Podcast: First Followers - How Ghita Zniber Is Reshaping African VC
Leading by following
In our latest episode of The Grinders Table, I sat down with Ghita Zniber, co-founder of Kalys Ventures, whose unique "first follower" philosophy is challenging traditional venture capital approaches in Africa. What struck me most about our conversation wasn't just her investment strategy, but how a childhood conversation about values and an unexpected detour through rugby fields in France shaped her business mindset.
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and Web.
Inside This Episode
Ghita Zniber is reshaping the African VC landscape through Kalys Ventures, a firm she co-founded that focuses on supporting early-stage African startups. Our wide-ranging conversation revealed insights on everything from investment philosophy to maintaining strong partnerships in challenging times.
What makes Ghita's approach unique is her "first follower" mindset. Unlike many in VC who see themselves primarily as leaders, she embraces a role that's equally vital but often overlooked:
"I was more passionate and driven by helping entrepreneurs than by leading a journey myself... I understood that moment that I was really a first follower. The leader is the founder, but the moment you have a second person coming on the floor, everyone follows."
This philosophy has become central to how Kalys Ventures operates, focusing on building deep relationships with founders and providing hands-on support well beyond just capital.
Lessons from the Rugby Field
One of the most surprising parts of our conversation was learning how playing rugby in France taught Ghita a fundamental business skill: learning to say no.
"When you play rugby, whether you're able to attack first and then you're not hurt and injured. But if you let the other person come first and give all their power when they hit you, then you're really down... So I didn't have a choice. My only choice was to learn how to hit first. And that's the ability to say no."
This willingness to establish boundaries has served her well in an industry where focus and discipline are essential. It's a reminder that our most valuable business lessons can come from unexpected places.
The Values Conversation That Changed Everything
At just 12 years old, Ghita's father asked her a question that would shape her entire approach to business and life: "What are your values?"
"If you don't have values or if you don't know your values, then you will always be lost in your life. And you won't have any anchor whenever you need to take very important decisions."
This early focus on establishing core principles has guided her through challenging business decisions and partnership dynamics. It's a powerful reminder that the foundations of good leadership are often laid long before our professional lives begin.
Embracing the Generalist Mindset
In a business world that often celebrates specialists, Ghita made a compelling case for embracing being a generalist:
"I was more looking for something that can give me the ability to work on a broader space. I started embracing the fact that I was a generalist."
This perspective allows her to see opportunities and connections across different industries and disciplines, bringing a holistic approach to investing that many specialized VCs might miss.
The Partnership That Powers Kalys Ventures
One of the most insightful parts of our conversation covered how Ghita maintains a strong relationship with her co-founder, especially during tough times:
"We never say it's your fault or it's my fault. It's always our fault. Whatever the mistake is, it's global."
This "we're in this together" mentality creates resilience in their partnership and extends to how they support the founders in their portfolio.
Africa's Startup Potential
Ghita shared a compelling perspective on why Kalys Ventures focuses on African startups, particularly those founded by the Moroccan diaspora:
"The only difference is really their ability to import the products that we have in Africa and add value to them. And because we're not able to do that, we're not able to give the right education to our population."
By supporting entrepreneurs who have gained expertise abroad and are bringing those skills back to build businesses in Africa, Kalys Ventures is helping bridge critical gaps in local ecosystems.
Advice for Founders
Ghita offered two particularly valuable pieces of advice for founders:
Don't rush to scale prematurely:
"It's important to first build strong businesses before thinking about the scale of these businesses. Because we always forget that a startup is above everything, it's a company."
Be cautious with SAFE notes:
"Don't easily sign SAFEs. I know it's easy for you as an entrepreneur to sign a safe, but first safe is okay. Second and third, you will understand quickly that this has a very bad impact on your dilution."
Speed vs. Quality: Lessons from Linear
Ghita's approach to supporting founders reminded me of Nan Yu's philosophy at Linear (which I referenced in our conversation). As Nan shared on a recent podcast with Lenny Rachitsky, speed and quality aren't actually at odds—they're often positively correlated.
The best practitioners in any field work quickly because they're experts. The speed doesn't come from rushing but from competence. Skilled teams move faster because they know what works and can quickly iterate, making decisions and improving their products in real time.
This perspective ties perfectly with Ghita's hands-on approach to supporting founders. By bringing expertise and a generalist's perspective, she helps startups move both faster and better.
Key Takeaways
The "first follower" can be just as important as the leader in creating momentum
Core values provide essential anchors for navigating difficult business decisions
Embracing being a generalist can be a superpower in specialized fields
Strong partnerships are built on shared responsibility, not blame
Building strong fundamentals should come before scaling