Kola Aina
Founding Partner | Ventures Platform
Kola Aina is Founding Partner at Ventures Platform, an early-stage “discovery” venture capital fund championing the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
He is a leading executive and board director who combines a powerful mix of entrepreneurial, investment, and technical experience across diverse industries including technology, finance, media, agriculture, infrastructure, and real estate.
As a venture capitalist, Kola identifies and invests in early-stage technology companies focused on the disruption of financial services, healthcare, education, agriculture, and enterprise software. He has built a strong investment portfolio of best-in-class, high-growth companies. Current investments include category-defining companies including Mono, PiggyVest, Reliance HMO, and Paystack, which was acquired by Stripe in 2020.
A passionate ecosystem builder, Kola is also the Founder of Ventures Park, a co-working space and community for entrepreneurs as well as Ventures Platform Foundation, which empowers entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, education and digital resources and advocates for entrepreneur-friendly policy. He is Chair of the Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity to the President of Nigeria and Co-Chair of the Committee on Job Creation & Youth Employment to the President of Nigeria. He is also a board member and advisory board member for institutions including ARM Financial Advisers Limited, Reliance HMO, and the Yemisi Shyllon Art Museum.
Kola Aina joins the show to talk about the makings of a good deal and share his vision for righteous capital.