About Sam Sturm

My work focuses on turning promising ideas into breakthrough innovations, leading Founders Factory Africa’s Build program and venture studio to develop new ventures from the ground up. A former teacher and (aspiring) filmmaker, I take a design-led approach to problem solving, creating products, services, and business models that are equal parts scalable and sustainable. As a Strategy Lead at the San Francisco-based design firm fuseproject, I worked with a broad range of clients - from large multinational corporates to Silicon Valley start-ups - and led the design and delivery of the SPRING Accelerator, working with nearly 80 businesses across East Africa and South Asia to drive commercial success and social impact at scale. With an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Amherst College, I bring both a commercial and a creative perspective to the venture creation process, leading to businesses that are more inclusive, more imaginative, and more impactful.