Philip Kasumu

I’m child number five in a bustling family of six, an upbringing that meant learning to listen, adapt, and carve out my own space early on in life. My entrepreneurial streak showed up not long after: I started building consumer apps, and managed to sell a small, community-led newsletter that I’d grown from scratch.

My journey took a turn across the Atlantic, landing me in New York for four years. There, I threw myself into the founder’s life but also joined a handful of Series A startups to learn from the inside out. I like to think I coined the phrase “Founder’s Apprentice,” documenting my experience as I shadowed one startup leader in particular, soaking up lessons you can’t find in books. 

Over the years, I’ve obsessed over what really matters in building a brand, a business, a venture capital firm. The answer, every time, is relationships. I’m fascinated by how the right connection can unlock business opportunities, spark unexpected friendships, and create value that goes far beyond the transaction. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, I believe the art of building genuine relationships is more vital than ever, because nothing rivals the magic of real human interaction. That’s the one thing technology can’t disrupt, and it’s where I choose to invest my energy, every day.