Nairobi Business Angel Network

NaiBAN does not operate a centralized investment committee. Individual angels make their own capital commitments after the network screens and presents deals. Nick Vilelle founded the group, Abigail Komu manages network operations, and founding members such as Martin Maina are active angels. Day-to-day deal flow is governed by the collective, but each member decides independently which startups to back.

The network sources deals through its 100-plus angel members, many of whom are former founders with deep ties to Nairobi's technology and startup communities. It also accepts applications directly from founders via its website. Membership in the African Angel Academy and the African Business Angel Network provides additional cross-border referral channels.

Neither. NaiBAN is an angel network — a collective of individual investors who pool deal flow, diligence and mentoring resources but invest their own capital separately. It does not raise or manage a pooled fund, which distinguishes it from both multi-family offices and institutional venture capital firms.

Based on its disclosed portfolio and operating model, NaiBAN concentrates exclusively on direct angel investments into pre-seed and seed-stage companies. There is no public record of the network making fund commitments or operating a fund-of-funds allocation.

NaiBAN explicitly targets pre-seed and seed rounds. Its portfolio supports startups that have early traction and require initial outside capital alongside operational guidance, rather than later-stage growth equity.

NaiBAN was formed in 2021 by alumni of the African Angel Academy, a program that trains and connects angel investors across the continent. The network maintains a professional relationship with AAA and is also a member of the African Business Angel Network, the umbrella body for angel groups in Africa.

There is no publicly disclosed philanthropic foundation or separate impact-investing vehicle tied to NaiBAN. The network's model focuses entirely on for-profit angel investments, though some portfolio companies operate in sectors with social outcomes, such as emergency healthcare and education technology.