Amidat Sonekan — A VC Thesis for Addressing Affordable Housing Gaps
Amidat Sonekan is a Nigerian-American engineer, artist, and community leader. A self-proclaimed foodie who seeks a healthy lifestyle balance, Amidat's research is rooted in improving food ecosystems that preserve marginalized cultures and provide a dignified lifestyle to all players—from farmers to consumers.
Amidat is an MBA/MS candidate at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). At Ross, she is a Consortium Fellow, and the inaugural recipient of the Miguel Andrés Sossa-Mardomingo (MÁS) Scholarship. At SEAS, Amidat is an Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise Fellow specializing in Sustainability and Development. While at Michigan, Amidat works closely with the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Business+Impact Studio supporting student-led startups. She is an Investment Associate with the UM International Investment Fund, leading the sourcing and diligence of early-stage, impact-driven startups in emerging markets.
Prior to graduate studies, Amidat worked as a strategy and operations manager in the e-commerce industry. She is a DMV native and an alumna of Georgia Tech, where she studied Materials Science and Engineering. Outside of work, Amidat is a certified hot yoga instructor and enjoys working out.
Amidat joined Avivar Capital as a Summer Associate in summer 2025 through the HBCUvc VC Training and Internship program.
