Africa's economic transformation will require more than ambitious policies, natural resources and promising ideas. It will also require people willing to invest in those ideas, support entrepreneurs and create opportunities for businesses to grow. Senegalese entrepreneur and investor Fatoumata Bâ is doing just that.

As the founder and Executive Chair of Janngo Capital, a pan-African investment firm supporting technology-driven businesses, Bâ is addressing one of the biggest challenges facing African entrepreneurs: access to capital, particularly for women.

Born in Senegal and raised between Senegal and Togo, Bâ studied Management, Strategy, Marketing and Finance at Toulouse Business School in France, graduating in 2009.

Her career took her through consulting and technology before she joined Jumia, one of Africa's leading e-commerce companies. She became the founding CEO of Jumia Côte d'Ivoire and later Managing Director of Jumia Nigeria, serving on the company's Africa-level executive committee.

After gaining experience building businesses across different African markets, she founded Janngo in 2018, with a vision of supporting African companies using technology to solve economic and social challenges.

A major part of that vision is addressing the funding gap facing women entrepreneurs. Despite their significant contribution to African economies, women-owned businesses continue to struggle to secure the capital needed to grow. A 2025 TIME profile highlighted an estimated $42 billion financing gap for African women entrepreneurs.

Bâ has made closing this gap a central part of her investment strategy. Janngo commits at least 50 per cent of its investments to businesses founded, co-founded or significantly benefiting women, placing financial resources behind the participation of women in Africa's economy.

In October 2024, Janngo Capital announced the final close of its second investment fund at $78 million, exceeding its initial fundraising target by 20 per cent. The fund attracted major institutional investors, including the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation and the US International Development Finance Corporation.

Through its investments, Janngo supports businesses across healthcare, education, agriculture, financial services and logistics. Its portfolio includes Sabi, a Nigerian business-to-business commerce platform connecting businesses to suppliers and markets, and Expensya, a Tunisian-founded financial technology company acquired by Swedish firm Medius in 2023.

By October 2024, Janngo reported investments in more than 30 startups across 21 companies, with its portfolio businesses operating in over 20 countries and collectively creating more than 20,000 jobs. The firm also reported that 56 per cent of its portfolio companies were women-led.

Her work has attracted international recognition. In 2025, Bâ was named to TIME's 100 Next list, while Janngo Capital earned a place on TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies list in the Impact in Equality category.

From her leadership roles in Africa's technology industry to mobilising millions of dollars for businesses across the continent, Fatoumata Bâ has built a career around expanding economic opportunities for others. Her work is helping African entrepreneurs access the resources to grow, create jobs and develop solutions to problems within their communities.

As African businesses continue to seek the capital and support needed to compete globally, Bâ is ensuring that more of them, particularly those led by women, have a place in that conversation. Her contribution to Africa's entrepreneurial and investment landscape earns her recognition as our African Giant of the Week.