Experience

Savannah Fund

• Kenya
• Investment Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder & Managing Partner

  • Jun 2012 - Present

  Nairobi, Kenya Savannah Fund is a seed capital fund specializing in US$25,000-US$500,000 investments in early stage high growth technology (web and mobile) startups in sub-Saharan Africa. Initially focused on East Africa, the fund aims to bridge the early stage/angel and venture capital investment gap that currently exists in Africa.



Ubongo

• Tanzania
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chairman Of The Board

  • Sep 2016 - Present

  Tanzania Ubongo International is a animated production media Non Profit Organization producing kids content for Africa based in Tanzania. Board member since 2016, and Board chair from 2020



JUMO

• South Africa
• Financial Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Tanzania Board Member

  • Jan 2020 - Jul 2020

  Tanzania



Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic / WAVE

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Advisor

  • 2012 - Jan 2018

  Tanzania Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic is an international NGO whose mission is to address the problem of healthcare access for isolated communities on Lake Tanganyika- using a clinic on a ship and anchoring offshore to provide health services.



Apis Partners

• United Kingdom
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Investment Partner (East Africa)

  • Oct 2014 - Aug 2015

  Kenya I am an operating partner via Savannah Fund bringing together the most innovative financial services and technology ventures from early to late stage focusing on East Africa. Key interest areas include core banking, remittances, payment systems. Deal sourcing, Diligence, Mentoring. Fintech related events including Afrikoin.org



TanTravel

• Director

  • Mar 2003 - Aug 2015

  Tanzania Small boutique family Travel agency covering business and leisure travel within East Africa



i/o ventures

• United States
• Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Associate & International Projects

  • Apr 2010 - Apr 2012

  San Francisco Bay Area Helping source and evaluate investment deals. I also support incubated startups pre and post acceleration in business development, strategy, product development and marketing. Working on strategy and execution to cover emerging and frontier markets as well as connect international tech ecosystems inc. Subsaharan Africa outreach inc. recently helping the Government of Tanzania via the President's Office set up an incubator, mentoring model, events to grow the regional tech… Show more Helping source and evaluate investment deals. I also support incubated startups pre and post acceleration in business development, strategy, product development and marketing. Working on strategy and execution to cover emerging and frontier markets as well as connect international tech ecosystems inc. Subsaharan Africa outreach inc. recently helping the Government of Tanzania via the President's Office set up an incubator, mentoring model, events to grow the regional tech ecosystem. My interests span mobile and web applications, crowdsourcing, mhealth, emerging payment systems, startup incubation, angel investing and local seed capital fundraising. Show less



Yellow Masai

• Cofounder & Head of Product

  • Jan 2010 - Jul 2011

  I am a cofounder of East Africa's first online booking portal covering safari trips, hotels, regional flights starting from Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti in Tanzania and expanding out to nearby countries. Secured seed funding, architected and launched the web platform and integrated components inc. mobile banking, SMS alerts, facebook social plugins, ecommerce and reservation/booking API integration using an offshore teams (Israel and India) and local Tanzania partner… Show more I am a cofounder of East Africa's first online booking portal covering safari trips, hotels, regional flights starting from Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti in Tanzania and expanding out to nearby countries. Secured seed funding, architected and launched the web platform and integrated components inc. mobile banking, SMS alerts, facebook social plugins, ecommerce and reservation/booking API integration using an offshore teams (Israel and India) and local Tanzania partner team. SEO, PPC, affiliate advertising & social media online advertising as part of launch campaign. Buillt out on the ground operation team through hiring, training and onboarding. Show less



Microsoft

• United States
• Software Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• Product Manager- Office Enterprise *(Excel, Access & Groove)

  • Jun 2006 - May 2009

  Created “Software + Services” go-to-market strategy, messaging & positioning for Excel & Access 2010 across PC, phone, web. Researched competitive trends, made product & business model recommendations to engineering & senior management. Positioned Excel within Microsoft BI campaigns and worked with SharePoint & SQL Server teams. Formulated and implemented customer migration strategy onto Microsoft Office suite for over 600 accounts of the acquired workspace… Show more Created “Software + Services” go-to-market strategy, messaging & positioning for Excel & Access 2010 across PC, phone, web. Researched competitive trends, made product & business model recommendations to engineering & senior management. Positioned Excel within Microsoft BI campaigns and worked with SharePoint & SQL Server teams. Formulated and implemented customer migration strategy onto Microsoft Office suite for over 600 accounts of the acquired workspace collaboration software company, Groove Networks. Show less



Pixpulse

• VP of Sales/Business Development

  • Mar 2007 - Sep 2007

  building out sales team to grow business in hosted mobile social networking platform to media companies, carriers etc... specifically in Europe, Africa & Middle-East.



QinetiQ

• United Kingdom
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Systems Engineering Consultant

  • Nov 2003 - Jul 2005

  Salisbury, United Kingdom Worked in a team of multidisciplinary engineers to define holistic test plan for the Lynx Helicopter upgrade programme covering avionics systems, aerodynamics and other integrated systems to ensure airworthiness certification, fitness for purpose and safety. Developed & co-authored a mandatory procedural framework for investing £160 million worth of capital in test facilities. Created operational strategy for an innovative radar based detection system to remove debris from airport… Show more Worked in a team of multidisciplinary engineers to define holistic test plan for the Lynx Helicopter upgrade programme covering avionics systems, aerodynamics and other integrated systems to ensure airworthiness certification, fitness for purpose and safety. Developed & co-authored a mandatory procedural framework for investing £160 million worth of capital in test facilities. Created operational strategy for an innovative radar based detection system to remove debris from airport runways in 9 minutes. Annual global savings of up to $4 billion expected in jet aircraft maintenance.

• Flight Test Trials Officer: Graduate Rotational Program

  • Oct 2002 - Dec 2003

  Salisbury, United Kingdom Broad experience in military flight test planning, operations and anaytics.. Developed a 3D plugin for an in-house flight data analytics software using an open source visualization toolkit (VTK) with scripting languages TCL/TK and python.



Tanzania Development Trust/Britain Tanzania Society

• Social Entrepreneur

  • Apr 2004 - May 2005

  Salisbury, United Kingdom and Tanzania Established a new model of corporate social responsibility to help developing countries via expeditions. Founded and led a 24 person corporate (QinetiQ) expedition to hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro - funding a science lab in a high school in Bukoba, western Tanzania.