Venture Builder (East Africa) at Enviu

About the Role

With our team in Nairobi we are running several projects in agriculture, circular economy and financial inclusion. For example, within our FoodFlow program, we are developing the key interventions to realize 0% post-harvest food loss. This has led to the start-up of SokoFresh (cold storage as a service), ideation of a market linkage service, and validation of a value-add processing service. In most cases, developing innovative business models through lean validation in pilots is key. As we’re starting new programs and projects, we are looking for a Venture Builder with a strong strategic and conceptual mindset to analyze new markets, ideate innovative solutions and validate sustainable business models for scale.

You will:

• Perform in-depth primary and secondary research and root cause analysis into the issues we are targeting.
• Ideate and design desirable and scalable game-changing business concepts.
• Engage and work together with partners, both large and small organizations, commercial and non-commercial.
• Be a product manager who is responsible for defining the “market – value proposition – product” triangle.
• Quickly prototype and test different business models or assumptions with the target group.
• Design business concepts for scalability and replicability, leveraging technological innovation.
• Set up and structure new companies, including team, operations, financial and legal compliance, and so on.
• Plan and budget for your project(s).
• Analyse and control of revenues, costs and margins.
• Raise funds (both grants and equity). identify funders, financial modelling, prepare pitch deck, investor pitches, grant-writing and due diligence processes.
• Collaborate with the international team on strategy, finance, marketing, etc.

Profile

You’d be perfect for the role if you have:

• A proven track record of at least seven years working experience, out of which at least three years as (managing) consultant and/or senior management experience in a start-up/scale-up
• Experience in the domain of innovation and business modeling and/or product design;
• The right attitude to work with people with all kind of backgrounds, from small farmers to investors or CEOs of multinationals.
• The ability to think conceptually and act pragmatically
• A successful track record in multi-stakeholder project management;
• Experience in building partnerships with commercial partners (investors, corporate, NGO, Government);
• Empathy and are inquisitive.
• A Bachelor’s degree at a reputed institute.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Substantial experience with Lean Startup methodology.
• Expertise and experience in sustainability / the circular economy is a definite pre, as is experience in entrepreneurship;
• Experience in the fields of agritech, food logistics and the food value chain in Kenya is a plus.

Furthermore, the ideal candidate is a people manager, fluent in English, can work independently and has a good sense of humour. The job will be performed in Nairobi, Kenya and we are looking for a local candidate.

Package

What we can offer in return:

• Competitive package with the opportunity to develop yourself in a truly unique and challenging international environment.
• A great opportunity to develop yourself both personally and professionally.
• A job with purpose and societal impact.
• The opportunity to build social enterprises.
• Working with a group of talented, passionate and fun colleagues who share the ambition to change the world.