About Us

Helping Entrepreneurial Startups Since 2018

WHO WE ARE

WE ARE

SIMBA Global Startups is an angel investing firm developing partnerships with exceptional indigenous entrepreneurs who are creating society‑impactful solutions to problems across all of sub‑Saharan Africa. Our ideal founding partners develop post COVID‑19 disruptive and innovative solutions in transformative, technology‑driven, and high‑growth sectors such as education, healthcare, renewable resources (e.g., energy, water, and foodstuffs), agribusiness, and information and communication technologies (ICT).

We carefully select our investment portfolio companies with the belief that Africa is poised for the economic revolution of the 21st century in these sectors. Through our in‑house expertise, proprietary resources, and international business partnerships, we seek to empower promising indigenous entrepreneurs while providing attractive investment opportunities for our angel investors. Our investment thesis is built on three distinctive core values: integrity, credibility, and transparency.

Our Organization

Our Mission

Our mission at SIMBA Global Startups is to build and grow a robust pan‑African Angel Investing and Mentorship firm that invests in and mentors bankable small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) founded by indigenous entrepreneurs in sub‑Saharan Africa. SIMBA Global Startups' mission is to transform and empower human lives through the creation of scalable, sustainable, and inclusive employment opportunities in the sub‑Saharan Africa SME ecosystems.

Our Vision

To develop the indigenous entrepreneurial engine which will create a robust, economically sustainable, and prosperous sub‑Saharan Africa and affirm hope for the people who were hopeless.

Our Core Values

Integrity

We are committed to fair and honest interactions and engagement between investors, entrepreneurs, and SIMBA leadership.

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Credibility

We build from a place of trended expertise and commit to nurturing strong foundations across all investment sectors.

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Transparency

We recognize that leadership and growth require open, truthful, and timely communication between all involved parties.

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Target Markets

OUR TARGET MARKET
Few venture capital (VC) firms invest in sub Saharan Africa’s indigenous entrepreneurial SMEs. Yes, those forgotten visionary young men and women who are passionately building sub Saharan Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystems from the ground up. Furthermore, few of these VC firms specialize in our carefully selected technology driven high growth sectors such as education, healthcare, renewable resources (e.g., energy, water, and foodstuffs), agribusiness, and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies, all of which today are integral parts of the transformative engine of the 21st century’s vibrant emerging markets. The SIMBA Capital Fund is therefore focused exclusively on sub Saharan Africa and the historic opportunity to be a part of building a post COVID 19 vibrant indigenous entrepreneurial ecosystem.
When angel investors and entrepreneurs’ partner with us, they are joining a network of business experts and organizations committed to the region’s development. Some of the organizations we support include the African Union, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and local data mining and research centers. Our insights into the region include the key economic indicators, technological trends, and unique context of sub Saharan Africa. We translate this expertise into investment guidance. Through our angel investors, we invest in bankable indigenous entrepreneurs not only financially but through mentorship and networking as well.

Meet the Team

Management Team

Dr. Philippe Kisunzu. Philippe is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Managing Partner & Founder of SIMBA Capital Fund LP and its parent’s company SIMBA Global Startups, LLC (GP) since 2018. From August 2009 to July 2013, Dr. Kisunzu was an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he taught and conducted research in the areas of mathematics, mathematics education, and educational statistics.

Philippe has 20 years of industry expertise across several sectors including financial services, management consulting, and energy. His innovative contributions in these sectors include senior positions in the financial services as Senior Research/MIS Manager – advising and collaborating with Risk Managers in the management of credit risk in consumer lending, banking, and finance; as Senior Business Analyst – advising and collaborating with Risk Managers in property & casualty insurance risk management; as Senior Financial Analyst – advising and collaborating with CFO & Senior VP-Accounting in strategic management of financial planning and forecasting in the energy sector, and as Senior Actuarial Analyst – advising and collaborating with Actuaries & Senior Consultants in the risk management of corporate ERISA retirement and health plans. As an independent management consultant with Smith Hanley Associates, Philippe made innovative contributions in Data Science and Modeling Analytics for consumer banking and finance.

In addition to his 20 years of experience in the private industry, Philippe has more than 15 years of teaching and research experience in higher education. He is highly skilled in educational research in psychometrics, educational assessment & evaluation measurements, quantitative and data mining methodologies, mathematics & STEM Education for secondary school, and professional development of secondary school teachers of mathematics. Philippe has had the privilege of teaching mathematics and physics to students from different cultures and mindsets at universities and colleges in three continental regions – Africa, North America, and the Caribbean Islands. While at Northern Illinois University, Philippe developed and implemented a psychometric instrument for the assessment of secondary school students’ mathematical dispositions and mathematics achievement.

