Resilience Spotlight: Angela Koki Redefining Investment in Africa
1. Overview of who I am
I am Angela Koki, an investments and financial due diligence expert with a deep passion for building resilient businesses in Africa. As a Partner at Diligence Africa, I provide comprehensive diligence, financial analysis, compliance advisory and project management to support sustainable venture capital investments. I have spearheaded investor readiness training for over 350+ founders across Africa and led financial due diligence assessments facilitating capital investments ranging from $100K to $1M.
Previously and recently, at Onafriq (formerly MFS Africa), I built advanced analytical financial models to optimize commercial finance strategies, manage forex risk, and assess partner profitability across cross-border payments.
My expertise spans financial modeling, investment valuation, corporate finance, and risk intelligence, enabling startups and investors to make data-driven, resilient decisions.
2. Resilience in Action
To me, resilience is the ability to navigate uncertainty, pivot when necessary, and continuously refine strategies to sustain long-term growth. It is about finding clarity in chaos and executing despite constraints.
In my work, I’ve seen resilience in action when startups face unexpected regulatory changes, funding delays, or operational hurdles. For example, in my due diligence work, I’ve assessed startups that had been rejected by multiple investors. By refining their financial models, strengthening governance structures, and aligning their business strategies with market realities, these companies later secured funding.
Similarly, at Onafriq, when revenue fluctuations and forex volatility threatened business margins, I developed models that provided real-time visibility into profitability and credit risks. This enabled leadership to make quick, informed strategic decisions, reinforcing resilience in financial operations.
3. Importance of Resilience in the Startup World
Startups thrive in unpredictable environments, and resilience, both human and operational, is the difference between success and failure. Founders who understand that setbacks are not the end but rather inflection points for recalibration are the ones who build long-lasting ventures.
Operational resilience, such as strong financial planning, adaptable business models, and risk mitigation strategies, ensures companies can withstand shocks. Human resilience is the founder’s ability to persist, learn, and lead through challenges, is equally as crucial.
From my experience, businesses that integrate resilience into their DNA don’t just survive downturns they emerge stronger, better positioned, and more investable. This is why I am passionate about helping founders and investors embed resilience into their financial and operational strategies.
4. Resilience in the Real World?
One of the most striking examples of resilience I’ve witnessed was during my work with a startup that had misaligned financial projections and faced rejection from multiple investors. Instead of giving up, the founder sought guidance on refining their unit economics, building a stronger case for product-market fit, and implementing better governance. With structured improvements, they later secured a $500K investment, proving that resilience is not just about enduring hardship but about iterating intelligently.
Another instance was during my time at Finaccess Limited, where we faced severe funding challenges and management misalignment. Yet, resilience isn't just about navigating obstacles, it’s also about knowing when to step back to propel forward.
Leaving the company and starting from scratch was one of the hardest but most transformative decisions I’ve made. Taking several steps back, whether through a career break for motherhood or pivoting into entrepreneurship allowed me to gain clarity, realign my purpose, and ultimately move forward with greater impact.
Through my journey, this has reinforced that resilience is not just about surviving storms but building systems that allow you to thrive beyond them.