Youcef Oudjidane

Youcef Oudjidane is a prominent entrepreneur and venture capitalist, currently serving as the Founder and Managing Partner at Byld Ventures, a $15 million fund focused on investing in early-stage fintech startups primarily in Africa. Byld Ventures aims to support companies in regions like Egypt and Nigeria, leveraging Oudjidane's extensive experience in these markets. The fund emphasizes early investments, often at the pre-seed stage, and typically invests around $500,000 per startup, reserving a significant portion of its capital for follow-on investments.12

In addition to his role at Byld Ventures, Oudjidane is also a co-founder of Bloom, a fintech startup that emerged from Y Combinator's W22 batch. His previous experience includes serving as the head of investments at the Dubai Future Foundation, where he honed his skills in identifying and nurturing innovative startups.245

Oudjidane's investment strategy reflects a deep understanding of the fintech landscape, particularly in Africa, where he sees significant opportunities for growth as more people come online. His approach is characterized by a desire to be involved from the very beginning of a startup's journey, often investing before a formal pitch deck is even prepared.23