Climate Founders & Investors Breakfast in Lagos
Founders remember: lessons for investors from an event in Lagos
Our colleague Stefan Kappeler started Moonshot week at the Climate Founders & Investors Breakfast in Lagos, Nigeria. elea co-hosted the event with Catalyst Fund, Acumen, BREEGA, Delta40, and WEAV Capital.
Four founders spoke openly about taking African companies from startup to growth stage: Luther Lawoyin (PricePally), Adetayo Bamiduro (MAX), Lola Masha (Babban Gona), and Deina Mayaki (Agriarche).
Here are a few of their messages that stayed with us as an investor:
- A quick “no” is a kindness. Founders handle rejection well. What hurts them is months of conversations that end in the same answer.
- Growth at any cost is over. What counts is building a company that can stand on its own.
- Trust starts with transparency. Founders who tell investors about problems early, before anyone asks, build stronger relationships.
- A good board is on the founder’s side. It’s a sparring partner, not a reporting obligation.
- An ecosystem matures when founders become funders. More entrepreneurs reinvesting in the next generation would be one of the strongest signs of progress.
And the line Stefan is taking home: founders remember. How we act as investors in the hard moments shapes our reputation far beyond any single deal.
We thank the panelists for their candor and our fellow co-hosts for a great morning.
