**"I Back People, Not Just Ideas": Uche Divine, the Nigerian Angel Investor Redefining Tech Support from Abroad** In recent years, Nigeria's tech industry has witnessed an exodus of talented individuals to foreign lands, a trend that peaked in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While this mass migration has sparked concerns about brain drain, it has also created a new wave of diasporan angel investors supporting Nigerian startups from abroad. Among these investors is Uche Divine, a 26-year-old product designer based in Manchester, who relocated from Lagos in 2023 and has since invested in two undisclosed startups through HoaQ, a diasporan angel network catering to founders and investors alike. For Divine, angel investing is not just about throwing money at ideas; it's about backing people he trusts and believes in. He cites trust and product viability as key factors in his investment decisions, rather than a specific business thesis. As someone with six years of experience as a product designer, Divine brings a unique edge to the table, advising the founders he backs on product development and helping them refine their ideas. Divine's journey into angel investing began as a means of generating passive income and planning for his long-term retirement. He aims to have a diversified portfolio of investments that will provide a steady income stream, allowing him to live comfortably off his profits. With his first investments still in the building phase, it's too early to assess their performance, but Divine is optimistic about the potential of the startups he's backing. What sets Divine apart is his founder-led approach, which prioritizes trust, product viability, and personal relationships over a defined business thesis. He believes that by backing people he trusts and believes in, he's more likely to see his investments succeed. His approach may not be for everyone, but it's a refreshing take on the traditional angel investing model, where investors often prioritize returns on investment over people and relationships. As Nigeria's tech industry continues to grow, the role of diasporan angel investors like Uche Divine will become increasingly important. By providing early-stage capital and support to founders, they're helping to build a robust ecosystem that can withstand the challenges of the industry. With his unique blend of product design expertise and people-centric approach, Divine is redefining the way we think about angel investing in Nigeria.