliver meaningful impact alongside financial returns.
Fatou is passionate about funding and supporting innovative entrepreneurs and ideas that meet basic needs or disrupt the status quo. Beyond her control of the full transaction process for VC investments, she brings a deep appreciation of funding needs for under-represented founders, an understanding of the Francophone African market, and practical know-how on how to fund growth and opportunities in tech- enabled start-ups and businesses. She engages closely with founders to help them scale, supports their growth, and leverages a pan-African network of entrepreneurs, investors, regulators and other stakeholders. Having established and managed two funds, she offers extensive experience in business building, strategy development, financial management, operations and people management.