Eddison Shumba

I bring over eight years of experience in venture building, investment, and startup ecosystem development across Africa. As the Founder & CEO of TIMO, I am leading innovation in mobility solutions for underserved markets. I have successfully mentored and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNIDO GCIP, the African Impact Challenge, 54 Collective, and Global Startup Awards Africa, where I served as a Regional Jury Member evaluating top startups across the continent.

As a trained venture capitalist through CatalyzU, I am well-versed in investment strategies, startup due diligence, and supporting early-stage founders.

I can contribute by:

Sourcing High-Potential Entrepreneurs – Identifying and connecting promising startups with investors to drive impactful investments.
Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing – Providing insights on startup growth, investment readiness, and financial modeling.
Strategic Networking – Leveraging my extensive network of investors, founders, and ecosystem players to facilitate meaningful connections.
Thought Leadership – Sharing expertise on emerging markets, impact-driven business models, and venture capital trends.
I am eager to collaborate, exchange ideas, and support fellow members in achieving meaningful impact.

I am an entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and venture capital fellow with over eight years of experience in venture building, investment, and startup ecosystem development across Africa. As Founder & CEO of TIMO, I am transforming mobility solutions for underserved markets.

My expertise spans financial modeling, market strategy, fundraising, and investment readiness, having successfully secured funding for startups and guided 300+ entrepreneurs through programs like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNIDO GCIP, 54 Collective, and the Global Startup Awards Africa.

I am also a trained venture capitalist through CatalyzU, equipping me with deep knowledge of investment strategies, startup due diligence, and scaling high-impact ventures. Passionate about empowering entrepreneurs, I actively work to bridge the gap between startups and investors, ensuring Africa’s brightest innovators receive the support they need to thrive.

I am pioneering a venture studio through Protoseed Ventures, designed to go beyond investment readiness and actively bridge the funding gap for African startups. Many incubators and accelerators prepare entrepreneurs for funding, but few guarantee capital, even when businesses demonstrate customer desirability and willingness to pay.

To change this, Protoseed is shaping a new model that integrates:

Outcome-Based Funding Tracks – Programs that partner with funders to create success-linked funding pools, where businesses hitting milestones automatically qualify for capital.
AI-Powered Matchmaking – Using AI to connect startups with the right investors based on real-time data rather than generic networks.
Crowdfunding Integration – Embedding crowdfunding campaigns into readiness programs as a stepping stone to larger investments.
Guaranteed Pilot Programs – Partnering with corporates to sponsor pilots, ensuring entrepreneurs validate their solutions with real customers.
I need like-minded partners, investors, and ecosystem players who share this vision to help refine and bring this model to life. The community can support by connecting me with aligned funders, corporate partners, and tech enablers who believe in shifting Africa’s startup ecosystem from preparation to guaranteed outcomes.