Mouphtaou Yarou

I am a former professional basketball player from Benin who competed at Villanova University (Big East Conference, NCAA Division I) and across European professional leagues for nearly a decade. My career took me through five countries, five languages, and a constant requirement to perform, adapt, and lead under pressure.
After retiring from professional sport on my own terms, I earned an MBA from HEC Paris (2024), building on my BBA in Finance and International Business from Villanova. I am PMP-certified and currently lead MY BARIKA, a nonprofit I founded in 2018 that uses sport as a lever for education, inclusion, and youth development in France, Benin, and internationally.
I mentor because I know what it means to build something from nothing — in environments where resources are scarce but ambition is not. My focus areas are financial modeling, fundraising strategy, leadership development, and helping founders translate raw talent and vision into structured, sustainable businesses. I am particularly drawn to founders operating across Africa and Europe, navigating cross-cultural challenges, and building with limited capital but real conviction.
I currently mentor two ventures through VC4A: Makifaa (Togo) and Concilium (Senegal). I bring the same discipline I developed as a professional athlete — show up, prepare, execute, and be honest.

✅ I want to give back to the startup ecosystem and entrepreneurs coming up
✅ I like to learn about industries and new businesses
✅ I want to make new connections for myself and/or the organization I represent