Announcing the 16VC Fellowship: Backing Builders from Latin America & Africa
Over the past few years, I’ve spent a lot of time speaking with founders across different markets.
Not just in India, but increasingly in places most venture capital still doesn’t pay enough attention to — Latin America and Africa.
And if there’s one thing that has become clear to me, it’s this:
Talent is evenly distributed. Opportunity is not.
That gap is what we’re trying to close.
Why We’re Doing This
When I started building 16VC, the goal wasn’t just to invest.
It was to work closely with early-stage founders — often before they’re “ready” in the traditional sense.
But what I kept noticing was:
Strong builders without access to networks
Founders figuring things out without guidance
Great ideas stuck because of geography
In markets like Latin America and Africa, this is even more pronounced.
Not because there’s a lack of ambition.
But because the ecosystem support is still catching up.
What the 16VC Fellowship Is
The 16VC Fellowship is our way of going earlier, deeper, and more globally.
This isn’t just a program.
It’s a working relationship with builders.
We’re looking to support:
Early-stage founders (including pre-idea)
Solo builders and small teams
Operators transitioning into building
Especially those who are:
Operating in underrepresented ecosystems
Thinking long-term
Willing to build through uncertainty
What Fellows Get
We’re keeping this intentionally focused.
No fluff. No large cohorts. No unnecessary structure.
Instead, fellows will get:
1. Direct Access
Real conversations. Honest feedback. No filters.
2. Early Support
Help with thinking through ideas, positioning, and direction — before things are obvious.
3. Network Leverage
Introductions where it actually matters — not vanity connections.
4. Long-Term Alignment
This isn’t a 4-week program. If we work together, it’s because we see something long-term.
Why Latin America & Africa
This wasn’t a random decision.
These are markets where:
Mobile-first behavior is dominant
Real problems are being solved at scale
Builders are operating with constraints — which often leads to stronger companies
And importantly:
There’s less noise.
Which means the founders here are often more focused, more resilient, and more grounded in reality.
What We’re Looking For
We’re not optimizing for polished pitches.
We’re looking for:
Clarity of thought
Strong founder-market intuition
The ability to keep going when things aren’t working
You don’t need traction.
You don’t need a perfect deck.
But you do need to be serious about building.
How This Fits Into 16VC
This is a natural extension of how we’ve been operating.
Smaller bets.
Higher conviction.
Earlier relationships.
The fellowship helps us do that in a more structured way — while still staying true to how we like to work:
Quietly, closely, and long-term.
A Personal Note
A lot of what I’ve learned didn’t come from structured programs.
It came from conversations, mistakes, and figuring things out over time.
If this fellowship can accelerate that journey even slightly for the right founders, it’s worth doing.
If You’re Building
If you’re a founder in Latin America or Africa — or planning to start something — I’d like to hear from you.
No warm intro needed.
Just reach out.
More details on applications will follow soon.
— Sridhar