Papa Mady Sidibe

I am interested in mentoring because I have experienced both sides of the entrepreneurship and investment journey—as a banker, an investor, a public program manager, and a founder. Throughout my career, I have seen how access to the right guidance at the right time can significantly change the trajectory of an entrepreneur or an organization, especially in African markets where information asymmetry and limited networks remain major barriers.

In my work within corporate banking and public entrepreneurship programs, I supported entrepreneurs who had strong ideas but lacked exposure to financial structuring, governance, and investor expectations. As an Investment Professional and later Senior Innovation Lead at the Entrepreneurship Delegation of the Presidency of Senegal, I worked closely with early-stage founders, particularly women and youth, helping them strengthen their business models, prepare for financing, and navigate growth challenges. I also mentor founders through my work in venture capital and as a co-founder of iIntrade, which has given me a practical, founder-level understanding of execution, resilience, and decision-making under uncertainty.

My mentoring focus areas include investment readiness, financial structuring, fundraising strategy, governance, and scaling in emerging markets. I am particularly interested in supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs operating in sectors such as fintech, agribusiness, logistics, cleantech, and services, as well as those addressing financial inclusion, climate resilience, and job creation.

Mentoring is, for me, a way to give back to the ecosystem that has shaped my own journey, while contributing to the development of sustainable businesses that create long-term economic and social value.

I mentor because I believe that access to the right guidance can be as important as access to capital, especially in emerging markets. Throughout my career—as a banker, investment professional, public program manager, and founder—I have seen talented entrepreneurs struggle not because of a lack of ideas, but because they lacked exposure to financial discipline, strategic thinking, and trusted networks.

Mentoring allows me to share practical experience, help entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes, and support better decision-making at critical moments. It is also a way for me to give back to the ecosystems that have contributed to my own growth, while supporting the development of sustainable, impact-driven businesses.