
Toffene Kama
Toffene Kama is a Principal at Mercy Corps Ventures, based in Dakar, Senegal. A serial entrepreneur and seasoned operator, Toffene has a “timelapse” perspective on Africa’s digital industry, having lived and worked across 20+ African countries. With over 20 years of experience as a global executive across Europe, Nort America and Africa, he has specialized in telecommunications and payments.
He founded two startups: a cross-border remittance disruptor in 2012 and a smart mobility venture backed by Mastercard in 2018. Now, he channels his extensive expertise in operations, fundraising, and strategic partnerships—working with corporations like Visa, Mastercard, MTN, and Orange—into a playbook to support emerging African innovators. He led MCV’s early investments in climate-smart infrastructure, fintech, food systems, and climate resilience across West and East Africa.
Toffene was the head of Mobile Financial Services Millicom Group. He also led the web3 product and go-to-market efforts to onboard credit-saving groups in Kenya. He spent 10 years as an executive in the Telecom industry helping lay the groundwork and infrastructure (mobile 3G networks, mobile money, agents’ networks) on top which today’s digital startups are building. He graduated from INPG (France) in software and electrical engineering and Harvard Business School (PLD – entrepreneurship finance)