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SEAF KASI Agriventures

Founded in 2015, KASI Agriventures is an investment program funded by the US Department of Agriculture and implemented by SEAF to provide debt and equity to growing businesses and producers in the agricultural sector of Tanzania

 

 

KASI also supports portfolio companies and other emerging business leaders through SEAF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), which has been established in Tanzania.

Investment Strategy

  • KASI targets SMEs in the country’s agriculture sector, specifically agribusinesses involved in animal feed production and fruit, vegetable, and/or spice processing. KASI also invests in working capital and equipment leasing providers as well as non-bank financial institutions serving small, growing agribusinesses.
  • KASI invests debt and equity between US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,000,000 in growth-stage firms operating in Tanzania. The program also adds value to agribusiness investees and their supply chain of smallholder farmers in order to increase agricultural productivity and expand the trade of agricultural products.
  • SEAF further provides strategic and operational support to KASI portfolio companies as well as other SMEs and emerging leaders through the Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), which was established in Tanzania in 2016.
  • Moreover, through SEAF’s post-investment value creation activities, the team has supported portfolio companies in expanding, and further formalizing their contractual relationships with smallholder farmers as well as training on agriculture best practices and business management.

Investment Thesis

  • With a rapidly growing population of more than 50 million people and real GDP growth rate of 7% in 2018, Tanzania is one of the fastest-growing countries in East Africa. The agriculture sector, in particular, is an important driver of economic growth, as the sector provides two-thirds of all employment. Agricultural productivity in the country, however, remains low and requires increased mechanization and more efficient post-harvest management practices. Additionally, the sector is driven by smallholder farmers who have limited access to irrigation, improved seeds, fertilizers, and input financing.
  • SEAF believes that increased private sector investment in the sector can support the crucial investments already being made by the public sector in infrastructure to build an enabling environment for agricultural value chains.
  • KASI has been a catalyst allowing SEAF to develop a pipeline and presence in East Africa, achieving development impact in the sector, and building the institutional knowledge and network necessary to operate in the region.
  • KASI addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production.
SEAF KASI Agriventures Placeholder
SEAF KASI Agriventures

Region: Africa

Location(s): Tanzania

Start Date: 2015

Status: Active

Managing Director: Ezra Musoke

Investment Focus: Agribusiness SMEs

Local Team

Ezra Musoke - Managing Director - Dar es Salaam

Ezra Musoke
Fund Managing Director

Mr. Ezra Musoke, Managing Director for SEAF KASI Agriventures in Tanzania, is a Ugandan national with an outstanding track record of investing in SMEs in East Africa. Prior to joining SEAF, Ezra invested in SMEs in East Africa for GroFin, InReturn Capital and Grassroots Business Fund. In Uganda, he was involved in the GroFin operations from its early start and was selected to lead the launch of the Tanzania office before later moving on to serve as a managing partner with InReturn Capital. Ezra has closed 25 deals in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania and has exited deals successfully over course of the past 5 years. Further, as a member of the GroFin and InReturn Capital finance committees he was involved in 13 deals in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. Ezra holds a BA from Makerere University, two post-graduate diplomas in Financial Management and Banking and Masters in Management Studies from the Uganda Management Institute.

Helina Teklehaimanot - Vice President - Dar es Salaam

Helina Teklehaimanot
Vice President

Helina Teklehaimanot is an investment officer for KASI Agriventures at the Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF). Helina is responsible for sourcing, screening and executing new agribusiness investment opportunities in Tanzania. Helina also works with the global director for SEAF’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) to manage the technical assistance facility for SEAF’s investments in Tanzania. Prior to joining the Tanzania team, Helina was a project lead in SEAF’s Washington DC office where she managed SME entrepreneurship support programs in Africa. Helina has prior professional experience in Lagos, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ms. Teklehaimanot has a B.A. in political science from Boston College and an MBA from the George Washington University School of Business.

ibrahim

Ibrahim Kikoko
Office Manager

matata

Matata Tungaraza
Accountant

renalda

Renalda Augustine
Local M&E Specialist

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