Are you our new Investment Director?
BESTSELLER Foundation is a private foundation, philanthropically funded by fashion group BESTSELLER. As a for-profit impact investor, the foundation invests in businesses with positive social and environment impact, specifically targeting early-stage, climate-tech ventures in Sub- Saharan Africa. We support enterprises at the seed, start-up, and scale-up phase.
In addition to investing in entrepreneurs that invest in planet and people, we drive catalytic initiatives that create an enabling environment for our pipeline and portfolio. As our new Investment Director, you’ll help grow our portfolio of impactful start-ups and interventions across Sub-Saharan Africa. You’ll play an active role in the sourcing, screening, and deal-making of all the Foundation’s direct and indirect investments. Your responsibilities will be to lead the pipeline process and oversee portfolio management, supported by the rest of the team. You’ll also ensure portfolio success by working directly with portfolio companies and leading strategic initiatives benefitting the pipeline and portfolio at large.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead the Foundation’s investment process including sourcing, screening, and due diligence efforts for new investments
• Ensure efficient portfolio management systems and processes, including overseeing portfolio reporting and performance
• Collaborate with portfolio companies on their growth journey, including representing the Foundation on portfolio company boards
• Build co-investment consortia and develop strong relationships with co-investors, follow-on investors, key advisors, and other stakeholders
• Represent the Foundation at conferences, panels, etc. as an active industry voice
• Shape catalytic initiatives to support a nourishing ecosystem for pipeline and portfolio
• Help set the Foundation’s strategic direction, including continued development and implementation of the Foundation’s investment strategy.
WHAT YOU BRING
• +7 years of experience in early-stage investing in emerging markets. Our ideal candidate brings a mix of first-hand experience as an operator in a company as well as investment experience leading and structuring deals
• Preferably expertise in climate-tech
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and investment / portfolio management skills
• Ability to think strategically and handle ambiguity
• Demonstrated experience working with entrepreneurs and growth ventures
• Team-oriented with ability and willingness to contribute to a strong team culture; experience working in multi-cultural teams is a plus
• Strong project management skills with experience managing multiple priorities to deliver results
• Willingness to travel to connect with pipeline and portfolio companies, partners, etc.
WHAT WE OFFER
• Competitive compensation package and generous leave package
• Flat organisational structure, where everybody contributes to the development of the Foundation
• High focus on professional development and fulfilment.
LOCATION
Flexible, preferably Denmark or one of the main start-up ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa; Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Lagos, etc.
INTERESTED?
We hope you find the role interesting and look forward to hearing from you. Your application is welcomed as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday 31st of January. We evaluate incoming applications on a rolling basis. Please submit your application (CV and motivational letter) to [email protected].
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tine Fisker Henriksen, if you have questions on the role or BESTSELLER Foundation, [email protected].