Fast Forward

We are a venture studio—and early-stage fund—that builds and backs companies to unlock prosperity in Africa through technology.

[Joseph | Agrolinking 🌍 @da_foj]

A year leading the Agricultural Studio at @fastforwardvc building Livestock Funds from the ground up, structuring financing for livestock value chains across Africa.

It has been a genuine pleasure working with and learning from @opeawo and the entire team

Let's do more👊
#JBTM

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

@uchiuchibeke Congratulations @uchiuchibeke and @chimoney_io It’s been a journey and glad to have walked it with you. The inside stories are a masterclass on their own. And welcome to Canada , CapitalSage

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

@opeawo @game25x @Rxbremen @grok compare Jumia’s GMV as a % of total retail sales in Nigeria to Amazon’s GMV as a % of total retail sales in America

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

@chamath At the end of the day, that’s what matters. No need for permission.

[Jason @Jaysin_builds]

Today, we are officially live on Product Hunt.

I built PawaVox. Scan a QR code, speak your mind, and our AI transcribes and analyzes it instantly for the manager.

If you support building in public, I would appreciate your upvote and feedback on our page👇

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

AI is a leveler on technical and grunt execution. It's now up to your imagination and ability to connect the dots.

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

Meet the team.

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

https://t.co/HC6G11oeDI

[Olumide Soyombo @OtunbaSho]

I read @UnkleAyo ‘s thread and @OoTheNigerian ‘s response on @realFemiOtedola upcoming book release . My initial reaction is that two things can be true . Debates on twitter seem to always take the either/or position .

I will be the first person to say people with privilege need to admit and own their privilege . There’s room for a grass to grace to story and there’s room from grace to more grace story . The issue is when people with privilege try to paint their story as a grass to grace story. I don’t agree with that narrative because while it’s a valid story, it’s still a different story .

When a successful entrepreneur from a well-known or well-off family shares their story like Femi Otedola recently with the announcement of his new book, the same old debate resurfaces:

“He was always going to make it… he was born rich.”

It’s a tempting narrative. Simple. Linear. And mostly wrong.

Let’s be clear: privilege is real , it could be financial, social, or educational. And yes, it can open doors. But doors don’t walk themselves through. What happens on the other side of those doors is a different story.

I know this firsthand. I was raised in a very comfortable and entrepreneurial home . So yes, I had early access to a Windows 95 PC the year it came out I was fascinated by it. That exposure shaped my curiosity and eventually, my career.

But privilege alone didn’t build Bluechip Technologies though. It didn’t convince customers to trust us when we had no office and no reputation,

It didn’t decide invest in Paystack, PiggyVest, or LemFi

Privilege Is an Advantage, Not a promise.

In my book Vantage, I share :

“Your vantage point determines what you see. But it doesn’t determine what you do with what you see.”

Some of us start life standing on a taller hill. That’s true. But what you see from that hill is only valuable if you act on it. If you build. If you persist. Privilege might show you the view. It won’t take the steps for you.

I’ve met people with every advantage in the world who never pushed beyond it. And I’ve backed founders with nothing but grit and brilliance who built phenomenal businesses

What Matters More Than Privilege?

Here’s what I’ve learned after over 100 startup investments across Africa:

1. Execution beats entitlement.
2. Curiosity compounds faster than you think.
3. Character and reputation creates doors.

We must not reduce people’s stories to the wealth of their parents. It flattens ambition, and it ignores the daily choices, failures, pivots, and sacrifices that truly define success.

Femi Otedola’s story deserves to be heard, just like every other builder’s story does. Not because he had money or a name, but because he did something with it and so should you.

Whether you start from a mountaintop or a valley, your vantage point is just the beginning. What you do next is everything.

We move!

[Joseph | Agrolinking 🌍 @da_foj]

Excited about the product I'm leading at the Agric Studio @fastforwardvc

#LivestockFunds🚀

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

Should startups pay dividends if they hit profitability and 60%+ profit margins ?

[BeyondAfrica.org, Austin TX, Nov 7 @AdewaleYusuf_]

Africans in Tech Global (ATG) will be hosting an African Founder's Happy Hour meetup in Lagos sponsored by @fastforwardvc, @getequity, @TechpointAfrica, and @AltSchoolAfrica.
Ticket is free, but limited seats are available.
https://t.co/QHBTb4gY0d

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

Follow FastForward for more investor insights in #Fintech #Edtech #FutureofWork #Stripe #Banking #Payments #Regulations #InterchangeFees

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

The real reason large fintechs like Stripe could buy banks, but don’t, comes down to a government rule that allows small banks to charge higher interchange fees for card use. It’s not just about size—it’s about how fees play into the equation. Let’s explain 👇

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

It’s a curious paradox: fintechs have the tech and the reach, but banks hold the keys to a big chunk of the revenue that fintechs can tap into. The solution? Strategic partnerships—not acquisitions. ⚖️

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

🚀Fast Forward Venture Studios is investing up to $100k in startups that are pushing the boundaries of Nigeria's livestock sector with technology.

Validate your solution, reach key milestones, and tap into our extensive network.

Apply now! https://t.co/OT5mEHKRsT

[Fast Forward @fastforwardvc]

We want to back founders building technology solutions across the livestock value chain in Nigeria. See why here🔗 : https://t.co/Rhbh6TRZW1 [Application form is linked in the memo]

#AgTech #LivestockInnovation #StartupFunding #FutureOfFarming