Maya Horgan Famodu stands as a trailblazer in Africa’s venture capital landscape. As the founder and Managing Director of Ingressive Capital, she has been instrumental in channeling early-stage investments into African tech startups, fostering innovation and economic growth across the continent. Her firm has backed some of Africa’s most promising companies, including Paystack, which was acquired by Stripe for over $200 million, and Carry1st, a gaming platform funded by global investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Sony, and Google.
Born to a Nigerian father and an American mother, Maya’s bicultural upbringing in Minnesota provided her with a unique perspective on global opportunities and challenges. After completing her education at Pomona College and a pre-law program at Cornell University, she briefly worked in private equity research at JPMorgan Chase. However, her passion for entrepreneurship and development in Africa led her to establish Ingressive Capital in 2017, marking her as the youngest person and the first solo woman to launch a tech-focused venture capital fund in Nigeria.
Beyond her investment endeavors, Maya co-founded Ingressive for Good (I4G), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing African youth with access to tech training, scholarships, and job placements. Since its inception in 2020, I4G has trained over 132,000 individuals in coding and other technical skills, collaborating with partners like Coursera, DataCamp, and Meta to bridge the digital skills gap on the continent.
Maya’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in Ingressive Capital’s portfolio, where approximately 40% of the companies have female co-founders, and all have indigenous equity owners. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed; she has been featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 lists in both Africa and the United States, recognized for her significant contributions to venture capital and technology.
Through her visionary leadership, Maya Horgan Famodu is not only transforming the African tech ecosystem but also setting a precedent for inclusive and impactful investment. Her work continues to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors dedicated to harnessing Africa’s vast potential.
