There is a unique feeling that comes with the moment you see your name in someone else’s success story.
That happened to me this week.
Rebecca Yekple—the visionary founder of Foovante Global—posted a throwback reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey. And there I was, listed among the early advisers who believed in her vision from the very beginning.
Here is the detail that truly stayed with me: I was the first person she ever pitched her idea to.
I didn’t back her with financial capital. I backed her with belief.
Belief as the Ultimate Early-Stage Currency
That is how powerful words are, especially in the fragile, early days of building a business.
The right encouragement at the right moment doesn’t just motivate someone. It unlocks them.
Today, her team at Foovante Global is doing incredible work, making carbon financing both accessible and effective in Ghana and across Africa. They are already in active dialogue with partners in Nigeria, the Gambia, and beyond. This is no longer just a startup searching for product-market fit. This is a founder actively finding her continent and scaling her impact.
Backing Vision Across Sectors
I have had the privilege of walking this road with founders across a wide range of industries—from agriculture and health to edtech, blockchain, and logistics.
While the sectors and contexts are vastly different, there is one undeniable constant: the importance of backing people long before the rest of the world catches up with their vision.
The Reality for Female Founders
Female founders hold a particularly special place in that narrative. In our ecosystem, there are simply too few of them. They are too often overlooked, and they remain chronically under-resourced despite consistently proving themselves to be overqualified and highly capable.
Watching Rebecca break through those barriers is a powerful reminder of why we must continue to show up for women in tech.
Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. Keep going, Rebecca.
Tags: Female Founders, Women in Tech, Climate Finance, Carbon Credits, Africa Innovation, Startup Mentorship, African Tech Ecosystem, Startup Africa, Foovante Global
