Thea Sokolowski

Thea Sokolowski

Consulting Associate - Marketing & Communications

Thea is a Marketing and Communications Consultant for BFA Global. She is a writer, storyteller, and marketing and communications professional with experience in Africa, the US and Europe.

Prior to joining BFA Global, Thea led marketing and communications for Pan-African entrepreneurial training program, seed fund and tech incubator, MEST Africa, as well as for the AI division of its parent company, global software firm Meltwater. At MEST, in addition to leading marketing and communications for the organization itself and expanding recruitment across Africa, Thea worked closely with MEST entrepreneurs developing tech solutions for local markets. Her areas of expertise include marketing and communication strategies, product validation and customer research, investor pitches, business models and more. She also worked on the brand's launch in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. She previously led content for a KPCB-funded health tech startup in San Francisco. Thea holds an MBA from Oxford University’s Said Business School and a Bachelor's degree from New York University.

Publications by this author

Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators
Inclusive Fintech |

Catalyst Fund announces Circle of Corporate Innovators

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 15, 2020 – Global inclusive tech accelerator Catalyst Fund, managed by BFA Global, today formally announced...

By Thea Sokolowski
Digital marketing for fintech startups: 5 steps and 4 guides for a successful launch
Inclusive Fintech |

Digital marketing for fintech startups: 5 steps and 4 guides for a successful launch

Featuring digital marketing templates by Thea Sokolowski and Akansha Kasera Early-stage startup founders know that having a digital media...

By Thea Sokolowski
Why we invested: Power brings holistic financial wellness to employees and gig workers in Kenya
Digital Financial Services |

Why we invested: Power brings holistic financial wellness to employees and gig workers in Kenya

Fintech startup Power aims to help workers across Africa take control over their financial well being and relieve finance-related...

By Thea Sokolowski
Why we invested: Koa is bringing a seamless, hassle-free savings and investment experience to Kenyan youth
Inclusive Fintech |

Why we invested: Koa is bringing a seamless, hassle-free savings and investment experience to Kenyan youth

A survey conducted by FSD Kenya in 2019 indicates that the number of Kenyans saving in traditional bank accounts...

By Thea Sokolowski
Why we invested: Lami is an insurance platform and API bringing seamless coverage to more low-income Kenyans
Inclusive Fintech |

Why we invested: Lami is an insurance platform and API bringing seamless coverage to more low-income Kenyans

In Kenya, less than 20% of the population has access to health insurance (Kazungu & Barasa, 2017). However, 88.4%...

By Thea Sokolowski
Manage your sales pipeline to win as a B2B fintech startup: 3 practical tips
Financial Health |

Manage your sales pipeline to win as a B2B fintech startup: 3 practical tips

Early-stage B2B fintech startups often believe they’re too small to implement structured sales and CRM processes or think that...

By Celine Duros Acheampong
How fintech startups should pursue B2B partnerships
Digital Financial Services |

How fintech startups should pursue B2B partnerships

For many fintech startups, particularly those in the insurtech space where high levels of trust are essential, business-to-business (B2B)...

By Celine Duros Acheampong
Press release: Catalyst Fund and Greenhouse Capital announce Fintech in Focus event to discuss strategies for Africa’s tech sector to rebuild in a post-pandemic climate
Inclusive Fintech |

Press release: Catalyst Fund and Greenhouse Capital announce Fintech in Focus event to discuss strategies for Africa’s tech sector to rebuild in a post-pandemic climate

LAGOS, Nigeria, August 25, 2020 – Catalyst Fund, the global inclusive fintech accelerator managed by BFA Global, supported by...

By Thea Sokolowski
Conoce a Graviti, una startup mexicana que está utilizando métodos de PAYGo para llevar servicios esenciales a mexicanos subatendidos
Inclusive Fintech |

Conoce a Graviti, una startup mexicana que está utilizando métodos de PAYGo para llevar servicios esenciales a mexicanos subatendidos

In English   Graviti tiene como objetivo brindar acceso asequible y conveniente a servicios esenciales para familias no bancarizadas...

By Thea Sokolowski
Press release: Catalyst Fund announces seventh cohort of inclusive fintech startups
Inclusive Fintech |

Press release: Catalyst Fund announces seventh cohort of inclusive fintech startups

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23, 2020 – Catalyst Fund, the global inclusive fintech accelerator managed by BFA Global, supported by...

