On Funding African Female Entrepreneurs and Innovators - A NEW Conversation with Pauline Koelbl
Today I am welcoming back my very first guest of Narratives of Purpose - Pauline Koelbl, founder of ShEquity. ShEquity is a Catalyst Fund that provides smart investments for innovative and impactful African female entrepreneurs.
Join me in this conversation where Pauline talks about the growth and impact of ShEquity since we first spoke in 2020.
Listen to today's episode to hear how the journey of ShEquity has evolved since our last conversation.
Show notes:
I recommend that you tune into my previous conversation with Pauline in our first ever episode of Narratives of Purpose so that you can better follow along with the growth story of her company.
To find out more about ShEquity, head over to their website and find out more about SHEBA (the ShEquity Business Accelerator) here. You can also connect with Pauline on LinkedIn.
Be sure to visit our podcast website for the full episode transcript.
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Episode timestamps
00:26 - Episode introduction
01:50 - Highlight of Paulines's first interview on the podcast
05:04 - Gender lens funding and investing in Africa
07:33 - ShEquity's portfolio of companies
13:06 - ShEquity's impact on SDGs and livelihoods across the continent
17:22 - Creating the ShEquity Business Accelerator (SHEBA) and it's impact to date
26:24 - Pauline's learnings from her entrepreneurial journey and her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs
31:12 - Dealing with challenges and doubt as an entrepreneur
35:08 - How to connect with Pauline and learn more about ShEquity
Mentioned in this episode:
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Climate, Gender-lens & Systemic investor accelerating the achievement of SDGs
A double Fulbright (Scholar and Fellow), I am an impact investor dedicated to transforming Africa’s future through a systemic investing approach, focusing on intersection of gender and climate. I invest in innovative and scalable businesses that are not only positioned for strong financial returns but are also catalysts for measurable social and environmental impact.
Through ShEquity, I prioritize tech-enabled, gender-smart businesses that drive Africa’s green economy and accelerate the continent’s journey toward a climate-resilient, gender-inclusive future. I am convinced that investing in gender-smart, climate-focused businesses in Africa is essential to achieving global climate targets, including carbon reduction, net-zero and nature positive goals.
With over 20 years of expertise across international affairs, venture philanthropy, ecosystem building, and gender-lens investing, I am recognized as a leader in fostering innovation and economically empowering women entrepreneurs across Africa. My commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development lies at the heart of my work.
I am passionate about driving systemic investing that benefits people, the planet, and society. My mission extends to empowering youth and women and advocating for sustainable, inclusive growth.
In 2022, I was honored as one of the 100 Leaders building ‘Meaningful Business,’ combining profit and purpose to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Having lived, studied, and worked across three continents (Africa, Europe and North America), I…Read More