Philippe is actively the Managing Partner and Founder of SIMBA Capital Fund LP, a private equity fund under the General Partnership of its parent's company SIMBA Global Startups, LLC. He manages the strategic trajectory of the Fund and the mentorship of portfolio companies in five distinct technology-driven sectors including Education, Healthcare, Renewable Resources (e.g., energy, water, & foodstuffs), Agribusiness, and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT). His objective in the management of the fund is to invest in indigenous portfolio companies in the sub-Saharan Africa region, whose founders share his vision and commitment to launching and nurturing domestic entrepreneurial ecosystems. Philippe’s ultimate dream is to help transform and empower human lives through the creation of scalable, sustainable, and inclusive employment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. Philippe is an active investor in equity markets, a lifetime member of the American Association of Individual Investors, and a member of accredited angel investor of the Angel Capital Association.

Philippe holds a Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences and Mathematics Education from Northern Illinois University; an MS in Mathematics & Operations Research from California Polytechnic State University; a MA in Economics & Econometrics from Washington University, in St. Louis; and a BA in Mathematics & Business Administration from Andrews University. As a native to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Philippe is fluent in French and Swahili.

Philippe Kisunzu
Managing Partner and CEO

"I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and have a deep passion for the sub-Saharan Africa region and the potential of its citizens. I am thrilled to support these indigenous entrepreneurs as they pursue their dreams. The creation of their unique businesses will bring much-needed jobs, strengthen local economies, and affirm dignity and hope for those who were hopeless. Our ultimate aim together is to transform the entrepreneurial startup ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa from what they are today into what they could become tomorrow: Sustainable and Prosperous through Imagination and Innovation. I look forward to what we can do together. Get in touch and let’s get started!"

A note from SIMBA’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Philippe Kisunzu

Cheryl Kisunzu, co‑founder of SIMBA Global Startups, LLC, is an established and trusted leader in the healthcare delivery systems and institutions of higher education. She oversees our company’s development of healthcare and education partnership initiatives for the sub‑Saharan Africa region.

Over a period spanning 42 years of teaching and administrative leadership, Cheryl successively served as University Dean of Health and Wellness Programs; Vice President of Human Resources, Diversity and Organizational Development; Grant Administrator of a $1.5 million for Texas Workforce Development; and Director of Nursing and Allied Health Programs. Anchored in her 39 years of progressive teaching at various institutions of higher education including Vanderbilt University, Loma Linda University, St. Louis Community College, Harper College, and Mountain View College, is her current position as Provost and Full Professor at Washington Adventist University, Takoma Park, Maryland.

As Provost at Washington Adventist University, Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu is responsible for all academic and institutional operations for the university. She also serves on the Maryland Board of Adventist Healthcare and the Maryland Middle States Substantive Change Committee for academic excellence.

Cheryl Kisunzu earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan; M.S. in Nursing from Rush University, Chicago, IL; and a B.S. in Nursing from Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu is a Registered Nurse and a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Cheryl Kisunzu
Partner and Director of Partnership Initiatives

International Advisory Team

Samuel E. Whitley. Samuel E. Whitley is a corporate finance and securities lawyer with Whitley LLP Attorneys at Law in Houston, Texas. Mr. Whitley represents growing companies in securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and SEC reporting and compliance.

Mr. Whitley also works with sponsors of private investment funds in fund formation and structuring investments in portfolio companies. Mr. Whitley has served as outsourced general counsel to public and private companies in the energy, real estate, technology, and private equity industries. Mr. Whitley has ample international experience, having represented companies located in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Whitley LLP Attorneys at Law serves as counsel to the General Partner. See “Legal Counsel”.

The Fund believes that Mr. Whitley’s expertise in corporate and securities law matters will be of assistance in evaluating potential portfolio company investments, monitoring investments, and providing legal expertise for portfolio companies when needed.

SAMUEL WHITLEY

Randall Newton is a Certified Public Accountant with a background in corporate finance, SEC filings, strategic planning, mergers and acquisition modeling and analysis, corporate governance, and compliance.

Randall brings with him a broad range of international and domestic experience. He spent five years in the former Soviet Union as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller on three separate Joint Ventures. Randall has been the principal of Newton Collaboration, LLC, a Houston Texas‑based firm that provides accounting, governance, and information systems consulting services to private and public companies and provided such services to many publicly‑held and private businesses. Prior to this, Randall served as corporate controller of Peak USA Energy Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Nabors Drilling.

Randall received a BBA degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Texas and is fluent in Russian, Spanish, and French.

Randall Newton