Wale Ayeni, Head Of VC Investments For IFC In Africa, Middle East, And Central Asia, Has Left The Firm

Wale Ayeni, the regional head of venture capital investments for the IFC in Africa, has left the International Finance Corporation (IFC), it was reported on Wednesday.

Wale Ayeni wrote: “After 5+ thrilling years at the IFC, last week was my last. I cannot but be grateful for the years filled with purpose, joy, learning and growth working alongside extremely passionate and mission-driven colleagues focused on changing the narrative in emerging and frontier markets, with action, and through technology.

“The wealth, breadth & depth of the experience was only possible by the steadfast support and belief of colleagues who saw frontier markets as a digital ‘opportunity’, where the possibilities for value creation remain exponential. The engagements of all and sundry over the last years have led to deep personal growth of which I am eternally grateful, and I am humbled by the passion with which everyone engaged every day to achieve the development and impact dimension of what we all do.”

“I am thankful to many people who have believed in, and supported the vision, and the list is too long to mention here, but I’d be remiss not to mention William Sonneborn, Atul Mehta, Nikunj Jinsi Maria Kozloski for the support through it all – and most importantly to the founders in these markets who make it all happen & from whom I continue to learn the most.”

Ayeni kicked off his finance career with J.P. Morgan’s Technology Investment Banking group in San Francisco where he successfully executed over US$12 billion worth of closed transactions, spanning M&A to IPOs for large-cap technology clients.

He then went on to work for IFC. He started off as the head of investment in Africa before moving on to become the acting global head, of disruptive technologies and venture capital investments before he took on his most recent role as head of investment in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Before his resignation, Ayani led IFC’s venture capital deals in frontier markets across Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. He has managed over 20 venture capital investment professionals across Africa, China, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He has helped establish and build the Venture Capital practice of IFC Africa.

Ayeni was initially part of the very first team at Orange in Silicon Valley. He led investments into disruptive startups spanning several sectors such as Fintech, Big-Data, Mesh Networks, Blockchain and Virtual Reality. 

And he has personally backed startups like Goldfinch, Ponto and Paystack.