The VC Mindset: A Woman’s Guide to Breaking Into Tech and Securing Funding
- Lush Angela
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Florence Yula, a Pan-African venture capitalist (VC) and director at Women in Tech Kenya, shares hard truths about funding, risk-taking, and building scalable tech solutions in emerging markets.
In our recent OVAReact Podcast recording Florence dropped truth bombs about funding, fear, and why African women need to rewrite the rules of tech entrepreneurship.
Picture this: You walk into a sleek office, pitch deck in hand, ready to present your tech startup to a panel of investors. The room is full of men in sharp suits, their expressions unreadable. Your stomach flips. Do I belong here?
This was Florence's reality when she first stepped into venture capital, a world dominated by what she calls "finance bros." But today, as a director at Women in Tech Kenya and a Pan-African VC, she’s flipping the script.
Here’s what she shared with us that will help every female founder to thrive and increase their chances to get funding.
1. VCs Are Just Founders with a Fancy Title
Florence laughs when she hears founders mythologise investors and/or funding managers. "They’re not gods," rather are individuals who often raise funds from Limited Partners (LPs), institutions, philanthropies, or even friends and they then deploy capital to startups.
What This Means for You:
You’re equals. When pitching, remember: They need you as much as you need them.
60% of African funding goes to fintech—but innovation is stagnant. "We’re copying Western apps instead of fixing our own problems," Florence notes. "Why can’t I send money from Kenya to Tanzania easily?" This highlights a need for a solution that can help money transfer across borders with ease, and this would be created better Africans for they are in a better position to create the right options to solve the problem.
2. The "Perfect Trap" (And How to Escape It)
Florence admits she used to be a perfectionist. "I’d miss deadlines because I wanted everything 100%. Meanwhile, men were launching half-baked ideas and securing funding."
A Mental Note for women:
Imperfection is innovation. "Your first product will pivot—investors expect it."
You can create products and/or services but the market will often reshape it. So it is important to build, then let your users redefine it.
3. The Pregnant Founder Problem
Florence’s voice hardens as she recalls a female founder dismissed by an investor for being pregnant. "He asked, ‘What happens to your business when you give birth?’"
The Ugly Truth:
Male investors often don’t get it. "They’ll prioritise ‘hustle culture’ over human realities."
The appropriate solution is more women in VC. Florence states"We need decision-makers who design for periods, pregnancy, and school runs."
4. Sunset Years Are Your Power Era
Here’s the twist: Florence believes women hit their stride later. "Society says 40 is ‘sunset.’ I say it’s when you’re fearless."
Proof:
Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In approach became her manifesto at 43 and as a result has helped many women shift their mindset.
Viola Davis won her Oscar at 50 and broke barriers for many with a story of struggle like her who came to the realisation delay doesn't mean failure just requires one to stay prepared for the opportunity that awaits.
Florence reminds us as women that: "your best work isn’t behind you—it’s coming." She encourages female founders to build solutions for your market than emulating ideas conceptualised from Silicon Valley and encourages women to be better at shooting their shot for that audacity will indeed favour them for being bold. Watch the full Podcast full below!
We welcome you to join us on Saturday the 9th of August 2025 from 11 am for our upcoming Heels Connect: Women In Tech 2.0 Brunch. This is the second edition for women aspiring to get into the tech field or wanting to elevate their career. There is an opportunity to pitch ideas, connect with Florence and other amazing leading women in tech and be in a space of like minded women! Grab your ticket today!
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