MANAGING PARTNER
Nijhad is the Managing Partner at Equator and brings over 16 years experience as an investor and entrepreneur, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, as the founder of Moja Capital and in his prior roles at BlackRock and Acumen Fund, he has invested in or operated businesses across the clean energy, agriculture, mobility, fintech, and retail sectors. He began his career at UBS Investment Bank and later left to help launch the boutique M&A advisory and growth equity firm Centerview Partners.
Nijhad holds a BSc. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
PARTNER
Morgan is a Partner at Equator and has a background in technology development and entrepreneurship with over two decades of experience working in emerging markets – predominantly Africa and India. Morgan is also the Founding Partner of Factor[e] Ventures and was a Co-Director of the Energy Institute at Colorado State University, supporting over 200 interdisciplinary faculty, teaching, and leading R&D programs in a wide range of technology areas including engine systems, biofuels, and cookstoves.
Morgan has a PhD. and M.S. from Colorado State University and a BA from Hastings College.
OPERATING PARTNER
Lyndsay is an Operating Partner at Equator and brings over 18 years of leadership and operations experience building social ventures in the energy, agriculture, and fintech sectors in Africa. Lyndsay also runs the Venture Studio at Factor[e] Ventures and previously was the CEO of pan-African solar company Fenix International, where she built a team of over 1,100 employees to deliver clean, affordable power to over 3 million people in Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mozambique before leading Fenix through an exit to ENGIE.
Lyndsay holds a B.A. from Stanford University.
DIRECTOR
Joel is a Director at Equator and has over 17 years of experience in investment and financial management, focusing on innovative business models within agribusiness, mobility, logistics, financial inclusion, and clean energy. Prior to Equator, he was an Associate Partner at Goodwell Investments where he led all investment activities at their East Africa Office and was a member of the Internal Investment Committee where he looked at deals across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Joel has an MSc. in Finance and B. Com. in Accounting from the University of Nairobi.
DIRECTOR
Bankole is a Director at Equator bringing over 13 years of experience delivering strategic leadership across multiple growth stage organizations in Africa including The Jumia Group, and as the pioneer Managing Director of ENGIE Energy Access Nigeria where he led a team of over 200 employees across the mini grid and solar home system operations. He has financial inclusion and impact investment experience with Quona Capital and started his career at PWC and The Carlyle Group.
Bankole has a BSc from Boston College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
David is a Senior Associate at Equator with over a decade of experience in finance and has held various roles at Barclays, including Vice President within Capital Markets. He sits on the Board of Trustees for a U.S. liberal arts college, and in this role, serves on their Investment Committee with a $450m+ endowment invested across multiple asset classes, including public and private equities. He is an angel investor and advisor to several African startups and recently served as an interim growth manager with a Nairobi-based seed-stage startup.
David holds a B.A. in Economics and French from Bates College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
ASSOCIATE
Ginika is an Associate at Equator and brings over 7 years of experience in investments and operations across renewable energy, agriculture, and healthcare sectors. Prior to joining Equator, Ginika worked at Daystar Power Group, a leading renewable energy company in Nigeria, and co-led the development and implementation of Project-She, the first female-only solar engineering training program in Nigeria. She subsequently joined Aruwa Capital Management, a gender lensed growth equity fund based in Lagos as an investment professional and portfolio manager. She also worked at FBN Quest capital with a focus on financial analysis and portfolio management.
Ginika holds a BSc in Economics and Management from Aston University, UK, and is currently a CFA level III candidate.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Jamie is the CFO at both Equator and Factor[e] Ventures and oversees fund operations and administration, financial management and reporting, and serves as the ESG and BI Officer. She has been working in finance for over a decade. Previously, Jamie was the Director of Finance for a technology startup, was the Associate Director of Finance for a communications conglomerate, and an Audit Associate at Deloitte & Touche.
Jamie holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California as well as an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in California.
PORTFOLIO SERVICES LEAD
Shiro is a Portfolio Services Lead at Equator and brings 8+ years of experience as an operator in social impact businesses primarily across sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining the team at Equator, Shiro was an early-stage founder and operations consultant in the agri-food sector. Before exploring entrepreneurship, she supported strategic operations and C-level priorities with sector-leading impact organizations, GiveDirectly and One Acre Fund. Shiro also serves as the Portfolio Services Lead for Factor[e] Ventures.
Shiro holds an MA in Environmental Policy from Stanford University, and a BA with Phi Beta Kappa honors from the University of Chicago.
