Nikita Thakrar’s Post

🇰🇪 An unexpected thing happened in Nairobi last week - everyone left with a little more sparkle.   We hosted our first-ever Included VC Africa event, and I’m still processing it.   We don’t do many in-person gatherings. The Fellowship has been built globally, intentionally, so no single city feels like “home base.” But Kenya shifted something for us.   When people walked in, there was this quiet anticipation. By the time we wrapped, I was hearing things like: “How was this evening real?” “I actually shed a tear.” “This felt so energising - like something’s starting.” “Can we do this again next week?” “Please connect me to X.”   What made it special? It was the mix.   Our Partners. Our (hopefully) future Partners. Our inaugural Africa Fellows. Our alumni.   Our Fellows shared their Builder AI projects, and absolutely nailed them. Our Partners reverse-pitched their funds, sparking conversations that turned into even better conversations. We even had surprise connections between people who somehow still hadn’t crossed paths until that night.   A huge thank you to AHL Venture Partners who generously hosted the entire evening - the space, the wine & the warmth, all of it.   We kept it intentionally intimate, and it ended up being one of those nights where something in the room just… tilts forward.   And yes, the hoodies were a hit. Personally, I’m still thinking about the bags - they brought me *disproportionate joy.* This was our first Included VC Africa event. It won’t be our last. -------------------------------------------   🇿🇦 P.S: If you’re in Cape Town next week, we’re hosting an invite-only gathering for our Partners and senior investment leaders. DM me for an invite.