About
Jake Kendall is a trained economist and researcher turned venture investor at DFS Lab who brings an unusually academic profile to African fintech investing, holding roles as both GP and teacher at Sciences Po while publishing detailed, thesis-driven research on African markets that frames investment views around structural demand constraints rather than typical Africa rising narratives. He advocates for building cyborgs not androids in Africa, emphasizing augmentation of existing systems with digital tools rather than full automation, and positions himself at the intersection of AI and Africa's economic future with particular expertise in how telco and mobile operator data can enable new financial services models. Jake Kendall is a trained economist and researcher turned venture investor at DFS Lab who brings an unusually academic profile to African fintech investing, holding roles as both GP and teacher at Sciences Po while publishing detailed, thesis-driven research on African markets that frames investment views around structural demand constraints rather than typical Africa rising narratives. He advocates for building cyborgs not androids in Africa, emphasizing augmentation of existing systems with digital tools rather than full automation, and positions himself at the intersection of AI and Africa's economic future with particular expertise in how telco and mobile operator data can enable new financial services models.
