For many Africans, startup investing still feels like an exclusive club reserved for Silicon Valley insiders and ultra-wealthy investors. But according to entrepreneur and investor Adewale Yusuf, the barriers to entry are far lower than most people think. Reflecting on his early investment in fintech giant Mercury — which has now raised $200 million at a $5.2 billion valuation — Yusuf shares a powerful reminder that access to global wealth creation is increasingly open to ordinary people willing to start small, think long-term, and believe in innovation.
“One of the startups I invested in just raised $200M at a $5.2B valuation.
I backed Mercury while I was still in Nigeria; no proximity, no special access, just belief in the mission.
My investment? A small check through Wefunder.
The lesson is simple:
You don’t need to be rich.
You don’t need to live in the US.
You just need to start.
Platforms like Wefunder, Republic, AngelList, and StartEngine make it possible to invest from as little as $100.
Start small. Start early.
Because one decision today can compound into something massive tomorrow.”