- February 7, 2025
- Posted by: Kusumi
- Category: Articles
Aruwa Capital Digest
A summary of the latest news across our ecosystem
Welcome to the seventh edition of the Aruwa Capital Digest! We’re excited to share the latest developments, highlights, and insights from Aruwa Capital in our first newsletter of 2025.
1. Aruwa Insider
Aruwa capital Year in Review Report for 2024
Reflecting on a Year of Impact and Growth
As we closed out another remarkable year at Aruwa Capital, we celebrated the strides we’ve made in advancing gender-lens investing and supporting high-growth businesses across Africa in our 2024 Year in Review report. From the progress towards the first close of Fund II to scaling our portfolio companies and deepening strategic partnerships, 2024 has been a testament to resilience, innovation, and meaningful impact growth.
Read more in our newsletter here- https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?u=74babea9f0ace337a4fdbd832&id=a701b96116
2. Community Building (Partners for Impact)
Aruwa Capital featured in the PEVCA Nigeria Report for 2024
Aruwa Capital was featured in the PEVCA Nigeria 2024 Year-End Report, represented by our Founder, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, who shared insights on gender-lens investing and sectoral opportunities. As a PEVCA board member, Adesuwa continues to contribute to industry growth, while Aruwa Capital remains committed to driving impact and shaping the private equity landscape.
Read more in our newsletter here- https://pevcang.org/pevca-2024-year-end-review-and-strategic-outlook/
3. Voices of Influence (Speaking Engagements)
Aruwa Capital at the Transitioning to Tech Demo Day Event
Aruwa Capital sponsored and participated in the Demo Day of the Transitioning to Tech for Women Programme, hosted by Africa Startup Factory, which has trained over 4,000 women in tech skills. Our Founder, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, joined a panel alongside industry leaders from the United Nations, The World Bank, and Jobberman Nigeria to share valuable insights with these trailblazing women. She was also recognised as a winner of the Outstanding Women in Tech Awards (OWITA) for her leadership in driving gender inclusion in tech, further reinforcing Aruwa Capital’s commitment to fostering opportunities for women in high-growth industries.
BII & FSD Africa Gender Bonds Toolkit Dissemination Event, Lagos
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes joined a fireside chat at the Gender Bonds Toolkit Dissemination event in Lagos, hosted by FSD Africa in collaboration with partners like UN Women and British International Investment (BII). The event highlighted how gender bonds are pivotal in unlocking capital for women-focused investments across Africa. Adesuwa participated on a panel moderated by Kate Perkins, the Head of Gender at BII and a representative from Infracredit, highlighting the role Aruwa Capital is playing in unlocking new capital flows and underscored the business case of gender-lens investing, citing Aruwa Capital Fund I fund performance surpassing global benchmarks as an example of this business case.
4. Beyond Our Walls (External Events)
Aruwa Capital visits All-on
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes recently visited Caroline Eboumbou, the CEO of All-On which is the corporate venture capital for Shell in Nigeria, to explore synergies and discuss the transformative potential of investments in energy access for underserved communities. As co-investors in Koolboks, the aim of the visit was to highlight the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change in Africa’s off-grid energy markets.
5. Portfolio News
Strategy Sessions to Kick Off Year 2025
At the start of 2025, Aruwa Capital kicked off the year with a series of strategy sessions with our new and existing portfolio companies. These sessions were crucial in aligning our vision with the growth trajectories of each business, refining our approach, and setting the stage for a year of continued impact. It was an opportunity to recalibrate, identify new opportunities, and strengthen partnerships that will drive sustainable growth. We are excited to build on these discussions as we continue shaping a future where innovation, gender-lens investing, and job creation remain at the core of Africa’s development.
Aruwa Capital x Mdaas (Aruwa Lagos Office)
Aruwa Capital x Mdaas (Aruwa Lagos Office)
Aruwa x Koolboks (Aruwa Lagos Office)
Aruwa Capital x Yikodeen (Yikodeen Factory)
Aruwa Capital x Revna Biosciences (Revna Office in Ghana)
As part of our strategy sessions, the team also visited Ghana, where we engaged with our first Ghanaian portfolio company, Revna Biosciences, to align on the growth plans for the year and areas of our post investment support. It was an exciting opportunity to drive impactful conversations and foster collaboration.
6. Birthday Cheers
Happy Birthday Kusumi!
We are thrilled to celebrate one special birthday at Aruwa Capital.
Kusumi Said, Executive Assistant to the CEO at Aruwa Capital, celebrated her birthday in January. We wish Kusumi an incredible year ahead, filled with success, growth, and happiness. Her unwavering commitment and hard work continue to inspire the team. Happy Birthday, Kusumi!
7. On the Horizon
Aruwa Capital will be attending the Omniverse Summit 2025, taking place from February 25th to 28th at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. Our founder, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, will be speaking on advancing gender equity and fostering sustainable growth in Africa. This year’s theme, “Unified by Vision, Empowered by Collaboration,” highlights the power of cross-sector partnerships to drive transformative change.
2025: A year of Doubling Down and Solidifying Impact
As we embrace 2025, we are filled with excitement and optimism for the opportunities ahead. This year marks a fresh chapter for Aruwa Capital, and we are ready to amplify our impact across Africa. With a strong foundation built on gender equity and sustainable development, we are more determined than ever to create lasting value in the businesses and communities we invest in. 2025 is a year to shape new partnerships, scale innovative solutions, and continue our commitment to driving change that matters. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and transformative impact!
Thank You for Joining Us!
We appreciate your support and engagement, stay tuned for more exciting developments as we continue to drive positive change and foster sustainable growth. We look forward to sharing our journey with you and thank you for being a part of it.
Warm regards,
The Aruwa Capital Team