Kua Ventures

Olerai Schools, a group of schools in Ongata Rongai and Kiserian in Kajiado County, has officially joined the Kua Ventures portfolio! With the financing from Kua Ventures, Olerai Schools is set to expand and strengthen its mission of excellence in education, becoming the 25th business in Kua Ventures' portfolio. ➡️Learn More: https://lnkd.in/dPDCWGZ7

In today's edition of the Business Daily, a Kenyan business newspaper, our Executive Director Peter Fry discusses the untapped potential of non-tech sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and retail. These sectors create #jobs, sustain communities, and drive sustainable growth, all while innovating in ways that meet real, local needs.

As part of our continued efforts to create #jobs through strategic sectors such as the #manufacturing industry, we are pleased to announce our follow-on investment in Pelacca Brands, a candy manufacturer known for its lollipops. The additional investment will support Pelacca’s growth plans as it continues to make inroads into the Kenyan candy and confectionery market. Co-founded in 2018 by Irene Ndinda, a passionate entrepreneur with a deep love for lollipops, Pelacca Brands joined our portfolio in 2023 with an initial investment of Ksh. 12 million for the expansion of its production capacity. Over time, the enterprise has continued to grow its operations and provide more employment opportunities to members of the community. With the additional investment, we look forward to Pelacca’s continued partnership and advancement of our shared mission of creating more jobs. ➡️Learn more and apply for our funding opportunities: https://lnkd.in/dzsx4PWv Peter Fry Purity Kimani (Msc, CAIA)

Last week, we attended this year's edition of the Big Baraza, an annual conference for #SMEs organized by our partner SNDBX | The Village Experts. Now in its fourth year, the Big Baraza borrows from the concept of community barazas (village gatherings), bringing stakeholders together to discuss challenges facing Kenya’s SME sector and identify opportunities for growth and collaboration. In addressing the financial hurdles most SMEs encounter, our Executive Director, Peter Fry, spoke on the investment opportunities provided by Kua Ventures, as well as #financing options to tackle cash flow and growth challenges. It was an incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with founders of small businesses and other key players in the SME and entrepreneur support ecosystem.

For Cherie Kihato, the path to success was neither straight nor easy. As the founder of Savannah Space a thriving business that manufactures and curates locally-made furniture and home décor in Kenya, Cherie’s story is one of faith, resilience, and vision. In an interview with Kua Ventures, Cherie openly shares that her venture was God-ordained, a vision she attributes to her faith ➡️Read more: https://lnkd.in/deyfaRhM

Earlier this week, we met our friends and partners from Sinapis to discuss our ongoing partnership and the shared goal of supporting faith-driven enterprises in Kenya. Sinapis trains and coaches faith-driven entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills they need to run businesses that create impact. On the other hand, Kua Ventures provides #capital to faith-driven entrepreneurs to help grow their small businesses and create employment opportunities for the community. Sinapis has been one of our long-standing partners in Kenya, having invested in several businesses that have gone through their trainings and investor-readiness programs. We are excited to continue this partnership and look forward to having a greater impact on faith-driven entrepreneurship in Kenya and the East African region. Toby Kilgore Ray Barreth Martin Kibisu Purity Wainaina, CPA Favour Ruhiu Joseph Wekesa Micere Miano Lilian Katunyu Bernice Maina Henry Nerious Dieto

We had a memorable week together, Sheeba Philip! It was great having you in Nairobi and spending time with our portfolio businesses. We look forward to hosting you again.

In our latest episode of the #FoundersSeries, Cherie Kihato, the Founder of Savannah Space, shares her inspiring story of building her furniture and decor business, working with local carpenters, and her experience with Kua Ventures. Cherie, through her business Savannah Space, is among entrepreneurs who Kua Ventures continues to support through Capital, Coaching and Community. https://lnkd.in/drqyndCh

Covid showed us all that small businesses are the backbone of society not large corporations. So how can we practically drive economic prosperity?

In the Business Daily Africa, a Kenyan daily business newspaper, our Executive Director Peter Fry discusses the funding options for small businesses. Peter contends that the everyday small business in manufacturing, service sector or agribusiness often doesn't need venture capital, as it usually imposes high growth expectations and pressure. Instead, they require flexible financing models like revenue-based financing, which offer more flexibility than traditional term loans. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d_xaBHsR