Europe, Africa, and Asia, Adam Medella travels the world with the same passion, sharing his expertise and experiences, notably in Chad.
From his childhood in the Middle East, between Saudi Arabia where he was born, Egypt, Syria and Iraq, which he had to leave when the Gulf War broke out, to France where he continued his studies, graduating with a DEES in multimedia, publishing and digital creation. He also holds an Executive MBA and a mini MBA in telecommunications, a field in which he has worked for nearly 10 years.
His professional journey diverged from his academic path, spanning marketing, wealth management in Paris, and organizing international workshops in Bangkok. Eventually, he decided to return to his parents’ homeland, a place he first visited fifteen years ago and has remained ever since.
Structuring entrepreneurial initiatives in Chad
Because Adam is determined to share his numerous international experiences. « Naturally, I start in finance, the sector I know best. » For several banks, on behalf of the state where he will be appointed Director General of Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment at the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneurship Promotion. Adam accumulated diverse experiences while identifying both the shortcomings and potential of the local environment, particularly in digital realms.
In 2020, after several years of supporting young entrepreneurs, providing (voluntary) training to incubators, in 2020 he launched Developing Capital Corp, a fintech firm dedicated to raising awareness and structuring entrepreneurial initiatives in Chad. « Having worked in banks, I understand why most young projects are rejected. » Aware of the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, he dedicates 80% of his efforts to assisting in creating robust business plans, leveraging his banking experience to navigate and overcome financial obstacles.
The entire tech ecosystem is yet to be built, presenting significant opportunities to seize
At the same time, he is a founding member of several youth initiatives and associations such as the Bet Al Nadjah Association, of which he is a founding member and secretary-general. His goal is to fight against poverty and unemployment among young people and women through technical, technological, and financial support for project leaders in the creation and development of micro, small, and medium enterprises in Chad. « This is what I am most proud of, » he admits. The project impressed the AFD so much that it increased its funding. Nevertheless, Adam continues to contemplate new economic models and advocate for a collaborative approach within the local financial sector.
Creating an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive is essential for transforming our local economy
Meanwhile, teaching at university « for pleasure, » Adam introduced Chad’s first participatory platform in 2017, despite the market’s nascent stage for financial technology. The platform was not successful, but he remains convinced that crowdfunding is one of the solutions to address the issue of access to financing that supports small and medium enterprises. Today, he sees a significant opportunity in developing a robust fintech ecosystem inspired by neighboring successes. He advocates for national training and enhanced connectivity, crucial for boosting e-commerce and modernizing national infrastructures. « The entire tech ecosystem is yet to be built, presenting significant opportunities to seize. »
Despite low digital technology penetration rates, Adam Medella remains optimistic about future opportunities, advocating for the establishment of a local financing circle and increased sector cooperation to build a digitally integrated and prosperous Chad, and « creating an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can thrive, which is essential for transforming our local economy. »
