Meet your Mentors
There are no shortcuts in life… but if there was one - it would be having a mentor.
Mentors give startups and founders direction. Within Kinjani, they’re our compass or navigational stars. I’d say it’s quite fitting since this blog is called the Kinjani Atlas.
Today we’re highlighting the Kinjani Mentors that will be guiding founders towards success (and avoiding pitfalls) with their wisdom and experience. It is with great pleasure we introduce these brilliant minds, so let’s dive in.
Jim Mann
Jim is the CEO of UNDO, a pioneering carbon removal company dedicated to capturing vast amounts of CO2 from our atmosphere.
Jim is building UNDO. UNDO’s carbon credits help companies meet their net-zero commitments and empower individuals to make a difference.
Their goal? To be the first company to remove 1 million tonnes of CO2, with the longer-term aim of removing a billion tons.
Through nature-based technology using volcanic rock to mineralise carbon through a process called Enhanced Weathering, UNDO locks away carbon immediately and permanently. By partnering with local agricultural communities, they not only support but also benefit from this innovative work.
They have received investment from the likes of Lowercarbon Capital - Chris Sacca’s climate fund, who previously backed the likes of Twitter, Instagram, and Uber.
Jim is a mission-driven founder committed to preventing the worst impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. He believes that harnessing the power of capitalism towards regenerative systems can address the most crucial challenges facing our planet today.
Jim will be joining us in a fire-side discussion with founders at Kinjani’s (Ad)Venture Building Programme (if you’re interested in starting a climate-tech business but haven’t yet, you can formally apply here)
Join us in welcoming Jim, whose dedication to climate tech and sustainable innovation will inspire and drive others towards impactful solutions.
Thandeka Xaba
In addition to her impressive achievements and role of being Managing Partner at Digital Africa Ventures, Thandeka was recently selected as one of the lucky four recipients of the VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley 2024 scholarship with 500 Global and Stanford’s Center for Professional Development. This prestigious recognition is a testament to her exceptional contributions to Africa!
Thandeka is a powerhouse in the world of venture capital and social entrepreneurship. As the Managing Partner at Digital Africa Ventures, a majority Black-women led VC firm based in South Africa, she invests in early-stage, high-potential tech startups, driving innovation and economic growth across the continent.
Her entrepreneurial spirit doesn't stop there. Thandeka co-founded the Tariro Foundation, a non-profit organization that mentors and tutors young girls from Grade 10 to Grade 12. The foundation focuses on Education, Entrepreneurship, and Personal-Leadership Development, aiming to empower these girls to become intelligent, courageous, and responsible African leaders.
Join us in welcoming Thandeka, whose diverse expertise and unwavering commitment to empowerment and innovation will undoubtedly inspire and uplift our community. We are excited to learn from her remarkable journey and vision!
Mike Heyink
Mike is a doer. With recent Series B funding of US$14 million, Yellow is poised for even greater impact and growth, cementing its position as a leader in delivering tech-driven solutions to Africa's underserved communities.
Mike is a visionary entrepreneur passionate about leveraging technology and markets to improve the lives of people, particularly in Africa.
With an optimistic outlook on the continent's future, Mike sees distributed technologies as the key to leapfrogging the development path of industrialised countries. He believes that Africa's largest pool of young, connected minds holds immense potential for innovation and progress.. And we couldn’t agree more!
As the Co-Founder of Yellow, Mike is at the forefront of delivering life-changing tech to low-income households across Africa. Yellow recognises the underserved nature of many African communities, where access to basic necessities like electricity, financial services, and connectivity is limited.
Yellow's mission is to bridge this gap by providing access to products and services that significantly enhance the quality of life for their customers. Through innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, Yellow is transforming the lives of millions across the continent.
Mike will be sharing his expertise with founders in Kinjani’s (Ad)Venture Building Programme - so don’t forget to apply to the programme (link in the comments).
Join us in welcoming Mike Heyink, whose visionary leadership and commitment to social impact in Africa will inspire and empower the next generation of founders.
Nyasha Shumbayarerwa
Bringing a wealth of expertise in carbon project development and management, he has a passion for engineering solutions to the climate crisis.
