New Business Manager at Kuunda 3D

Role Purpose

To lead market scoping and opportunity identification and drive the early-stage engagement of high-potential partners. This role is critical in aligning market insights with Kuunda’s product capabilities, shaping initial partner conversations, and progressing opportunities to a BD-ready stage. It sits at the intersection of product understanding, market intelligence, and relationship-building.

Key Responsibilities

Market Understanding & Scoping

• Identify emerging market gaps, customer pain points, and partner white spaces through research, networks, and direct engagement across Africa.
• Monitor regulatory shifts, competitive movements, and digital finance trends in-country.
• Shape the local perspective on “Where to Play” and feed insights into product strategy.

Opportunity Origination & Early Engagement

• Develop a new business pipeline & lead outreach to potential partners (e.g. banks, MNOs, aggregators, retailers, e-commerce and other platforms) aligned to our strategic segments.
• Qualify interest and strategic fit through exploratory meetings.
• Drive the NDA and initial documentation process to move opportunities into our pipeline.
• Coordinate early data sharing or feasibility discussions with internal teams (e.g. product, credit, data).

Product Alignment & Business Case Framing

• Translate Kuunda’s lending and embedded finance products (e.g. Agent, consumer, and Merchant products) into local use cases and pitches.
• Co-shape high-level business cases and product specification documents in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Build early-stage materials (e.g. pitch decks, concept notes) tailored to each opportunity.
• Ensure product feasibility checks are initiated (e.g. internal and external validation).

Partner & Bank Stakeholder Management (Early Stage)

• Build and maintain strong relationships with potential strategic partners.
• Act as the initial point of contact for bank counterparties in early-stage collaboration, focusing on aligning risk appetite, commercial interest, and regulatory fit.
• Set up joint planning sessions and frame the agenda for deeper commercial or product discussions.

Who you are: 

• Strategic Thinker — you understand financial services ecosystems and can spot market trends, regulatory shifts, and commercial opportunities with clarity.
• Product-Savvy — you grasp the nuances of digital lending, savings, and embedded finance, and can turn technical capabilities into compelling business narratives.
• Connector & Influencer — you build trust with banks, FinTech's, and platforms, moving complex partnerships forward while navigating senior stakeholders with ease.
• Commercially Sharp — you know how to assess fit, craft tailored business cases, and communicate persuasively across diverse markets. You have excellent communication skills in English, and fluency in French is a strong advantage.
• Proactive Executor — you thrive in early-stage deal environments, coordinating stakeholders, managing documentation, and driving momentum with structure and energy.