Ido Sum, partner at Africa-focused venture capital firm, TLcom Capital is leaving his role after 14 years with the firm.
Sum, joined the firm in 2011 and worked out of its London office. With an extensive portfolio that includes Andela, FairMoney, uLesson, Twiga, Zone, and Autochek, TLcom invests in early to growth stage tech-enabled businesses across sub-Saharan Africa.
As one of five partners, Sum was actively involved in guiding portfolio companies like Zone, a blockchain-powered payment infrastructure provider; uLesson, a leading edtech platform in Nigeria; Littlefish, a South African fintech; and Ilara Health, which provides affordable diagnostics in Kenya. He also represented the firm on the boards of all four startups.
“I am proud of what we have built at TLcom over the last 14 years. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a talented team and to have supported and worked side-by-side with some of Africa’s most audacious entrepreneurs. I am confident that the firm will continue to lead the investment pack, and I look forward to my next chapter,” Sum shared in a statement.
Before joining TLcom, Sum was an entrepreneur and co-founded a mobile broadband operator based in East Africa. He also ran a consulting business focused on technology startups and incubators in Israel.
“We thank Ido for his commitment and dedication over the past 14 years and for his contribution to build TLcom as the preferred partner for Africa’s most ambitious entrepreneurs and the wider African tech ecosystem. It has been a pleasure working with him, and we wish him the very best for his next endeavours,” Maurizio Caio, Managing Partner at TLcom Capital, said.
While Sum has not disclosed his next professional move, his extensive background in African tech and venture capital suggests he may continue to play a key role in shaping the continent’s innovation landscape either through a new fund, advisory roles, or entrepreneurial ventures.
