Lagos Diaspora Zoom Calls Are Replacing Venture Boards
By Syed John
Weekly midnight calls fund startups faster than any African VC firm right now.
Every Sunday night, a Lagos founder jumps on a Zoom call with diaspora angels scattered across Toronto, Doha, and Johannesburg. They wire money live, using remittance apps and trust built on WhatsApp voice notes. No cap tables, no convertible notes, just an honor system and relentless Google Sheets.
It sounds reckless until you realize traditional venture capital ignores logistics startups in Mushin or hardware labs in Yaba. Diaspora capital is scrappy but immediate. Founders share screen recordings of product demos, get grilled for 15 minutes, then see funds arrive before dawn.
Africa's innovation boom won't wait for term sheets. It's happening in chaotic Zoom rooms where toddlers and timezones collide. And honestly? It works.