Christian Winkler is co-founder at asc impact, an independent owner-led firm that primarily manages sustainable investments in the agriculture and forestry sector. asc impact's investment approach is characterized by their local management in the investments they make and aims to operationally ensure sustainable value creation. Before joining asc, Christian worked for some 12 years in venture capital, as a Partner at btov Partners, and in banking at Credit Suisse. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business and economics from the Universities of Maastricht and Rotterdam.

Euler Bropleh is the Founder and Managing Partner of VestedWorld, an early-stage fund manager that aims to catalyze growth and development in some of the most underserved markets around the world. VestedWorld leverages its deep knowledge and networks to identify businesses that can play a role in transforming industries and communities where they invest. VestedWorld is committed to being a leading early-stage investment fund manager for emerging markets. They have supported more than 30 African startups addressing critical social and market needs in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Through his work at VestedWorld, Euler serves as a Board Member at Viamo and Vanu, as well as a Board Observer for Jetstream Africa and Victory Farms. These are just some of the aforementioned businesses that VestedWorld has funded and worked with. This business is a huge passion point for Euler as a Liberian native who left the country during the Liberian Civil War. He understands firsthand how conflict, instability, and lack of economic growth can impact the lives of people in developing countries.

Before starting his journey as an entrepreneur, having founded VestedWorld in 2014, Euler had experience working at leading law firms. He spent 6 years in law working as an Associate at Latham & Watkins as well as Vedder Price P.C., where he represented Fortune 100 companies, venture capital and private equity firms, and emerging businesses worldwide. This laid the foundation for his work as an angel investor.

Euler attended Emory University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. He then attended the University of St. Andrews where he earned his MSc in International Strategy and Economics and was a Bobby Jones Scholar. Following his time at the University of St. Andrews, Euler attended the University of Chicago Law School. Here he earned his JD, was a Donald E. Egan Scholar, and received the Ann Watson Barber Service Award.

Euler splits his time between Accra, Ghana, and Chicago, IL. He serves on the Board of the African Leadership Foundation (which supports the African Leadership Academy and the African Leadership University), mothers2mothers, AgriCorps, Ingenuity, and The Field Museum.

Bakang is a Botswana-born Pan-Africanist deeply committed to sustainable development and social justice. She has a diverse background in banking, academia, impact investing, and corporate innovation, which has shaped her belief in the power of entrepreneurship, innovation strategy, and impact investing for Africa's socioeconomic development. Presently, Bakang serves as Africa Lead at Innovest Advisory, an Impact Investing advisory firm that focuses on deploying capital for social, economic, and environmental good. She previously led Plug and Play South Africa, a subsidiary of a Silicon Valley company specializing in Corporate Innovation and Venture Capital. Prior to that, Bakang worked in strategic project management within the South African Enterprise and Supplier Development sector, designing and leading the execution of ESD Programmes for large corporates in the Financial Services sector. This was a role she occupied after that of Impact Investment Project Manager at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, collaborating with organizations like United Nations Women, The World Bank, The South African Brewery Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation. Bakang's career, however, began in the banking sector as a Mining and Construction analyst, eventually progressing to a Product and Pricing Manager before embarking on her current path in impact-focused work. In 2020, Bakang joined the board of EMI Global, a US-based organization, and currently serves on the board's finance committee. Recently, she was also recently appointed as the Board Chairperson of Agriseed Capital, a startup that aims to facilitate funding access for small-scale farmers. Bakang's dedication to the ecosystem extends beyond her professional pursuits. She shares her business and finance expertise as an entrepreneurial coach and speaker at various programs and knowledge-building events across Africa. Additionally, she is a writer, podcaster, co-founder of a youth development NPO in Botswana, as well as alumnus of the Young African Leader's Initiative (YALI) Program.

Wanjohi Ndagu is a Managing Partner at Pearl Capital Partners

He is an investment professional with extensive experience in strategic oversight, governance and operational knowledge. Wanjohi is a founding member of Pearl Capital Partners a Private Equity/Venture Capital Fund Management company and has served in Boards of several companies across the East African Region.

Pearl Capital Partners

Pearl Capital Partners (PCP) is a specialist agriculture investment firm that has been investing in small and/or medium sized agribusinesses in Eastern and Southern Africa since 2006. Our investments:

catalyze value chain development, and deliver positive financial/social returns for our investors, while creating significant social impact, and use smallholder farmer networks to generate significant income for millions of rural families across East Africa. PCP has a 17-year track record of mobilizing agri-impact investment capital across four SME agriculture-focused funds. Over the years PCP has invested in over 50 agriSME’s in the 7 countries in East and Southern Africa