Hi everyone!

Welcome to the UpStartVC Podcast, a podcast where we talk to entrepreneurs about the things they’re building and investors about the entrepreneurs they’re backing.

It is hosted by Kamo Motaung an entrepreneur and BCom Honours Investment Management graduate; and, Daryn Munnik, a CFA charterholder currently pursuing a Masters in Development Finance, with research and support from Vuyo Mzini.

Our background research note is in the link at the end. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

This week we chat to Grégoire de Padirac of Orange Ventures on corporate VC fund structures, investing during COVID-19, and hear his thoughts on what founders should consider when raising financing in Africa.

Grégoire is a VC principal at Orange and is currently based in Senegal.

Orange Ventures is a venture fund of Orange group with €350m under management, investing in areas of Orange expertise and beyond, financing startups with the ambition to imagine, design, and develop innovative solutions, disruptive technologies, and business models of tomorrow

The themes we discuss are:

* Grégoire’s journey to breaking into VC.

* What a typical day looks like for a VC Principal.

* Orange Ventures fund structure.

* Investing, fundraising, and due diligence during COVID-19

* What Orange Ventures looks for in startups they back.

* Grégoire’s advice to entrepreneurs raising financing in Africa

We have also put together a background research note on Orange Ventures, it is available here:

Orange ventures research note

If you enjoyed listening to the podcast or reading the note, we’d really appreciate a review on Apple Podcasts or if you share your thoughts here.

Cheers

Kamo & Daryn & Vuyo

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theupstartvcpodcast.substack.com