Kenza Lahlou is a Moroccan venture capitalist redefining how capital, conviction, and courage come together to build the continent’s next generation of tech champions.
From Morocco to the most dynamic innovation hubs across Africa, Kenza has positioned herself not just as an investor, but as a visionary architect of ecosystems, creating spaces where ideas can flourish and entrepreneurs can thrive.
As Co-Founder and General Partner of Outlierz Ventures, she leads an early-stage, Africa-focused venture capital firm dedicated to Seed and Pre-Series A startups tackling fundamental problems in fintech, logistics, supply chain, and healthtech.
Outlierz Ventures invests across Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya, backing companies that are not just building products, but reshaping infrastructure and unlocking opportunities for millions.
But Kenza’s journey did not begin in venture capital boardrooms.
Before launching Outlierz Ventures, she co-founded StartupYourLife, a pioneering Moroccan startup community that connected entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, and strategic guidance at a time when structured ecosystem platforms were still rare.
She helped create bridges where none existed, empowering founders to dream bigger and aim higher.
Her professional experience spans software engineering, private equity, and management consulting across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States.
During her time in Silicon Valley, she advised emerging market startups on U.S. market entry strategies, sharpening her global perspective while deepening her conviction that Africa’s founders deserved world-class support at home.
Academically, Kenza combines technical mastery with strategic insight.
She holds both a BSc and MSc in Computer Science from INSA, and a Master’s in Strategy and International Business from ESSEC Business School.
She further strengthened her leadership through executive programs at Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford University, including collaborations with 500 Startups.
Under her guidance, Outlierz Ventures has invested in high-impact African startups including Sokowatch, MaxAB, WaystoCap, and Bamboo.
These companies are at the heart of commerce, capital access, and supply chain transformation, creating real change across the continent.
Kenza’s investment philosophy is clear and purposeful. She backs founders who use technology to solve deep structural inefficiencies and unlock scalable opportunities.
She believes Africa is the next frontier for venture capital, and sees entrepreneurship as a powerful lever to reinvent economies and transform lives.
A Kauffman Fellow and participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, Kenza’s affiliations reflect both her global credibility and her unwavering commitment to inclusive growth.
But beyond credentials and portfolios, what defines Kenza Lahlou is conviction and heart. She does not just deploy capital. She deploys belief, courage, and hope.
Through every founder she supports, every ecosystem she strengthens, and every bold bet she makes, Kenza Lahlou is shaping Africa’s next chapter of innovation, impact, and global brilliance.
Image Credit: MENAbytes
