Kenza Lahlou is Building Africa’s Future by Backing Bold Founders

She is the founder and managing partner of Outlierz Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Morocco that invests in tech-enabled companies across key African markets, including Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya.

Before establishing Outlierz Ventures, Lahlou co-founded StartupYourLife, a Moroccan startup community aimed at connecting tech entrepreneurs with investors and mentors.

 

Her professional background encompasses roles in software engineering, private equity, and management consulting across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

 

Notably, her tenure in Silicon Valley involved advising emerging market startups on U.S. market entry strategies.

Academically, Lahlou holds a BSc and MSc in Computer Science from INSA in France and a Master’s in Strategy and International Business from ESSEC Business School in Singapore.

 

She furthered her education through executive programs at Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford University, the latter in collaboration with 500 Startups.

Under her leadership, Outlierz Ventures has invested in several prominent African startups, such as Sokowatch (Kenya), MaxAB (Egypt), WaystoCap (Morocco), and Bamboo (Nigeria).

 

Lahlou’s investment philosophy centers on supporting entrepreneurs who leverage technology to address fundamental challenges in sectors like logistics, fintech, healthtech, and agriculture.

As a Kauffman Fellow and a participant in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, Lahlou is committed to fostering inclusive growth and innovation across the African continent.