About Sébastien CELESTINE
Venture builder, fund strategist, and advocate for community wealth building with over 15 years of experience in the Caribbean and West Africa.
The Journey
Raised in the Caribbean by engineers who dedicated their lives to building community wealth, I witnessed firsthand the limitations of systems designed for extraction rather than empowerment. This experience has been the driving force behind my 20-year journey as an entrepreneur and innovator. I have co-founded and invested in a portfolio of companies that have grown to €8 million in yearly revenue in sectors like innovation, culture, distribution, agritech, and training, all with a core mission of creating systems that allow communities to capture and grow their own value.
My work across the Caribbean and West Africa has consistently revealed a powerful contradiction: communities rich in resources, trust, and resilience are often trapped within economic structures that siphon value away. This has led me to the conviction that we need more than just new companies; we need a new model for how economies are built and financed.
My approach is rooted in the belief that by combining trust, technology, and community-owned infrastructure, we can unlock venture-scale returns while fostering shared prosperity. I am driven to build this new paradigm, one that moves beyond traditional unicorn hunting to focus on ecosystem building and long-term, sustainable wealth creation for all. My deep dives delve into the historical context of extractive economies and propose a new financial architecture for community wealth, arguing for a shift from unicorn hunting to ecosystem building.
Professional Snapshot
My professional expertise lies at the intersection of venture building, corporate finance, and ecosystem development. I am particularly skilled in structuring and scaling ventures in underserved markets, with a proven track record of driving significant valuation growth in portfolio companies.
Colleagues and partners tend to rely on me for strategic leadership, particularly in navigating the complexities of B2B/B2G models in emerging economies, and for my ability to forge cross-continental partnerships. I am most energized by solving complex problems related to capital allocation, community-owned infrastructure, and creating financial architectures that generate both economic and social returns.
Proven Scale
Leading a team of 70+ employees across 4 different ventures from 2019 to 2023
Impact & Network
Engaging with global leaders and policymakers to shape the future of economic development in the Caribbean and Africa.
With Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
With Civil Rights Attorney Benjamin Crump
Panelist: Trade, Agriculture & Food Security (IDB Group)
Advocating for Community Wealth at IDB Roundtable
Why I Am Relevant
My background offers a unique value proposition for LPs, DFIs, and strategic partners, as it combines deep operational experience as a founder with a strategic focus on venture capital in underserved markets. My 20-year journey of building companies from the ground up in the Caribbean has provided me with an intimate understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these ecosystems.
Unlike many traditional VC candidates, my experience is not just in analyzing deals, but in creating, nurturing, and scaling businesses in the very markets that are often overlooked. My work with EOG, building a venture studio focused on community wealth, directly aligns with the mandate of impact-driven investors seeking to foster inclusive and impactful venture capital. Furthermore, my deep dives and thought leadership on community-owned infrastructure and trust-based economies demonstrate a differentiated perspective that can contribute significantly to investment strategies in these regions.
Market or Ecosystem Thinking
My perspective on the venture landscape in Africa and the Caribbean is shaped by a fundamental belief that the prevailing model of "unicorn hunting" is ill-suited for the realities and opportunities of these markets. As I argue in my deep dives, the focus on high-growth, often consumer-facing, urban-centric startups overlooks the immense potential of the "invisible majority" in rural and peri-urban areas.
The "Shopify for Infrastructure" Model: Building foundational layers for community wealth.
The real, sustainable opportunity lies in building the foundational infrastructure that allows these communities to capture value locally. This means a shift from a purely extractive mindset to a generative one, where investment is directed towards creating a distributed network of profitable, community-owned businesses.
I believe the most successful ventures in these regions will not be those that simply replicate Silicon Valley models, but those that deeply integrate with existing trust networks and leverage technology to solve core infrastructure gaps in sectors like agriculture, energy, and finance. My analysis of the historical DNA of the traditional VC model reveals its extractive nature, making it fundamentally misaligned with the patient, ecosystem-building approach required in these markets.
Community-Based Venture Building: An interconnected ecosystem of shared prosperity.
Therefore, I advocate for a new financial architecture, a “design palette” of alternative financing models, and a focus on Community-Based Venture Building to bridge the critical funding gaps and create a more resilient path to scale for founders.
Education and Background
My academic background in Corporate Finance and Strategic Marketing from Université Paris-Ouest Nanterre La Défense provided the foundational knowledge for my career in venture building. However, my most formative education has come from the 20 years I have spent as an entrepreneur, learning directly from the challenges and successes of building businesses in complex environments.
This practical experience is complemented by a continuous pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to lifelong learning, as demonstrated by my recent fellowships and programs with Included VC, VC Lab, Draper University, and the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance. This blend of formal education and real-world experience has shaped my unique perspective on venture capital and ecosystem development.
Extra Colour
Beyond my professional endeavors, I am deeply engaged in the venture capital and impact investing communities through various fellowships and leadership roles. My participation in programs with Included VC, AVPA, and VC Lab reflects a commitment to continuous learning and collaboration with a global network of peers.
As a Caribbean Ambassador for Seedstars, I actively contribute to the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems. My personal tagline, "#LessTalkingMoreDoing #BuildingTheCaribbean #BuildingAfrica," encapsulates my hands-on, action-oriented approach to creating lasting change.
Closing and Next Steps
I am actively seeking to partner with forward-thinking LPs, DFIs, and venture capital firms that are committed to investing in emerging markets. I am particularly interested in collaborations where I can apply my expertise in community wealth building and ecosystem development to identify and support the next generation of transformative companies in Africa and the Caribbean.
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