Insight certainty 3/5 debate potential 3/5

Tobias: Startups in foreign countries backed only by US VCs raise concerns

Martin Tobias · #116 Kimoyo: Is This African Startup Venture Backable? · Mar 4, 2025 · at 17:37

Following Maryam Braima's pitch for African research platform Kimoyo Insights, investor Martin Tobias raises concerns about foreign startups having no local venture capital investors.

0:00 / 0:04exact quote · 4.2s
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“I get a little concerned when I see only US VCs in an, in a foreign country.”

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