AVCA | Member Interviews

Member Interviews

15 December 2023

‘Inside The Deal’ Venturing into the Future: Technology, Innovation and A Greener Economy

In this episode as we speak with Nick Allen, Managing Partner, Savant, a trailblazing venture capital firm, and explore their recent investments in cutting-edge sectors.

Member Interviews

13 December 2023

Underserved Founders: Who, Why & How, and the Cost of Missed Opportunities

AVCA speaks with Geraldine Mupandanyama, Founder & Managing Partner, Darena Ventures to discuss their strategy as an ‘impact-focused’ fund, and the importance of investing in underserved founders, including women and entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities; diving into the 'Who?', 'Why?' and 'How?', and the consequences of inaction.

Member Interviews

3 October 2023

Clearing the Air: Misconceptions of Investing in Climate Tech

In this interview we speak with Geraldine Mupandanyama, Founder & Managing Partner, Darena Ventures, to uncover the definition of climate tech and the prevalent misconceptions surrounding climate investment, offering clarity on how these misunderstandings can influence investment decisions and potentially hinder the sector’s growth.

Member Interviews

28 September 2023

Solving the Significant Funding Gap for Venture Capital with Launch Africa

AVCA speaks with Zachariah George, Managing Partner and Janade Du Plessis, Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures about their experience in the market and solving the significant funding gap for venture capital in Africa.

Member Interviews

28 February 2023

Axis Fiduciary Ltd with Mr. Jean Claude Permal & Mr. Sayyad Khayrattee

AVCA speaks with Axis Fiduciary Ltd, about impact investment solutions, the opportunities in Mauritius since being removed from the FATF Grey List

Member Interviews

24 January 2023

Beyond Numbers: Clearing the Path to Prosperity Whilst Fundraising

Despite encountering significant challenges in fundraising, two large funds accounted for half of the total capital raised in Q1 2023. Among these funds was the Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund, attracting a notable $296 million. In this interview, Yolande Tabo and Idan Segal have joined us to delve deeper into the fund’s success.

Member Interviews

13 October 2022

IQ-EQ with Sridhar Nagarajan

In this interview, AVCA and Sridhar Nagarajan atIQ-EQ speak about the company’s growth, investment opportunities in Africa, and Mauritius being removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) list of jurisdictions.

Member Interviews

1 September 2022

TPG with Yemi Lalude

In this interview, AVCA and Yemi Lalude at TPG discuss the importance of impact investing and fostering strong ESG performance, and promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion as a core industry value.

Member Interviews

1 August 2022

Anjarwalla and Khanna with Fayha Karimbux & Roddy McKean

AVCA speaks to Anjarwalla & Khanna about the importance of joining an alliance of corporate law firms across Africa and supporting financial institutions’ compliance with ESG regulations.

Member Interviews

1 May 2022

Olaniwun Ajayi LP with Chuks B. Ibechukwu

The firm have recently opened their London-based international practice in December 2021, marking a significant milestone in their 60 year history, as well as for legal services in Africa that cater to the international market. Chuks Ibechukwu is a partner in their London office. We caught up with him to discuss the motivation and vision behind their international foray.

Member Interviews

1 October 2021

Sanne Group with Rubina Toorawa

AVCA speaks with Rubina Toorawa, Head of Sanne Mauritius, about the opportunities in Africa, how Sanne Group is leveraging technology to support clients, and ESG implementation in African private equity.

Member Interviews

1 September 2021

BFA Asset Management with Rui Oliveira

Rui Oliveira discusses the regulatory trends in Angola and opportunities for infrastructure development and real estate.

Member Interviews

1 August 2021

Norton Rose Fulbright with Bayo Odubeko

AVCA speaks with Bayo Odubeko about the impact of COVID-19 on deal-making in Africa, the regulatory developments driving investment, and how Norton Rose Fulbright is supporting clients to tackle the energy transition.

Member Interviews

1 June 2021

Kasada Capital Management with Olivier Granet and David Damiba

AVCA speaks with Olivier Granet and David Damiba about the opportunities in Africa’s hospitality sector and trends driving travel and tourism on the continent.

Member Interviews

1 June 2021

Sahel Capital with Mezuo Nwuneli

AVCA speaks with Mezuo Nwuneli about emerging opportunities in the agriculture sector, how Sahel’s investments address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the firm’s exits and fundraising plans.

Member Interviews

1 May 2021

Debevoise & Plimpton with Geoffrey Burgess

AVCA speaks with Geoffrey Burgess about the major regulatory developments affecting private investment in Africa, and the unique climate risks facing the continent.

Member Interviews

1 April 2021

Meridiam with Mathieu Peller

AVCA speaks with Mathieu Peller, Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Africa about Meridiam's commitment to long-term sustainable development through its Africa projects.

Member Interviews

1 March 2021

African Capital Alliance with Paul Kokoricha and Ron Mincy

AVCA speaks with Paul Kokoricha and Ron Mincy at African Capital Alliance (ACA) about the evolution of private equity in West Africa and the importance of value creation when preparing investments for exits.

Member Interviews

1 February 2021

Bpifrance Investissement with Isabelle Bébéar

AVCA speaks with Isabelle Bébéar, Director of International & European Affairs at Bpifrance, about the bank's commitment to small business growth and scale-up in Africa through the Averroès Finance funds.

Member Interviews

1 January 2021

RENEW with Matthew Davis and Laura Davis

AVCA speaks to Matthew Davis, Managing Partner & CEO, and Laura Davis, Managing Partner & Investor Relations, at RENEW, about the history of the firm, its strategy, measuring the impact of their investments and RENEW’s plans and goals for the next few years.

