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Harambeans
Harambeans are African innovators in an alliance of entrepreneurs building Africa’s future. The Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance is a 501(c)(3) that identifies...
Harambeans
Harambeans are African innovators in an alliance of entrepreneurs building Africa’s future. The Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance is a 501(c)(3) that identifies promising young African leaders and provides access to training, markets, capital and support networks. Over the last decade it has spawned tech-enabled ventures such as Andela, Flutterwave, and Yoco, which have collectively generated over 3000 jobs and raised over $1bn.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2008
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Concord
Corporate office
Concord, MA, United States
Principals
Okendo Lewis-Gayle
Founder & Chairman
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Harambeans?
Founder and Chairman Okendo Lewis-Gayle leads the investment strategy. He shaped the firm's dual structure as both a selective entrepreneurial fellowship and a venture fund backing early-stage African startups. Day-to-day sourcing and portfolio support are executed through the Harambeans Alliance network.
How does Harambeans source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources primarily through its Harambeans Fellowship, which identifies promising African entrepreneurs studying at top global universities. This talent-first pipeline gives Harambeans early visibility into founding teams before they formally fundraise, creating a proprietary advantage distinct from traditional VC scouting.
Is Harambeans structured as a venture capital firm or a fellowship program?
It operates as both. The Harambeans Fellowship selects and cultivates founders, while the Harambean Prosperity Fund makes direct equity investments into those ventures. This hybrid model blends talent development with institutional capital deployment, allowing the firm to anchor rounds at formation while the fellowship network supports later-stage growth.
Which companies has Harambeans backed that achieved unicorn status?
Notable portfolio companies include Flutterwave, the Nigerian-founded payments platform; Andela, the global engineering talent network; and Yoco, the South African point-of-sale fintech. Each achieved billion-dollar valuations after Harambeans' early-stage backing.
What geographies does Harambeans target within Africa?
The portfolio spans major startup ecosystems including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana. The firm invests in founders building for pan-African or global markets rather than restricting to a single-country thesis.
Who backs Harambeans as limited partners?
The firm has attracted backing from institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals seeking exposure to African venture. Specific LP names are not publicly disclosed, but the firm's Concord, Massachusetts base reflects a proximity strategy to US-based allocators.
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