Our client is a venture capital fund manager dedicated to finding and growing the “new stars” of East and West Africa. They back early and growth stage businesses led by entrepreneurs with the capability and ambition to transform markets and sectors. There is a vibrant ecosystem of fast-growing businesses offering low-income households access to affordable goods and services such as healthcare, agriculture services, energy, housing, education and safe water, or access to new opportunities as employees or producers.  If successful, these businesses have the potential to transform the lives of millions of people by satisfying latent demand, expanding market access, reducing costs and improving the quality of essential goods and services.

However, many of these businesses struggle to find investors who are willing to finance them both while they test and develop their business model and then pursue scale.  As the first venture fund at scale in the region our client addresses this need, supporting businesses as they test their business model and growing with them if they are successful. They also provide ongoing support (beyond financing) to the businesses to help them reach their full potential. In so doing, they aim to generate attractive returns for their investors and large-scale benefits for low-income households.

Our client is seeking two Investment Associates (one to be based in Nairobi & the other in Lagos) to support the entire investment process for new and existing investments.

The role

The role will include (but will not be limited to):         

• Supporting the investment cycle for our investees including:
• Identifying and qualifying new and follow-on investment opportunities in keeping with our client’s investment mandate
• Making a case for and pitching investment opportunities
• Conducting due diligence (researching and analysing new investment opportunities - their markets, competition, technology, business model, finances, team, etc.)
• Modelling the finances of potential investments
• Drafting and reviewing term sheets and investment agreements
• Structuring and writing investment recommendations
• Participating in Investment Committee discussions
• Preparing and reviewing deal documentation
• Analysing portfolio company performance and making recommendations on actions to be taken
• Supporting portfolio company exits

o    Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with portfolio company management teams

o    Supporting portfolio companies with their strategic, human and financial capital needs

o    Compiling and preparing reports on the overall performance of our investment portfolio

o    Marketing to enhance the our client Brand

o    Attending networking events that may be a source of pipeline

o    Supporting the ongoing management of the Fund

The role offers the opportunity to grow with the Fund and take on additional responsibilities over time.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for a candidate who is:

• A good judge of character with an empathy and understanding of high capacity entrepreneurs pursuing ambitious growth plans
• Entrepreneurial, with experience with start-ups as an investor, entrepreneur or team member
• A self-starter who will take the initiative and drive the investment process
• Flexible and willing to adapt to the inevitable changes of a start-up environment
• Able to thrive in an environment that is not hierarchical
• Organised, structured and systematic in their work
• Open to receiving feedback, but also gives feedback and is able to manage upwards or push back
• Curious and eager to learn
• A quick learner, picking up the skills and knowledge required to both build Novastar and support our investee companies
• Hard working, willing to commit extra hours when necessary to build a company that could transform the lives of thousands of low-income households
• An excellent team player, able to work well with a small, close knit and multicultural team
• An active communicator, who presents issues quickly, but in a clear and structured manner
• Committed to improving the lives of low-income households
• Bi-cultural, with experience in the region
• Well networked in the sector
• Combines courage and humility

Skills & Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven ability to develop trusted, influential relationships
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a strong attention to detail
• The ability to build and represent a coherent case for / against investment, standing up for his or her ideas and defending the company he or she is proposing
• Experience with structuring, undertaking and interpreting market research
• Experience building and interpreting financial models
• Outstanding analytical skills, able to break down complex problems quickly, analyse the core issues and draw insightful conclusions
• Experience assimilating and analysing large amounts of information drawing conclusions from the analysis
• Proficiency in Excel