Delta40 Venture Studio
Operations · Full-time · Nairobi, Kenya
ABOUT SAMAKING
Ensuring a healthy and environmentally sustainable diet for 2.4 billion people (2050) in Africa is a critical challenge facing food systems. To achieve improved health and prosperity, there must be an increase in agricultural intensification. The required dietary protein can come from plant-based sources, but only as agricultural systems and cultural preferences allow. There is a pragmatic reality that people will continue to eat animal-based protein, and aquaculture is the most sustainable approach in terms of carbon footprint and food conversion ratio. Wild fisheries are not keeping up with demand, so aquaculture systems are necessary.
Samaking is an early-stage venture whose mission is to make fish the #1 protein on African plates by making it accessible and affordable. The current fish distribution system is fragmented and inefficient, with fish being less accessible than other proteins like beef and chicken, especially in numerous towns and neighborhoods. Existing distribution channels, predominantly informal and led by informal traders a.k.a 'mama samakis', raise health and safety concerns, such as the prolonged use of recycled cooking oil and unreliable availability.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As the Co-Founder of tech-enabled Food innovation targeting Africa, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of our company and ensuring its growth and sustainability. You will be responsible for building strategic partnerships, developing and executing business strategies, and overseeing the operational aspects of the venture. Your expertise in African market dynamics and the food and ag space will be instrumental in driving our mission to make fish the #1 protein of choice on African plates.
Key Responsibilities:
Operations:
Oversee the organization's day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Implement robust operational systems, processes, and policies to support the organization’s mission and improve operational management.
Manage cross-functional teams across different locations, promoting a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and health and safety standards.
Business Development and Partnerships:
Strategic Leadership:
Set the organization's strategic direction, aligning short-term activities with long-term objectives.
Lead from the front, demonstrating a passion for food innovation and a commitment to creating sustainable impact.
Engaging with key stakeholders, including the community, industry leaders, and policymakers, can promote the organization's vision and goals.
Inspire and mentor a diverse team, fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, and professional growth.
Qualifications and Experience:
Preferred ~ 10 years of professional experience and or startup experience.
Proven leadership track record in building successful ventures or leading business units.
Strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the African business environment.
Entrepreneurial mindset with experience in early-stage startups or innovation-driven environments.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans, drive business growth, and achieve financial targets.
Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English (knowledge of local languages is a plus).
Strong network and relationships in Africa.
Experience in securing funding, managing investor relations, and navigating fundraising processes.
What we have done so far:
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This job is not in any teams
Delta40 Venture Studio
Our mission at Delta40 is to increase incomes and tackle climate change in Africa by building and investing in inclusive climate innovations. At Delta40, we invest in Africa because 40% of the world will live on this continent by 2100. We invest in energy, agriculture and mobility innovations because they are essential to sustainable growth. We invest in climate innovation because we only have 10 years to act to prevent irreparable damage to Planet Earth. We invest in diverse Founders because they are close to the customer and bring critical ideas, experiences and skills to solving the biggest problems on this important continent. Beyond capital, our venture studio team provides hands on support, shared services and partnerships to our ventures and Founders to increase speed, returns and impact. Together, we aim to deliver life-changing innovations to the last mile across Africa and to build a community of Founders go from idea to scale to exit.