Global food systems need to be radically transformed to feed a growing population while tackling climate challenges. Africa has massive potential to be a global leader in sustainable food systems, with its conducive climate, abundant natural resources, and young talent. At Pyramidia Ventures, we are on a mission to build global agri-climate champions in Africa.

As a venture studio, Pyramidia ideates, designs and launches agrifoodtech startups, and works hand in hand with venture co-founders to build and scale those business. Our success at every stage of venture building is driven by our 40+ years of cumulative experience in building and leading agrifood businesses in Africa, our streamlined venture building processes, and our exceptionally talented studio team and venture co-founders. Pyramidia is now looking for a Business Development Manager to join the team and help us execute on our mission. This is an excellent opportunity for driven, passionate individuals with a proven track record in partnership development and fundraising and a deep passion to solve the world’s most imminent challenge of feeding a growing population in the face of climate change. Read more on our website.

About the role Pyramidia has been funded by highly supportive and mission-aligned institutional, developmental and angel investors. We are about to scale up our proven studio model rapidly and attracting the right partners is key to our success. As a Business Development Manager, you will be spearheading our studio’s partnerships and capital raising, and our individual ventures’ fundraising efforts. You will work very closely with the studio’s partners/founders and our venture co-founders. In this role, you will

• Drive capital raising efforts: You are responsible for managing the process towards fundraising targets (equity, debt, grants) from start to closure by identifying and cultivating potential new partners, developing materials, driving forward grant applications, contribute to development of appropriate capital structures for the venture studio model, and coordinating due diligence efforts, in close collaboration with the Studio’s Managing Partner.
• Manage investor relations: You proactively manage and build out our existing partnership and investor relations (e.g., monthly highlights, quarterly update meetings, site visits). You develop and implement processes and systems which support our growing investor and partner database, and you create high quality reports and updates.
• Advance our reach and relevance activities: You champion Pyramidia as a true ambassador by organizing studio events (such as venture investor dinners), representing Pyramidia at select relevant external events, and elevating our external communications and representation.
• Actively support ventures’ fundraising efforts: You provide continuing targeted and hands-on support as needed to founders of Pyramidia’s ventures in business development areas such as capital strategy and deal structuring, fundraising timing and outreach, due diligence processes, term sheet negotiations, and more.
• Continuously improve the fundraising process: You streamline fundraising processes (e.g., dataroom setups, due diligence processes, financial modeling, investor outreach) and consolidate learnings to build out fundraising as a core venture studio repeatable process (“the Pyramidia Playbook”).

You are

• Deeply passionate about Pyramidia’s mission and values
• Experienced (5+ years) in business and partnership development, with a demonstrable track record (supporting the) raising of funds from various sources (equity, debt and concessional capital)
• A strong communicator, able to confidently engage with (prospective) investors on our mission and progress
• Resilient in the face of setbacks and failures: you appreciate the daily grind and ambiguity of building early-stage businesses
• A collaborative learner who is comfortable giving and receiving feedback
• Well versed in due diligence and deal structuring, with a good understanding of investment terms and negotiation (highly preferred)
• Experienced and networked in the agrifood sector and / or early-stage start-up sector (highly preferred)

Application details

• Applications are received on a rolling basis; only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Candidates from African countries and women are particularly encouraged to apply for this role.
• This is not a remote position and therefore applicants have to be residing in Kenya.
• For more info: AgFunderNews on Pyramidia Ventures, “Why-we-invested”-article from Mercy Corps Ventures on Stable Foods (a Pyramidia venture)

Working with Pyramidia Ventures provides a rare opportunity to team up with world-class thinkers, entrepreneurs, and founders in launching and building successful climate-smart agtech startups. This role offers the freedom and thrill of working on impactful early-stage venture building backed by seasoned expertise, investors, and operators in the sector.

Join us.