We’re building the most powerful growth engine for African startups and their founders.
Founders Factory Africa (FFA) is unlike any place else you’ve ever worked. We are venture builders dedicated to solving some of Africa’s biggest challenges and capitalizing on it’s incredible potential by leveraging market and tech opportunities. Over the next five years, we’ll build 24 businesses from scratch and scale 64 existing growth-stage ventures through our venture development programs. Backed by leading corporates, such as Standard Bank – the continent’s largest bank – we have access to their vast resources, infrastructure, and expertise and will bring those to bear for all our ventures and entrepreneurs. Starting with FinTech, HealthTech, and AgriTech FFA will expand our focus as we grow, adding other sectors.
Our Culture
Our goals are audacious, and we want to work with people who share our passion for pursuing transformation at scale. We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere – not just the top – and we love to build our way out of uncertainty. At FFA, you will work with and meet outstanding and diverse talent from across the continent and help us build a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive network. You will work faster (and learn faster) than you ever have before.
With offices in Johannesburg and London, we are building an ambitious, talented, and passionate team, ensuring that Founders Factory Africa is the continent’s best partner for founders.
The Role
We are looking to hire a Venture Sourcing Lead to support our efforts in sourcing and qualifying early stage startups in Africa. The successful candidate will lead our ecosystem engagement with the goal to source, identify, and evaluate new investment opportunities (startups and founders), in our operating sectors and preferably with an AgriTech focus. The candidate will need to have a good understanding of technology and business models, preferably have networks and exposure to the world of Fintech, Health and AgriTech products. Having a broad network of early stage entrepreneurs (pre-series A) in an AgriTech sector will give you a competitive advantage in this role.
Responsibilities
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- Sourcing new investment opportunities and leading ecosystem engagement efforts.
- Support in developing and maintaining an active partnership referral network within the African Tech ecosystem
- Conduct market analysis and keep up to speed with sector trends and market performance (specifically AgriTech). Lead deep dives, industry analysis and market mapping.
- Source, identifying, and evaluate new investment opportunities – startups and founders
- Attending, participating and hosting industry events to promote FFA venture programs working together with our Head Of Sourcing.
- Support in managing FFA’s deal flow and pipeline to ensure all applications are attended to within 48 hours
- Screening & Qualifying – Lead on converting investment opportunities
- Take responsibility for all aspects of the sourcing process (initial screening, negotiation, qualification process and stakeholders socialisation)
- Manage deals referred by FFA’s network, conduct deal evaluation and form recommendations
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- Conduct thorough opportunities assessment including market, competitor analysis, technical due diligence, get buy-in and form an initial assessment of fit.
- Present and sell new investment opportunities internally and to relevant partners
- Lead corporate socialisation with FFA corporate investors
- Track and chase companies you are excited about that align to FFA’s investment thesis.
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- Determining focus areas/investment thesis
- Support investment managers and venture design teams in conducting market research on industry trends, sectors, and companies and developing a point of view.
- Support in the creation and publishing of FFA investment insights.
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Candidate Profile
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- Have minimum 3 years’ experience in a similar venture capital fund or a start-up, preferably in Africa/ emerging markets;
- Experience originating, leading and executing investments in VC, accelerators or incubators;
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, able to build a network, source companies and develop relationships with top African entrepreneurs and other tech/entrepreneurship ecosystem players in key markets across Africa;
- Analytical mind able to qualify and understand different concepts and business models;
- Independently be able to form views around investment decisions and make recommendations;
- Be proficient in Excel and comfortable manipulating data;
- Knowledge and experience building financial models (advantage);
- Extensive knowledge, enthusiasm for and interest in technology and start-up;
- A self-starter who thrive in an autonomous role, with excellent prioritisation, self-organisation, and execution skills.
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Benefits
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- The role is in a fast-moving company, with a startup culture – this offers lots of opportunities to learn, be hands-on, agile and have the freedom to develop strategy and execute on it without bureaucratic constraints.
- This is an exciting opportunity to join one of Africa’s largest venture development and investment companies, to help shape the future of Africa’s startup ecosystem.
- Growth and Learning: work with and meet exceptional talent and learn faster than you ever have before. We are in a startup environment, not corporate 9-5, so you determine where you want to grow and how quickly you want to do this.
- Variety: Opportunity to work on hundreds of different products across a variety of sectors
- Health and Wellness: Comprehensive extended health care coverage
- Network: Founders Factory Africa is part of the strongest global network for startup founders. Our relationships with corporate executives, established entrepreneurs, and funders are unparalleled.
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Founders Factory Africa provides a rare opportunity to join a team of world-class thinkers, entrepreneurs, and creators. We provide the freedom and excitement of early-stage startups but the stability and resources of a large organisation. Founders Factory Africa has global ambitions, and you’ll play a key role in our future success.
This role is a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a high-growth organization as part of the founding team and to help shape the future of Africa’s startup ecosystem.
Source and application page: https://jobs.lever.co/foundersfactory/a66d5445-a9ae-4fe0-ba38-ef235299eaef
