From AwardX Judge to LaunchX Core Team: Adie Akuffo-Afful

We’re beyond excited to welcome Adie Akuffo-Afful to the LaunchX team!

This moment is truly full circle for Adie. Just under a year ago, he stood with us as a judge and champion at the very first AwardX, supporting founders, believing in bold ideas, and advocating for entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of their journeys. Today, he joins us not from the sidelines but as part of the team helping shape what’s next.

LaunchX’s mission has always mirrored Adie’s own: expanding access, meeting founders where they are, and building pathways for entrepreneurs who may not have had them otherwise. It’s the kind of program he wishes existed during his early years, one rooted in real support, real opportunity, and real belief in potential. Now, he gets to help create that experience for the next generation.

Adie’s work has always centered on one thing we deeply believe in: expanding access and meeting founders where they are. Most recently at Black Girl Ventures, he led strategic partnerships that unlocked hundreds of thousands in additional funding, working alongside partners like Target, the NBA Foundation, GM, Estée Lauder, PayPal, and Visa. Before that, at Wefunder, he helped founders raise tens of millions in capital, launched venture initiatives that scaled fast, and worked closely with thousands of startups navigating their earliest (and hardest) steps. Earlier, he built and scaled inbound diligence systems that screened over 6,000 founders, supported 2,200+ interviews, all while leading teams and strengthening the backbone of early-stage funding. He knows how ecosystems grow because he’s helped build them from the inside.

But what matters most to us isn’t just Adie’s track record; it’s how he shows up. Adie brings deep empathy for founders, a genuine love for community, and a clear commitment to changing what’s possible for burgeoning entrepreneurs everywhere. LaunchX is the kind of program he wishes existed earlier in his own journey and now, he gets to help create that experience for the next generation of builders. We couldn’t imagine a better person to help carry this mission forward.

Welcome home, Adie. We’re so glad you’re here.

You can find Adie directly on Linkedin here.