Who We Are

We each have 20 years of experience working in emerging markets and venture capital. As the founders and operators of renowned initiatives, we strive to develop the key startup ecosystems we care about.

Over the years, we have diligently curated a team of experts and professionals. Through partnership and collaboration, we drive impactful change across the world’s most dynamic markets. Together we have been able to direct more than $1B into early stage ventures and our work has earned prestigious support from renowned organizations and  garnered multiple industry awards.

The Leadership Team

  • Abu Cassim

    Abu Cassim's [Linkedin]: General Partner

    Abu is an investor, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder focused on strengthening early-stage investment and accelerating venture growth across Africa and beyond. At Sanaga Ventures, he leads efforts that align capital with innovation, designing programs and partnerships that equip founders and investors to achieve sustainable impact.

    He is the founder of Jozi Angels, one of the continent’s most active angel networks, which has made more than 50 investments in high-potential startups. As a Board Member of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN), Abu contributes to shaping policy, building investor capacity, and expanding angel activity across emerging ecosystems.

    Previously, Abu managed the Alpha Code Seed Fund at Rand Merchant Investment Holding (RMI), leading its incubation and investment efforts for early-stage financial service ventures. Under his leadership, the fund deployed R33.5 million to support 41 Black-owned financial services businesses, building new pathways for inclusive economic growth.

    At VC4A, Abu leads the organization’s investment readiness and entrepreneur support programs, which have become a trusted source of deal flow for investors across the continent. He works at the intersection of ecosystems and capital markets, helping founders in sectors such as education, healthcare, and clean energy prepare to attract and manage investment effectively.

    Abu’s expertise spans Ecosystem & Program Design, Capital & Investment Advisory, and Governance & Strategic Advisory. His approach combines investor insight, program design, and network building — fostering collaboration, aligning incentives, and helping ventures scale with purpose and discipline.

  • Ben White

    Ben White's [Linkedin]: Managing Partner

    Ben is a venture strategist and ecosystem architect with over two decades of experience building platforms and partnerships that accelerate entrepreneurship globally. At Sanaga Ventures, he leads the firm’s strategy and partnerships, focusing on initiatives that connect talent, capital, and ecosystems to unlock opportunity and realize change.

    He has been instrumental in establishing several cornerstone institutions in Africa’s innovation landscape, including VC4A, AfriLabs, and the African Business Angel Network (ABAN). He also co-founded the Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit (AESIS), now in its eleventh year as a leading global convening for investors and ecosystem leaders.

    Ben’s network spans more than 1,400 venture investors worldwide, and his work has helped over 115 companies raise $850 million+ in funding across Africa and Latin America. As part of the management team for the EU’s €4.6 billion Investing in Young African Businesses (IYBA) initiative, he supports the design of mechanisms that expand access to capital and strengthen early-stage markets.

    Through AfriLabs, Ben has worked with leaders across 52 countries, connecting more than 500 innovation hubs into a shared infrastructure for collaboration. With ABAN, he has united over 70 angel groups, building capacity for local capital formation and syndication. As an active investor and partner at Sanaga Ventures, he continues to co-invest with angel networks including Alex Angels, Lagos Angel Network, TechnoVision, and the Cameroon Angels Network.

    Ben’s expertise spans Ecosystem & Program Design, Capital & Investment Advisory, and Governance & Strategic Advisory, combining strategic vision with hands-on experience to help shape the systems that make entrepreneurship thrive.

What entrepreneurs are saying

  • It has been a great experience, being connected with other start-ups all over Africa and accessing a network of investors and advisors while being supported and mentored by the team every step of the way.

    Salma AlBarkouky, Chief Business Officer- Fatura

  • Our mentor was instrumental in focusing our pitch. We also got some great leads for investors we had never heard about.

    Luis Rodrigues, Founder QuickCheck

  • It was a great experience to participate in this year's Venture Showcase. Not only do you get to meet with great founders, you end up being coached by great advisors and approached by serious VCs.

    Ismael Belkhayat, CEO Chari.co

  • Before the Ventures Showcase, I had never participated in a program where the organizers were so dedicated and responsive to the participants. I am very grateful for the work and efforts put into this by the team and to make sure we were getting the maximum value, from knowledge to network! Not to mention the strong ties created with the other members of the cohort.

    Aude Juglard, CFO and Co-Founder CinetPay

  • If you are looking to raise funds and seeking to access a vast investor network, this is the place to fast-track your business. Get invaluable deep-dive sessions. The energy and culture are on another level!

    Richard Machomba, Founder Flexpay Technologies

  • The team provides perhaps one of the best holistic approaches to the world of fundraising, investor relations, business growth and access to special knowledge domains that are so beneficial for a company in the process of early stage fundraising.

    Kofi Wood, Founder Waya Limited

  • I had the privilege of being part of the program, led by Ben White, and I must say it was a truly transformative experience. The program provides an exceptional platform for entrepreneurs looking to develop their skills, connect with other professionals, and access valuable resources to grow their businesses. Under Ben's leadership, the program stood out for its focus on sustainable business development, building strong networks, and providing ongoing support to participants. I highly recommend the program to any entrepreneur looking for a significant boost on their path to business success.

    Mili Romano, Co-founder & CEO at Vexxel

  • Timely, thorough and insightful from the start. The guidance on our narrative demonstrated experience having reviewed thousands of pitches, invested, and raised successfully. The counsel was efficient, focusing on the areas of greatest opportunity. Similarly, appreciation of narrative and investor attention were above and beyond what we've received previously.

    Michael Kuntz, co-CEO at Simusolar

  • An incredible journey refining our fundraising campaign and pitch deck. When we began, our pitch scored 40%, but with expert guidance, we achieved an 80% score by the 5th session and crafted a deck we are truly proud of.

    Ben brought a laser focus to refining our storytelling, helping us condense our message into just 10 powerful slides that highlighted only the most critical aspects of our business. He guided us in articulating our business model, performing a thorough market analysis, and clearly defining our competitive advantage. Perhaps most importantly, he helped us craft a compelling call to action that ties everything together.

    His ability to distill complex ideas into concise, impactful messaging while ensuring alignment with investor expectations has been invaluable. Ben didn’t just improve our deck - he enhanced our understanding of how to communicate our vision effectively.

    Dickson Ayuka, Founder UJUZIKILIMO