500 Global, a prominent venture capital firm known for its active investments, has announced the promotion of Mareme Dieng to Partner in charge of its Africa regional strategy. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Dieng aims to harness the firm’s resources to foster growth opportunities across the continent.
Dieng, a Senegalese national with extensive international experience, expressed her commitment to reinvesting in Africa. “As a Senegalese woman who has studied, lived, and worked abroad, my mission is to create growth opportunities for the next generation of young Africans,” she stated. “I want them to have access to quality education and economic opportunities without needing to leave their homes, as I did.” She emphasised her ambition to leverage 500 Global’s global platform to unlock the continent’s full potential for economic growth and innovation.
Since joining 500 Global in 2021, Dieng has been a key figure in the firm’s partnerships, programmes, and investments. She has demonstrated remarkable leadership by advocating for the next wave of African innovation. Her efforts have included launching initiatives that underscore the opportunities present in the African market.
Fred Swaniker, Founder of the African Leadership Group, praised Dieng’s capabilities, saying, “Mareme embodies the future of Africa—young, globally minded, dynamic, entrepreneurial, and full of energy. She is well positioned to identify the next generation of entrepreneurs in Africa and partner with them to build the continent’s next game-changing ventures.”
500 Global has been a steadfast supporter of economic development in Africa since its first investment in 2011. To date, the firm has invested in over 100 portfolio companies based in Africa, with 35% of these being female-founded enterprises. Additionally, 500 Global has collaborated with government entities, including the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), to enhance ecosystem education for investors and accelerator managers.
Courtney Powell, COO and Managing Partner of 500 Global, expressed enthusiasm about Dieng’s appointment, stating, “Africa is a thriving hub of opportunity and potential. With Mareme’s extensive experience and knowledge of local infrastructure, her insights will help propel 500 Global to the forefront of economic growth within the African ecosystem.” Powell added that Dieng’s leadership would address pressing issues, such as financial inclusion, scalable education, food security, and climate resilience, thus driving sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Before joining 500 Global, Mareme Dieng served as Head of International Partnerships and Relations at Draper University and worked as an Investor Associate at Draper University Ventures. In these roles, she led investments and collaborated with founders from emerging markets. Her work has earned her recognition from Forbes, which named her one of the Forbes Afrique 30 Under 30. Furthermore, she has served on the advisory board of the African Early Stage Investment Summit and is a member of the VC Committee of the African Venture Capital Association.
Tim Draper, Founder and Managing Partner of Draper Associates, praised Dieng’s potential, saying, “Mareme is extraordinary. She is on a path to make an enormous impact on Africa. She was a standout among standouts at Draper, and she did exemplary work for us in the ecosystem.” To learn more about 500 Global’s programs focused on economic growth and supporting founders locally, to scale globally: https://500.co/founders
