A passionate entrepreneur, African globe-trotter and strategic thinker, Pierre Imboua is one of those Entourage clients driven by a clear vision: creating concrete solutions to support Africa’s economic growth. After a solid career in major agribusiness groups and several entrepreneurial ventures between France and Africa, he launched Moja Fund, a platform designed to help the diaspora invest in reliable, high-potential projects on the continent. In this interview, Pierre looks back on his journey, the challenges behind his project, and his experience with Entourage.
Can you walk us through your background?
I’m originally from Côte d’Ivoire and grew up in several African cities: Conakry, Bamako, Yaoundé, Antananarivo. I later moved to France for my studies preparatory classes, an engineering school in food sciences, then a Master’s degree in management and international trade. I started my career in major agribusiness groups, eventually becoming Commercial Director. In parallel, I took my first steps into entrepreneurship before fully diving in: African ready-to-eat meals distributed in supermarkets (Sensations d’Afrique), a clothing brand (Wax Faro), tech projects in Africa (Kilawi, Locasur, Mojipay), and a consulting firm and restaurant venture in France.
In 2024, I returned to a core ambition: creating impact on the continent. That’s how Moja Fund was born.
What motivated you to create Moja Fund?
Two very clear observations.
First, early-stage African entrepreneurs struggle to access funding, mainly due to the lack of structured financing mechanisms like those available in Europe. Second, the diaspora wants to invest, but often relies on relatives who don’t necessarily have the expertise. This leads to many failures. With Moja Fund, I wanted to solve both issues at once: facilitating reliable, secure and structured capital flows between the diaspora and African entrepreneurs.
What were the main challenges you faced at the start of the project?
The first challenge was regulation. Raising funds in France from individual investors is highly regulated. We needed a solid legal framework to operate.The second challenge was trust convincing the diaspora to entrust us with part of their savings. It’s a big responsibility, so you have to be absolutely impeccable.
How did you discover Entourage?
Through a LinkedIn post by Raodath Aminou, Entourage’s founder. I was already following her journey, and when she announced the creation of Entourage, the concept immediately resonated.
I had been trying to reach out to experts on LinkedIn to accelerate my thinking process, but the exchanges were slow, and the meetings difficult to secure. With Entourage, I saw a clear solution: book the right expert instantly, with no endless back-and-forth. That’s what convinced me.
What did you gain from your session with the Entourage expert?
Thanks to Entourage, I had a session with Evelyne Dioh. She simplified many aspects because she had faced the same challenges herself. She helped us refine the model, structure our investor community, and adjust our processes to avoid common pitfalls. Her investment experience really clarified our strategy.
How did Entourage’s support help accelerate your project?
Entourage gave us immediate access to high-level expertise at the exact moment we needed it. No waiting, no uncertainty you find the expert, you book, you learn.
Beyond the sessions themselves, the client support from the Entourage team made a real difference. They guided me in identifying the right experts, helped clarify my needs, and made sure each session aligned with my objectives. This structured and reassuring framework is invaluable when you’re building a project in Africa. You’re never left on your own you move forward with clarity, actionable insights, and real operational support. As a result, I refined my vision much faster and made decisions aligned with the realities on the ground.
How do you envision the impact of your projects in Africa in the coming years?
I want to continue developing structured and sustainable projects on the continent—bringing new solutions to finance and support our businesses. With the launch of a Startup Studio in Abidjan in 2026, my priority is to help build strong companies tailored to African markets, capable of generating both economic and social value. I also want to keep supporting diaspora talents and local entrepreneurs as they navigate this complex but highly promising environment.
What advice would you give to a fellow member of the diaspora who hesitates to launch a project in Africa?
Everything starts with a clear vision. Know exactly what you want to do, why you’re returning, and in which sector you want to invest or build. Then, take the time to prepare seriously at least six months to study your sector, meet key people, ask the right questions, and build a financial cushion to support yourself once you arrive.
Once on the ground, move with humility. Africa is not a place for copy-paste strategies: each country has its own realities, specificities, mindsets, and dynamics. Observe, learn, listen to your customers, and adapt. Success comes less from imported models and more from your ability to understand local needs and offer solutions that fit the terrain.
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