Nmachi Jidenma

Partner

2022 - Current

Senior Director & Scout

2021 - 2022

Sequoia helps daring founders build legendary companies from idea to IPO and beyond. We spur founders to push the boundaries of what’s possible. In partnering with Sequoia, companies benefit from over 50 years of tribal knowledge from working with founders like Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, Jan Koum, Brian Chesky, Drew Houston, Adi Tatarko, Julia Hartz and Jack Dorsey. In aggregate, Sequoia-backed companies account for more than 20% of NASDAQ's total value.

Global Strategy & Business Development Lead

2017 - 2021

Led strategy and business development efforts with global brands, channel ecosystem partners, developers, multilateral institutions, governments and non profits working with a global team. Over the years, led global teams on the rollout of WhatsApp Payments as well as early WhatsApp Business monetization strategy initiatives spanning business model, pricing, infrastructure alliances and partnerships. Negotiated and led WhatsApp's global partnership with its first paying launch customer worldwide across 30+ markets. Led strategic partnerships & product integrations with global industry leaders such as Uber, Netflix and Airbnb, third party partners like Twilio, MessageBird and Infobip as well as partnerships with United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and governments around the world to drive WhatsApp's COVID-19 response as well as its long-term usage for social good. Led global channel partnerships with business messaging leaders and WhatsApp's channel strategy to drive the development of an ecosystem of partners building AI/ML, customer service, messaging and commerce tools on WhatsApp. Drove partner ecosystem & business messaging landscape assessments to help inform the company's M&A strategy. Drove WhatsApp's ISV/Developer partner program globally. Alongside my WhatsApp for Business role, co-led a corporate strategic initiative/top company priority - WhatsApp’s COVID-19 vaccine response partnerships to help vaccinate the world. Partnered with key healthcare industry leaders, governments and health ministries to educate millions of people about vaccines, enable people to schedule their vaccine appointments and receive critical reminders on WhatsApp. Launched our global social impact partnership initiative - an acceleration program that funds top social enterprises building on WhatsApp.

Head of Global Channel Strategy

2019 - 2020

Led WhatsApp's channel strategy efforts spanning ecosystem strategy, partner & business messaging landscape assessments to help inform its M&A strategy, pricing, business model and infrastructure alliances to drive the development of a thriving ecosystem of partners and thousands of developers across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East & Africa building AI/ML, customer service, notifications and commerce tools on the WhatsApp Business platform.

Head of Global Strategic Partnerships, North America

2017 - 2018

Led strategic partnerships with global industry leaders such as Uber, Netflix and Airbnb and channel partners such as Twilio, MessageBird and Infobip to support our WhatsApp Business API beta launch in August 2018 which featured 100+ lighthouse customers and 3rd party channel partners - including our first paying customer at launch.

Global Strategy & Business Development Lead

2015 - 2021

WhatsApp Business Platform WhatsApp Payments Facebook Payments & Commerce Messenger for Business

Global Strategic Partnerships Lead, Payments & Commerce

2015 - 2017

Led a new Facebook business line from concept to $XXXM in annual revenue. Developed and managed global strategic partnerships with payments & financial services industry leaders such as PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Adyen, PayU, Alipay, Paytm, Western Union & MoneyGram. Responsible for our international payments strategy and partnerships. Led cross-functional teams and dramatically increased Facebook’s monetization in key markets across Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa using payments as a growth lever. Launched scaled industry outreach initiatives with leading global banks and financial services ecosystem players to drive adoption of Facebook Payments products and financial services experiences on Facebook Messenger. Transitioned to WhatsApp in late 2017 to work on its early monetization efforts across business messaging and payments.

Global Business Development, Mobile Disruptors

2014 - 2015

Developed and managed partnerships with disruptive startups/companies for a new $1 billion strategic initiative targeting next generation opportunities with a focus on peer to peer payments/messaging, marketplaces, wearables, transportation and cryptocurrencies. Launched first of a kind partnerships such as cryptocurrency partnerships with Coinbase and BitPay and PayPal’s first partnership in the mobile transit space - powering mobile payments for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

Founder

2009 - 2014

Founded one of Africa's most popular media platforms focused on business and technology. Reached millions of readers/visitors. Worked in a variety of business development and outreach roles along the way.

Investment Banking Summer Analyst

2008 - 2008

Investment Banking Summer Analyst

2007 - 2007