At the Africa Tech Summit, we had the opportunity to have a quick rapid fire chat with Onyeka Akumah, the CEO of Treepz, a serial entrepreneur, and angel investor who has backed over 17 startups. As the founder of WO Community, a global network of 200+ startup founders, he is playing a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s startup landscape.
From investment trends to the importance of second-time founders and his new book, Onyeka shared valuable insights on what’s next for Africa’s tech ecosystem.
Angel Investing and the Power of Venture Building
Onyeka Akumah doesn’t just write checks—he builds alongside founders.
“I don’t consider myself a VC first. I see myself as an angel investor and, in many cases, a venture builder. I bring my skills to help startups grow,” he explains.
With 17+ investments, he has worked closely with founders, not just providing capital but also guidance drawn from both failures and successes. This hands-on approach, he believes, drives stronger, more sustainable businesses.
“I think the next wave of growth will come from experienced founders who have gone through the startup cycle and are now reinvesting in the ecosystem—not just with money but with knowledge,” Onyeka emphasizes.
Through WO Community, he is actively encouraging successful founders to reinvest in the next generation of entrepreneurs, a movement that is gaining momentum across the ecosystem.
Why Africa’s Startup Ecosystem Needs More Founder-Led Investment
Reflecting on the ecosystem’s evolution, Onyeka highlights the importance of experienced founders reinvesting their capital and expertise.
“The ecosystem is maturing. We’re seeing more founders become funders, which is exactly what we need to build a self-sustaining startup landscape.”
By creating an environment where founders support and mentor each other, Africa’s tech sector is fostering a cycle of knowledge-sharing and reinvestment.
Turning 40 and Launching His Book
Last year, Onyeka turned 40 and decided to capture his journey in a book.
“I wanted to tell my story my way,” he shares.
His book documents his experiences from childhood, corporate roles at Deloitte, British Council, and GTBank, to launching startups like Konga, Travelbeta, and eventually Treepz.
More than just an autobiography, the book serves as a practical guide for founders, distilling lessons from his entrepreneurial highs and lows.
“The next phase of my life is about helping others tell better stories and build impactful businesses—not just growing my own ventures,” he says.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
As Onyeka looks ahead, his focus is clear:
- Backing more second-time founders
- Scaling founder-led investment structures
- Building a self-sustaining startup ecosystem
At the Africa Tech Summit, his message to founders was simple: “Invest in the ecosystem. The best way to grow Africa’s tech space is for founders to lift each other up.”
Stay tuned for more interviews from the summit.
