#10Q: Meet Zachariah George, angel investor for Africa

Zachariah George is an angel investor and businessman who believes passionately in the innovative future of the African continent. He is the co-founder and chief investment officer of Startupbootcamp Africa; and founder and CEO of Cactus Advisors, which runs the micro VC fund Cactus Capital, which has invested in 18 of Africa’s leading tech startups including Flutterwave, HouseME and Recomed. Startupbootcamp Africa is the leading multi-corporate backed venture accelerator program in Africa.

1. Describe what you do?

I’m an angel investor in some of Africa’s top technology startups and I help venture build companies from the ground up and get them access to large corporates, distribution channels and funding.

2. Your greatest achievement?

Being a parent to three children.

3. How will you change the world?

By investing in the future innovators of the African continent and helping them empower themselves and create jobs through sustainable use of technology.

4. What do you love about Africa?

The resilience of people on the continent from a willingness to use the resources at their disposal; to create economic and social wealth for their communities.

5. Why should brands invest in Africa?

The world’s population is increasing, but the population of Africa within the world is increasing a lot quicker – one in three people in the world will be from the continent of Africa in the next 50 years, so from a pure consumer market perspective, you cannot ignore Africa from a purchasing power perspective.

6. What do you visualise for Africa in the next 10 years?

Greater adoption of technology in sectors like healthcare, agriculture, retail, manufacturing – industries that traditionally haven’t been disruptable are using software heavy and asset light methodologies to disrupt businesses.

7. What is your biggest prediction for the future?

Increased automation in everyday tasks that we use and come across; it’s not taking away jobs, but reskilling and retraining people to move from lower quality, unskilled jobs to higher quality skilled jobs.

8. Tell us your life philosophy?

It’s a combination of five things, it comes from ancient Toltec philosophy: Never make assumptions; always do your best; don’t take anything personally; be impeccable with your word; and be skeptical but learn to listen.

9. What are you reading?

I always read a work of fiction and a work of non-fiction. I’ve just finished reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón about the Spanish Civil War; and I’m reading a book of non-fiction called The Prosperity Paradox: How innovation can lift nations out of poverty by Clayton Christensen, Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon, on how you can use innovation to create prosperity and not just focus on reducing inequality – it’s flipping the argument as a positive versus a negative.

10. What is your superpower?

My ability to multitask. I have three kids and three jobs and more than a few side hustles.

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