Member Interviews

1 December 2020

Africa Foresight Group with Yasmin Kumi and Rasheeda Seshie

AVCA speaks to Yasmin Kumi, Chief Executive & Founder, and Rasheeda Seshie, Chief People Officer, at Africa Foresight Group, about the firm’s inception, freelancing, plans over the next few years, and sectors and markets in Africa that present opportunities for growth.

Member Interviews

1 November 2020

FinDev Canada with Paulo Martelli

AVCA speaks with Paulo Martelli, Chief Investment Officer at FinDev Canada, about the firm’s vision, strategy, priority areas for the next year and development impact.

Member Interviews

1 November 2020

Axian Group with Hassane Muhieddine

AVCA speaks with Hassane Muhieddine, CEO Financial Services Cluster at the Axian Group, about the Group’s rationale for diversifying in private equity, its experiences investing into Africa and its hopes for the future

Member Interviews

1 October 2020

Trident Trust with Rajan Rosick and Karine Seguin

AVCA speaks to Rajan Rosick, one of the Directors of Trident Trust’s long-standing Mauritius office and Karine Seguin, Head of Fund Services Business Development in Europe at Trident Trust, about their role as a fund administrator, trends in fund domiciliation and key developments in Africa.

Member Interviews

1 September 2020

Bowmans with Paras Shah

AVCA speaks with Paras Shah, Partner at Bowmans, about the firm’s history and expertise, the state of the private equity industry and the impact of COVID-19.

Member Interviews

1 September 2020

Adenia Partners with Antoine Delaporte

AVCA speaks to Antoine Delaporte, Managing Partner at Adenia Partners about what to consider when investing in Africa, the firm’s future focus and hopes for the industry.

Member Interviews

1 August 2020

Mediterrania Capital Partners with Rajaa Berrkia

AVCA speaks with Rajaa Berrkia, Director of Sustainability at Mediterrania Capital Partners, to learn more about the firm’s unique ESG and sustainability approach, as well as the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on ESG targets in the private equity industry in Africa.

Member Interviews

1 July 2020

Convergence Blended Finance with Lade Araba

AVCA speaks with Ladé Araba, Managing Director for Africa at Convergence to learn more about the history of the network, how blended finance can be applied, and its role in achieving Africa’s development goals.

Member Interviews

1 June 2020

Metier Private Equity with Marc Immerman

AVCA talks with Marc Immerman, Director, Metier Private Equity on the firm’s origins, its fundraising lessons and emerging sectors in Africa’s private equity industry.

Member Interviews

1 May 2020

Ascent Capital Africa with David Owino

We talk with David Owino, Founding Partner at Ascent Capital Africa about the firm’s origins, its continued commitment to East Africa, its recent co-investment strategy with Fanisi Capital, and the impacts of COVID-19 on its operations.

Member Interviews

1 April 2020

Axonia Partners with Alexandre Alfonsi

We speak with Alexandre Alfonsi, Founding Partner at Axonia Partners about the firm’s history, its successes, the impact of COVID-19 on Africa’s fundraising space, and why they are committed to Africa.

Member Interviews

1 April 2020

Aruwa Capital Management with Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes

AVCA speaks to Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder & Managing Partner, Aruwa Capital Management on the firm’s ethos, investment model, investment wins and hopes for Africa’s private capital industry’s future.

Member Interviews

1 March 2020

King & Spalding with Naana Frimpong

We speak with Naana Frimpong, Counsel, Special Matters, and Government Investigations practice at King & Spalding about the firm’s history and expertise in African-focused investigations, arbitrations, and transactions, as well as her insights on recent and future regulatory trends in Africa’s private equity industry.

Member Interviews

1 February 2020

Aluko & Oyebode with Ayodeji Oyetunde

AVCA speaks to Ayodeji Oyetunde, Partner, Aluko & Oyetunde on the firm’s history, ambitions and the evolution of Nigeria’s private investment industry.

Member Interviews

1 January 2020

Nile Development and Investment with Osama Ezzo

AVCA speaks to Osama Ezzo, Managing Director of Nile Development and Investment on the fund’s investment strategy, approach to value creation and the industry’s challenge of mobilising local capital.

Member Interviews

1 January 2020

Dentons with Angeli Arora

AVCA talks with Angeli Arora, Africa Regional PE Leader from Dentons’ Global Private Equity Group on the impact of Brexit on investments into Africa, what sets Dentons apart and their plans to become the first pan-African law firm owned and controlled by Africans.

Member Interviews

1 October 2019

VFD Group Plc with Adeniyi Adenubi & Gbenga Omolokun

AVCA speaks with Adeniyi Adenubi, Executive Director – Institutional Business and Investor Relations and Gbenga Omolokun, Chief Operating Officer at VFD Group Plc on the realities of value creation within Nigeria’s informal finanical sector, their recent exit from Germaine Auto Center and their future hopes for the expansion of the Group.

Member Interviews

1 July 2019

Oasis Capital Ghana with Matthew Boadu Adeji

AVCA speaks to Matthew Boadu Adjei, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oasis Capital Ghana on the importance of Africa’s SME market, their capital raising experience and hopes for the future.

Member Interviews

1 June 2019

Rogers Capital with Roshan Nathoo

AVCA speaks to Roshan Nathoo, Managing Director at Rogers Capital Corporate Services on the future of Mauritius investment status, trends in Africa’s private investment industry and Rogers Capital’s future.

Member Interviews

20 May 2019

Executives In Africa with Richard Putley

AVCA speaks to Richard Putley, Managing Director at Executives in Africa on what it takes to succeed within the African recruitment industry, the industry challenges and his hopes for its future.

Member Interviews

1 April 2019

Templars with Chike Obianwu

AVCA speaks to Chike Obianwu, Partner of Templars about the firm’s history, new legislation moving the Nigerian private equity and venture equity ecosystem forward and their hopes for the industry.