The fellowship puts you in a live working situation with a company that is actively hiring.
It’s not hypothetical like it might be in a classroom or other kinds of fellowships where you’re put in some sort of sandbox.

As someone who was interested in the continent but kind of didn’t know where to start, this program was a perfect fit that gave me a soft landing.

I’ve always worked in very established organizations, so the thought of leaving that structure was a lot to consider. With VFA, though that potential transition to startups that would still ultimately come with a lot of uncertainty, I had a base that supported me in that transition.

With over a decade-long career working with leading global brands in the corporate sector, this fellowship presented me with a pathway ‘back to the classroom’ to experience my professional journey afresh. This time from the perspective of a startup.

I really valued the mentorship experience at VFA. As I had first started and run my own startup and was making the transition to employment, I felt I needed some guidance and help through that process.

Instead of looking for a growth-stage startup myself and then seeing if they had a need and where I could possibly fit in, it was great to be able to share my profile with VFA and have them share relevant opportunities with me.

VFA was a cool way to test out working on problems back home in Africa. It was an opportunity for me to get a lens into how innovative companies solving hard problems on the continent operate, their challenges, and their bright spots.

As a software engineer with experience in the edtech space, I was keen on applying my skills in a different sector. The fellowship gave me an opportunity to work with an innovative startup in the insuretech field.

I have always been attracted to complex problems, which when solved, can transform the lives of many. The VFA fellowship gave me the chance and a platform to work with a team doing just that.