Episode 10. Building Companies From Zero in East Africa | Melalite Ayenew

In this episode of Voices & Visions, Ivana Heijnen speaks with Melalite Ayenew, an early-stage technology investor and venture builder based in Nairobi, bringing a cross-market lens across Africa, Europe, and the US shaped by her background in strategy consulting, technology, and venture building. The conversation explores what it actually takes to build and fund a company at the earliest stages in East Africa. The episode covers: Building a venture studio from a restaurant garden during Covid Ethiopia and Kenya's growth models as both opposite and complementary The sectors driving early-stage investment: fintech, climate tech, and AI infrastructure Why seed funding is concentrating in fewer, more capital-efficient startups "Africa's best" really requirements when it comes to cross-border expansion Pitching to investors doesn't guarantee the ability to execute locally Why local capital is still sitting on the sidelines of the VC ecosystem What makes Kenya uniquely attractive to international talent A grounded look at early-stage investing, venture building, and what it really takes to launch a company across African markets. Produced by Tutto Passa Agency, in partnership with TechCabal. #AfricaBusiness #VentureCapital #Startups #Kenya #EastAfrica #EarlyStageInvesting