I hope this finds you well as we begin to wind down the year.

What a few months it’s been! As things wrap up here in both Lagos and Nairobi, I’ve found myself reflecting on an incredible year marked by growth, meaningful connections, and real impact. It’s been full, energising, and deeply rewarding.

As we close out the month, I wanted to share a few highlights from December that capture some of that momentum.

After eight incredible weeks, we recently concluded our second cohort in Lagos and made investments, which we’ll announce soon. The energy throughout the cohort was vibrant, and the thoughtfully curated experiences each founder had during the program are ones we believe will stay with them for a long time. I’m excited to see the impact each founder goes on to make.

The Nairobi team recently wrapped up their 13th cohort, marking another milestone in our journey of supporting founders across East Africa. I had the opportunity to spend time with the cohort founders, participate in the Investment Committee, and meet with Trond Riiber Knudsen and Gudleik Njå. I’m excited about the investments that came out of this cohort.

We would be announcing the investments from our Nairobi and Lagos cohorts in our Africa Quarterly Newsletter - subscribe here.

Last week, we hosted a mixer in partnership with Wema Bank, bringing together builders, investors, operators, and other key players across the startup ecosystem. The evening was filled with engaging panel conversations, meaningful dialogue, and valuable new connections.

We had a panel on The Future of Corporate Venture Building in Africa: How Banks & Builders Can Co-Create with Founders, featuring Solomon Ayodele, Head of Innovation at Wema Bank, and Anil Atmaramani, Partner at Antler. I also had the pleasure of moderating a fireside chat with Babatunde Akin-Moses, Co-founder and CEO of Sycamore, on The Founder’s Journey: Zero to Traction, Surviving Downturns, and Scaling Sustainably.

The true highlight of the event was seeing founders openly share their experiences, learn from one another, and form new connections. We’ll definitely be doing more of this in 2026 and would love to partner with you; please reach out if you’re interested.

Our “Detty December” event was a Diaspora Builders Roundtable here in Lagos - a closed, in-person conversation for operators and founders who have recently returned or are actively considering a return to build in Nigeria. We invited builders who have lived abroad, moved back home, and are now building in the ecosystem to share the real story: the fears, the wins, the missteps, the surprises, and what it truly takes to make the move successfully. The panel featured myself, Adenike Adekunle (Founder, Forti Foods), and Bukola Odeyemi, all of whom left structured careers abroad to return to Nigeria and build. What an insightful conversation! 💯

I recently had the privilege of participating in a panel hosted by the IFC (International Finance Corporation) in Rome to discuss the transformative outcomes that well-structured investments can create across Africa. Blended finance plays a critical role in unlocking opportunities across the continent by reducing risk and enabling innovative business models.

It was wonderful reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones who are equally committed to building resilient industries across Africa. The conversations with partners like Joon Y. Park, Elizabeth Namugenyi, Anup Jagwani, and John A. Alamu remind me of the shared vision we all hold, to drive meaningful impact where it matters most.

One insight came through loud and clear in my conversations with founders and ecosystem players this year: there are far more founders who need support than we can accommodate at Antler, and I want to help change that.

In 2026, I’m launching something new to help founders navigate the things they don’t yet know - creating space for real, unfiltered conversations about building, scaling, and everything in between.

Watch this space 🎙️

As I reflect on the year, joining Antler has been one of the major highlights of 2025. In just six months, we ran two cohorts (no small feat 💪🏽), made strong investments in promising startups, and supported over 45 founders through our Residency Program. It’s been an incredibly exciting journey, and I’m deeply grateful for our amazing team. In 2026, we’re going even bigger.

🎄Happy holidays! I wish you a joyful season filled with rest, warmth, and meaningful moments with loved ones. I very much look forward to continued and new collaborations in the year ahead. Here’s to a bright start to the year ahead🥂, and let’s do more together in 2026.

Lola