The founder and CEO of Risevest Group, Eke Urum, was named one of the judges for the Southeast Venture Capital Program (SEVCP). Grand Finale, which is being held in three days’ time.
Urum, alongside other tech personalities such as Ndubuisi Ekekwe, will judge the final 50 startups virtually, narrowing them down to 30 winners for the grand prizes. The SEVCP event is rounding up on May 25th and May 26th over two days, including the final competition and an awards night the next day.
The virtual judges of the event will work hand in hand with an advisory committee composed of experts from various fields and featuring dignitaries such as Somachi Chris-Asoluka and Patrick Okigbo III.
The SEVCP is a product of a N70 billion funding initiative from the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC). The aim is to inject funds into eastern Nigeria’s Tech ecosystem, building a new generation of talent and builders.
Career Milestones and Investments
Eke Urum is best known as the Founder and CEO of Risevest, an investment platform that facilitates dollar-denominated investments for users in emerging markets.
He is a fierce proponent of financial literacy, technological innovation, and the expansion of economic opportunities across Africa.
Urum founded Risevest in 2014 on his intuition, advising individuals to invest in dollar-denominated assets to hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. His impact on the startup since he founded it is as follows
- Scaled to serve over 850,000 users across Rise and its subsidiary, Chaka.
- Built a diverse team of over 150 members operating across five countries.
- Successfully navigated complex regulatory environments in Nigeria.
Urum’s activities in other ventures include investments. Prior to Risevest, he co-founded the cryptocurrency exchange BuyCoins with Timi Ajiboye, then left to focus on core investment products.
He is also an active mentor and investor in the African startup ecosystem, frequently advocating for support for early-stage founders and for decentralizing access to venture capital.
The Southeast Venture Capital Program is the flagship initiative of the SEDC after many months of strategic ideation and stakeholder engagement.
