The Team

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.

Venture Team

  • Abu Cassim

    Abu Cassim's [Linkedin]: General Partner

    Abu oversees the performance and expansion of the fund's investment portfolio. His role is pivotal in driving the fund's mission of investing in impact-driven ventures that deliver strong financial returns and substantial positive social or environmental impact. Understanding the unique dynamics of emerging markets, Abu's expertise lies in identifying ventures with scalable business models that tackle critical challenges in sectors such as education, healthcare, and clean energy. Abu is the founder of Jozi Angels, one of the pre-eminent Angel investing networks on the continent, collectively making 53 investments. He is also a Board Member of the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and previously managed the Alpha Code Seed Fund, the Rand Merchant Investment Holding (RMI) incubation, acceleration and investment vehicle that identifies, partners and grows early-stage financial service ventures and investing R33,5 million in funding to 41 black-owned financial services businesses over a six year period. Abu currently manages VC4A's entrepreneur support programs which are a source of deal flow for the fund.Abu currently manages VC4A's investment readiness programs.

  • Ben White

    Ben White's [Linkedin]: Managing Partner

    Ben is a 20-year veteran in emerging markets VC and oversees the mandate and strategic alignment of Sanaga Ventures. Ben has been instrumental in setting up organizations like AfriLabs, ABAN and VC4A. Ben is also an initiator of the Africa Early-Stage Investor Summit (AESIS), now in its eleventh year, and works closely with +1400 VC investors across emerging markets. Ben brings a wealth of experience and industry connections to Sanaga's portfolio companies. His expertise and network have helped 115 companies raise over $850 million in VC funding in Africa and Latin America. Ben is part of the permanent management team for Investing in Young African Businesses (IYBA), the EU's €4.6 billion African startup investment mandate. As the co-founder of AfriLabs, a pan-African network of 450 innovation hubs, Ben works directly with industry leaders across 52 African countries. Ben is also a co-founder and vice president at the African Business Angels Network (ABAN) and collaborates with more than 68 active Angel networks, investing as a partner at Sanaga Ventures, and has syndicated deals with members of the Alex Angels, Lagos Angels Network (LAN), TechnoVision and the Cameroon Angels Network.