Overview:
Following successes from innovations such as M-PESA and M-Shwari, East Africa is considered a potential hub for financial inclusion innovation. A number of new gathering spots and incubator/accelerator programs have sprung up, adding to the energy but not yet demonstrably adding to success stories. Despite a large volume of ideas, these have rarely promised breakthrough success and teams rarely have the mix of skills and experience necessary to prove the ideas and take them to scale. It is for this reason that FSD Kenya and its ecosystem partner, Accion Venture Lab, have been in discussions about where start-ups can fit and succeed in the financial services landscape and how the two can support such innovation. Ultimately, we believe that promising early-stage start-ups are in need of support that extends beyond financial investment to mentorship, business model advice, access to potential partnerships among others.We are now seeking to recruit an investment specialist who shares our passion for innovation in the financial inclusion space. You will serve as a direct communication link between FSD Kenya and Accion Venture Lab to formalise this partnership.
Responsibilities:
Key areas of responsibility include:
- Serve as the direct communications link between FSD Kenya and Accion Venture Lab as it relates to promoting financial inclusion across Kenya via direct interaction and enablement of start-ups
- Engage with ecosystem players to source Kenyan financial inclusion-related startups
- Assist in Venture Lab’s due diligence – market analysis, financial analysis, regulatory analysis, founding team screening, etc.
- Work with Venture Lab and FSD Kenya to develop investment-readiness workplan and managing FSD Kenya grant pook disburement process for selected start-ups.
- Serve as project lead in charge of executing on investment-readiness workplan and manage process inside of FSD Kenya; bringing internal and external resources to bear and guiding start-ups through the process
- Collect insights from investment-readiness engagements and from broader market deveopments and sharwe with the wiser financial inclusion community
Qualifications:
- A first degree in relevant field
- 4 to 6+ years of practical, hands-on experience in business innovations across technology, management, consulting, investment banking and/or venture capital/private equity
- Highly analytical, with strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for entrepreneurship and market-based solutions to poverty
- Domain expertise in financial services and/or financial inclusion, particularly financial technology, payment systems, and/or innovative delivery models
- Outstanding relationship management skills and ability to earn respect of ecosystem players (e.g., funders, policymakers, investors and start-ups)
- Advanced computer/web skills including Word/Excel/Powerpoint, Salesforce, and social media
- Exceptional written, communication and presentation skills, and comfortable moving seamlessly between boardroom and field
- Advanced degree; preferably MBA
- Experience working in or with startups or growth-stage enterprises in emerging markets
- Direct knowledge of the Kenyan financial and or technology space
Proposals are sought from qualified consultants. Guidance on how to apply for this opportunity, a terms of reference and the mandatory requirements can be downloaded from the Opportunities section of the website:www.fsdkenya.org . Applications should thereafter be submitted to info@fsdkenya.org. Please put "Investment Specialist" in the subject line.
