Kenza Lahlou is a pioneer VC investor in Africa, Founder and General Partner at Outlierz Ventures, Africa-focused Seed fund to back the outliers of the continent. The fund invests in tech-enabled companies transforming fundamental industries across four key markets: Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya. Portfolio companies include best-in-class, high-growth African companies such Sokowtach (Kenya), MaxAB (Egypt), WaystoCap (Morocco), and Bamboo (Nigeria), among other companies digitizing traditional industries in supply-chain, logistics, fintech and health.
A venture capitalist and ecosystem builder with experience spanning software engineering, management consulting and private equity, Kenza has lived and worked in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Before launching Outlierz Ventures, Kenza worked in Silicon Valley where she led market analysis and business development advisory services for emerging markets tech-companies to scale their business in the US market. In 2013, she returned to her home country of Morocco to co-found StartupYourLife, one of the pioneer local ecosystem player, a leading entrepreneur-led network helping Moroccan start-ups grow and connect with investors, mentors and the global start-up ecosystem.
Kenza holds a BSc and MSc in Computer Science from INSA, France’s National Institutes of Science and Technology, and a Master of Strategy and Management from ESSEC Business School. She also completed a Leadership Executive Program at the Harvard Kennedy School in 2016. She is a Kauffman Fellow Class 25, one of the world’s premier innovation, leadership, and venture capital focused programs for VC fund managers.