Ajao, Adeyemi
unknown · Contribution: 2018
Co-founded Base10 Partners, the first Black-led venture capital firm to manage over $1 billion in assets

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Impact on the world
Co-founded Base10 Partners in 2018, which became the first Black-led venture capital firm in history to manage over $1 billion in assets, investing globally across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Africa with roughly 60% of its investments going to companies led by women or minority founders.
Life & background
Born to a Spanish mother and Nigerian father and raised between Nigeria, Italy, and Spain, Ajao co-founded Base10 Partners with TJ Nahigian in 2018, building it into the first Black-led venture capital firm to manage over $1 billion in assets. The firm invests globally, with portfolio companies across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Africa, and has committed to investing 1% of its profits in organizations supporting inclusion and racial equality.
Sources
- Forbes; PR Newswire (Base10 Partners announcement)
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