Meet the Luma Team

We are a collective of builders, operators, and investors who have been in the trenches. We know what it takes to build a world-class company from Africa.

Our Team

Gautier Tonongbe

Founder & Managing Partner

Gautier Tonongbe

Founder & Managing Partner

Mandela Washington Fellow with 7+ years finance/strategy experience across US, Latin America, and Africa. Fluent in English and French with access to 6,500+ African leaders network.

MBA University of Notre Dame

Master of Laws Nantes Université

MSc International Management ESGIS Bénin

Clara Nichols

Operations Manager

Clara Nichols

Operations Manager

Experienced operations professional specializing in fund management and investor relations. Clara brings expertise in portfolio company support and operational excellence to drive fund efficiency and founder success.

Advisory Board

Our team is supported by a world-class group of advisors with deep operational and strategic expertise.

John Coffi

Growth & GTM Advisor

John Coffi

Growth & GTM Advisor

Seasoned operator with deep expertise in go-to-market strategy and scaling high-growth technology companies across emerging markets. He advises our portfolio on product-led growth and international expansion.

Paul Smith

Product & Technology Advisor

Paul Smith

Product & Technology Advisor

Brings over 15 years of experience leading product and engineering teams at global technology firms. He provides invaluable guidance on technical architecture, product roadmapping, and building world-class user experiences.

Kola Aina

Founding Partner, Ventures Platform

Kola Aina

Founding Partner, Ventures Platform

An experienced investor and ecosystem builder, Kola provides strategic guidance on fund management and scaling impact across the continent.

Pan-African VC & Ecosystem Development

Want to join us?

We are always looking for exceptional talent to join our team or our portfolio companies.

Get in touch