Nyasha is the Principal Advisor on Carbon and Nature Solutions at Rio Tinto.
Nyasha’s innovative work centres on developing land management projects that sequester soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry, and generate high-quality carbon credit revenue for land managers.
By placing farmers, ranchers, pastoralists, foresters, and rural/indigenous communities at the heart of climate change mitigation and adaptation, Nyasha’s approach ensures that these vital stakeholders profit while contributing to global sustainability efforts.
Nyasha is a firm believer in the power of Nature-based Solutions to tackle climate change, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and inequality. His enthusiasm for hands-on engineering and local solutions to global problems is both inspiring and transformative. He’s always keen to explore new climate ideas too.
Join us in welcoming Nyasha, whose dedication and innovative approach to sustainable land management will inspire and empower the next generation of founders in Africa.
Simon King
Simon’s passion for technology is reflected in his work with the Octopus Ventures team, where he focuses on identifying and supporting talented individuals and exceptional businesses in the deep tech space.
Simon is a Deep Tech Partner at Octopus Ventures, one of Europe’s largest and most active venture investors with £1.3 billion under management.
Specialising in areas that are set to change the world — health, money, deep tech, and consumer — Octopus Ventures invests from £1 million for Seed to £10 million for Series B, supporting companies all the way to IPO.
They’ve backed over 120 pioneering companies! Part of the innovative Octopus Group, which manages over £9.1 billion, Octopus Ventures is dedicated to investing in people, ideas, and industries that can change the world.
Simon is committed to backing fast-growth businesses capable of creating or transforming entire industries. If you’re working on an exciting project with transformative potential, Simon and the Octopus Ventures team want to hear from you!
Simon will be leading an expert workshop with founders in Kinjani’s (Ad)Venture Building Programme. Join us in welcoming Simon, whose expertise and passion for deep tech will inspire and elevate founders in Africa!
Lyndsey Duff
Chief of Staff at Amitruck, and a passion for high-growth scale-ups and logistics & supply chain management - Lyndsey is a (positive) force. In short, Amitruck is transforming logistics across East Africa one seamless delivery at a time.
At Amitruck, a logistics business headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Lyndsey plays a pivotal role in revolutionizing the transportation industry across East Africa.
Amitruck connects cargo owners with transporters, cutting out middlemen and reducing transportation costs by up to 60%. Their platform brings much-needed transparency and efficiency to an otherwise opaque and inefficient industry.
Lyndsey will be sharing her expertise in a fireside chat with founders in the (Ad)Venture Building Programme. Join us in welcoming Lyndsey, whose dedication to innovation and efficiency in logistics will inspire and empower our community.
Bonga Hlongwane
Today, Bonga is a Private Equity Senior Associate at Kasada Capital Management, a game-changing investment platform dedicated to hospitality in Sub-Saharan Africa. His current role underscores his commitment to driving growth and innovation in Africa.
Bonga brings a wealth of experience from some of the world's leading financial institutions. At Standard Bank, he played a pivotal role in Merger & Acquisition, BEE transactions, and Corporate Restructuring through the Africa Corporate Finance Advisory team.
His strategic insights and expertise have been instrumental in shaping significant corporate transformations across the continent.
Bonga further honed his skills at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he continued to make impactful contributions to the financial industry. Today, Bonga is a Private Equity Senior Associate at Kasada Capital Management.
Join us in welcoming Bonga, whose vast knowledge and passion for financial excellence are set to inspire and empower the next generation African founders. We are excited to learn and grow under his mentorship!
Other (epic) Kinjani Mentors
Below is our growing list of Kinjani Mentors. We ran out of space on this map, but I can assure you - these mentors have an incredible range of expertise and experience - from walking the founders journey to funding the future.
This list deeply gives us hope for a bright future in Africa.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers for now
Alistair Daynes and the Kinjani Team
PS - If you are a founder looking to start a climate-tech business -Kinjani is putting together a group of 30 inspiring individuals to build the next generation of African businesses together. From start to seed to summit. Check out the (Ad)Venture Building Programme to learn more.