The 3 Founder Archetypes That Thrive at Mstudio
What 2,000+ applications taught us about who really makes it through
At Mstudio, we’ve spent the last two years working side by side with some of the most ambitious founders in Africa and the diaspora. We've reviewed over 2,000 applications, onboarded more than 40 co-founders, and today, a little over half of them are still actively building their ventures with us.
What have we learned? That the venture studio model isn’t the right fit for everyone — and that’s completely okay. But we’ve discovered that certain founder personas consistently shine in our setup. These aren’t just theoretical profiles—they’re reflections of the real people we’ve seen succeed, scale, and grow with us.
So now, instead of casting the widest net, we cast the right one.
🎓 The Bon Élève: The Young, Ambitious Repat
This founder is the classic overachiever. They’ve got the grades, the degrees, and the ambition to match. They’re early in their career—more open to calculated risks—and sometimes, ready to take a one-way ticket back to the continent with nothing but a laptop and a big vision.
They’re typically young, mobile, and unburdened by family obligations. For them, moving back to the continent is less a compromise and more an adventure. Launching a startup in Africa is as much a personal mission as it is a professional one. Many are also simply tired of the European grind—métro-boulot-dodo—and want to build something more meaningful.
Why they work:
They’re structured, coachable, and execute like clockwork. Their corporate background gives them polish, and they often bring a global perspective that blends well with local realities.
What they’re looking for:
A meaningful mission, strong backing, and a lifestyle that matches their ambition. They need a soft landing—a package that allows them to preserve their quality of life while taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
Where we find them:
African Clubs of top business and engineering schools (HEC, INSEAD, LBS, ESCP, etc.)
Diaspora and entrepreneurial groups
Strategy consultants, investment bankers, PE partners, etc.
LinkedIn, targeted webinars, and personal referrals
Founder example:
Doris, former McKinsey consultant, who swapped her Parisian routine for the vibrant energy of Abidjan—backpack, big vision, and all.
🔁 The Repeat Entrepreneur: The Street-Smart Hustler
This founder has been in the ring before. Whether it was a food delivery startup, a payment aggregator play, or an agritech hustle—they’ve shipped, pitched, and survived. They’re bold, fast-moving, and have an instinctive feel for the market.
Why they work:
They don’t need to be taught entrepreneurship—they need a platform that matches their ambition. They know what it takes to survive, and with Mstudio’s resources, they finally have the chance to scale. Even if they haven’t succeeded in the past, they’ve learned. And that matters.
What they value most is not starting alone. Entrepreneurship can be lonely—and they recognize the power of having a co-founder, a team, and a long-term partner on their side.
What they’re looking for:
A trusted team to go bigger, a co-founder with real chemistry, and a studio model that gives them both autonomy and the firepower to grow fast.
Where we find them:
Local founder communities and pitch events
Regional incubators and accelerators
Informal networks across West Africa
Referrals from ecosystem players
Founder example:
Cheick launched a promising fintech, but never managed to crack the VC world—he didn’t have the codes to pitch the way investors expected. He joined Mstudio to scale smarter, and finally get the support he needed to turn vision into execution.
🛠 The 2nd Line Founder: The Startup Operator Ready to Lead
They’ve been at the heart of growth before—as a CxO, Head of Product, Head of Ops, VP of Growth, or Tech Lead. They’ve built teams, shipped product, and seen scale from the inside. Now, they want to lead.
Why they work:
They come with experience and clarity. They understand the startup grind and already speak the language of growth, metrics, and momentum. They’re not afraid of starting small and bring agility with them. With Mstudio’s co-founder matching, capital, and structure, they make a seamless leap to leadership.
What they’re looking for:
A smart transition from being “the #2” to being the CEO. They value the studio’s structured equity model, soft-landing perks, and strategic support from day one.
Where we find them:
High-growth African and international startups (Wave, Paystack, Jumia, etc.)
Communities around product, growth, tech, and ops
LinkedIn sourcing and direct outreach
Referrals from operators and advisors
Founder example:
Lucas, former Head of Ops at a fast-scaling marketplace, joined Mstudio to finally build something that reflects his vision—with the tools and people to make it real.
🎯 Why It All Matters
Because founder fit isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the difference between starting and scaling. Over time, we’ve seen a clear pattern: when the right persona meets our studio model, things just move faster, stronger, and further.
That’s why we’ve shifted from mass recruitment to intentional sourcing:
Referrals from trusted founders and VCs.
Outbound LinkedIn campaigns, not just open calls.
Targeted partnerships with schools, clubs, and niche communities.
Real founder stories, and content that speaks to those who get it.
If you recognize yourself in one of these archetypes—or know someone who does—we’d love to meet.
👉 Applications are open here.