Jobo: A Start-Up with a mission Jobo is a start-up founded in Côte d’Ivoire to tackle one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: the gap between job seekers and meaningful employment. By leveraging technology, data, and strong partnerships with employers, Jobo provides a platform that connects individuals with opportunities in the formal labour market.Jobo's mission is rooted in the belief that inclusive employment not only transforms individual lives but also fuels sustainable economic growth.

• Read more about Beyond Employment: Bridging Business and Empowerment at Jobo Academy

Last summer, I had the opportunity to work on the Visionaries Incubator, a programme created by Female Foundry in partnership with Google Cloud. The incubator was designed to help founders use AI to supercharge their businesses over an intense eight weeks. Through mentorship, workshops, and hands-on implementation, it became a fast-paced, eye-opening experience for everyone involved, myself included.  

• Read more about Empowering Founders With AI: My Summer at the Visionaries Incubator

This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern with two unique venture capital firms: Loyal VC and Working Capital Fund. These experiences not only expanded my skills in due diligence, research, and impact assessment but also offered valuable insights into the nuances of the startup ecosystem, especially in the areas of social and environmental impact. Here's a look back at my challenges, the lessons I learned, and the memorable moments that shaped my summer.Working capital fund: Exploring tech for social impact

• Read more about My Summer With Loyal VC and Working Capital Fund

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with a group of talented individuals as they built Wastetide, an AI tool for waste detection and efficient recycling solutions. My role focused on preparing the company for its pre-seed fundraise, starting at the end of the summer, and with my background in transaction advisory and M&A, it was a perfect fit.

• Read more about Didn’t ‘Waste’ My Summer!

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Verge HealthTech Fund, a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage technologies that make healthcare more accessible, affordable, of higher quality, and more efficient.A kaleidoscope of innovation

• Read more about My Summer With Verge HealthTech Fund

From Tech Startups to Impact InvestingBefore joining INSEAD, I worked in the technology industry, leading various functions and business units for tech startups. My role centred on driving business growth and delivering financial returns for our investors.This summer, I decided to pivot towards a new and exciting challenge—impact investing. I switched sides for the first time to the investor side by taking on the role of Impact Investment Analyst at Equatora Capital. 

• Read more about My Summer Internship: Exploring Impact Investing at Equatora Capital

Team Quokka: Ian Yamaguchi and Matt Dodd Forming a plan  Matt and Ian have been mates since the start of INSEAD and both share an interest in tech and entrepreneurship. When we heard about SSUP early in the course, we were keen to get involved. While exploring options for our trip, a newly minted programme to head to Western Australia caught our attention.   INSEAD – Western Australia (WA) Partnership

• Read more about Team Quokka in Western Australia