Head of Venture Studio

About our Venture Studio

Our Venture Studio is dedicated to adopting innovative approaches to supporting edtech startups to effectively deliver improved learning outcomes in foundational literacy and numeracy skills at scale for children in underserved communities across SSA. The edtech startups funded through the venture studio will receive in-depth support to test, refile and scale their products.

Role Overview

We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join us as the Head of our Venture Studio. In this role, you will be responsible for driving the overall strategy, operations, and success of the studio. You will play a pivotal role in identifying promising edtech startups, nurturing them through the incubation and acceleration phases, and ensuring their solutions effectively address the educational needs of underserved communities in Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop business strategies and plans to achieve the short and long term goals of the venture studio, aligning with the mission to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy through edtech solutions.
• Identify, evaluate, and select early-stage and growth stage edtech startups focused on education in Africa and strategic support to selected startups to ensure their products are pedagogically rigorous, scalable and lead to improved learning outcomes in FLN.
• Implement programs and initiatives to accelerate the growth of startups, including access to networks, funding opportunities, and operational support.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships with various stakeholders such as educational institutions, funders, government entities, and corporate partners to enhance the impact and reach of our portfolio startups.
• Build and lead a high-performing team dedicated to supporting startup founders, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and impact within the venture studio.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of portfolio startups, measuring outcomes related to learning outcomes, scalability, and sustainability.
• Collaborate with fundraising efforts to secure funding and resources for the venture studio and its portfolio companies.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in business administration, technology, or a related field.
• Proven track record (8-10 years) strategy development , startup incubation and acceleration with a focus on developing and scaling innovations in Africa. Personal experience as a founder is a plus.
• Exceptional leadership and managerial skills with the ability to inspire and lead a diverse team.
• Strong network within the tech/startup ecosystem, including investors and entrepreneurs with the ability to leverage these relationships for the benefit of the venture studio.
• Demonstrated commitment to social impact and improving outcomes for underserved communities, particularly in Africa.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex ideas and build consensus among stakeholders.
• Advanced degree in business administration, technology, or a related field.
• Proven track record (8-10 years) strategy development , startup incubation and acceleration with a focus on developing and scaling innovations in Africa. Personal experience as a founder is a plus.
• Exceptional leadership and managerial skills with the ability to inspire and lead a diverse team.
• Strong network within the tech/startup ecosystem, including investors and entrepreneurs with the ability to leverage these relationships for the benefit of the venture studio.
• Demonstrated commitment to social impact and improving outcomes for underserved communities, particularly in Africa.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex ideas and build consensus among stakeholders.