Julien Achille Agbe, Founder of Eagle Investment Capital (EIC) Corporation, Cote d’Ivoire, about formation of solidarity and participatory finance ecosystems assisted by investment clubs and designed to support young and scaling up companies.

VIDEO [French; Translation Support]

Summary of the program content

1. Early Path and the Formation of an Entrepreneurial Mindset. Julian Agbe began his journey at a very young age, already demonstrating a combination of conceptual thinking, strong determination, and an almost innate pragmatism. From adolescence, he showed a clear inclination toward building projects and achieving tangible results. This inner discipline and clarity of purpose became the foundation of his professional trajectory. By the age of 26, he had become CEO of one of Côte d’Ivoire’s most dynamic financial platforms.

2. Failure as a Catalyst for Growth Rather Than a Setback. A defining turning point in his life was his failure to pass the entrance exam to the Yamoussoukro Polytechnic Institute, an experience that caused deep personal disappointment. Despite feelings of shame and external criticism, Julian refused to let this failure define his future. Instead, he made a conscious decision to reallocate his time and energy toward alternative opportunities. This strategic reframing of failure marked the true beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

3. Academic Foundations and the Creation of the First Investment Club. After earning a degree in Business Law and a master’s degree in Business Management, Julian founded his first investment club in 2009. The concept was built around pooling capital and expertise to support high-potential young enterprises. The model focused on long-term value creation rather than short-term speculation. This initiative laid the groundwork for a structured collective investment ecosystem.

4. Building a Culture of Collective Investment in Africa. Julian Agbe emphasizes that many West African economies historically lacked a strong investment culture. This structural gap motivated the creation of a network of investment clubs aimed at improving financial literacy and encouraging broader participation in wealth creation. The collective finance model was adapted to local African contexts. As a result, investment clubs emerged as a practical mechanism to address SME (small- and medium-size enterprises) financing constraints.

5. Business Scaling and Institutional Recognition. At the time of the interview, the network had grown to approximately 85 investment clubs, with ambitious plans to scale to thousands and manage substantial assets. The company became integrated into the formal financial market, including the financing of non-listed enterprises. Its success attracted international recognition, with UNESCO and Forbes naming Julian among Africa’s leading young entrepreneurs. This recognition reinforced his position as a continental role model.

6. Core Values of Success: Proactivity, Perseverance, and Passion. Julian identifies three fundamental principles behind sustainable success: proactivity, perseverance, and passion. He highlights the importance of taking initiative and maintaining personal integrity in leadership. Perseverance is defined as the discipline to complete what one starts, while passion fuels higher levels of motivation and resilience. Together, these values form the cornerstone of effective entrepreneurship.

7. Vision, Service, and a Message to Africa’s Youth. Inspired by figures such as Aliko Dangote, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs, Julian envisions himself as a serial entrepreneur and does not rule out future public service. He calls on Africa’s youth to embrace entrepreneurship as a response to widespread unemployment. According to him, modest family origins are not a limitation to success. Hard work, leadership, strong teams, and a sense of responsibility toward Africa’s future are presented as decisive success factors.