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'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.