By Thea Sokolowski
Meet Graviti, providing underserved Mexicans with access to essential utilities via PayGo technology
Inclusive Fintech |

Meet Graviti, providing underserved Mexicans with access to essential utilities via PayGo technology

En Español   Graviti aims to unlock affordable and convenient access to essential services for unbanked and underserved families...

By Thea Sokolowski
How to go to market: 3 templates for fintech startups during product launch
Financial Health |

How to go to market: 3 templates for fintech startups during product launch

Featuring how to go to market templates by Jane del Ser Existing networks of mobile agents can be a...

By Thea Sokolowski
Innovation in Finance: how Spoon Money is improving livelihoods for South African female informal traders
Gender Finance |

Innovation in Finance: how Spoon Money is improving livelihoods for South African female informal traders

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities...

By Thea Sokolowski
Innovation in Finance: how Abalobi is creating a thriving marketplace for South Africa’s fisher communities
Inclusive Fintech |

Innovation in Finance: how Abalobi is creating a thriving marketplace for South Africa’s fisher communities

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities...

By Thea Sokolowski
Innovation in Finance: Sokowatch and Turaco improve financial resilience for East Africa’s underserved
Inclusive Fintech |

Innovation in Finance: Sokowatch and Turaco improve financial resilience for East Africa’s underserved

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities...

By Thea Sokolowski
Why the Catalyst Fund startup accelerator delivers outsized success
Inclusive Fintech |

Why the Catalyst Fund startup accelerator delivers outsized success

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities...

By Thea Sokolowski
Meet Kwara, the digital platform powering Kenya’s cooperative savings and credit sector
Inclusive Fintech |

Meet Kwara, the digital platform powering Kenya’s cooperative savings and credit sector

Kwara is bringing digital transformation to Kenya’s cooperative savings and credit sector Catalyst Fund accelerates startups that excel on...

By Thea Sokolowski
Meet Pesakit, the smart app for mobile money agents in Kenya
Inclusive Fintech |

Meet Pesakit, the smart app for mobile money agents in Kenya

Pesakit is building a network of mobile money agents who can help distribute digital financial services to the underserved...

By Thea Sokolowski
Meet Spoon Money, the savings and lending platform for South Africa’s female informal traders
Inclusive Fintech |

Meet Spoon Money, the savings and lending platform for South Africa’s female informal traders

Spoon Money is helping South Africa’s female informal traders transform their businesses Catalyst Fund accelerates startups that excel on...

By Thea Sokolowski
Accelerating Inclusive Fintech Startups in Emerging Markets: Evaluation Report
Inclusive Fintech |

Accelerating Inclusive Fintech Startups in Emerging Markets: Evaluation Report

Produced following our work with the first four Catalyst Fund startups, this report aims to evaluate the design, operations,...

By Thea Sokolowski
Why our money is on this Brazilian female fintech founder: meet Monica of Grão
Financial Health |

Why our money is on this Brazilian female fintech founder: meet Monica of Grão

A former securities broker and two-time entrepreneur, Monica Saccarelli was the first female partner at Brazilian brokerage house Link...

By Thea Sokolowski
What will it take for Nigeria’s inclusive fintech sector to flourish?
Inclusive Fintech |

What will it take for Nigeria’s inclusive fintech sector to flourish?

Despite a notoriously challenging operating environment, there are signs of improvement for fintech startups in Nigeria. Financial inclusion rates...

By Thea Sokolowski
Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups
Inclusive Fintech |

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups

Catalyst Fund welcomes new cohort of inclusive fintech startups creating solutions to improve the financial health of underserved communities...

By Thea Sokolowski
Catalyst Fund announces expansion, $15 million in funding from UK aid, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Inclusive Fintech |

Catalyst Fund announces expansion, $15 million in funding from UK aid, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Global inclusive fintech accelerator Catalyst Fund announces new £12 million GBP ($15 million USD) commitment from UK aid and...

By Thea Sokolowski
Designing fintech solutions for inclusion: key takeaways from SOCAP 2019
Inclusive Fintech |

Designing fintech solutions for inclusion: key takeaways from SOCAP 2019

“A truly inclusive innovation only works if it is adopted by the end-users it’s designed to serve.” — Maelis Carraro, Director,...

By Thea Sokolowski