Sewu-Steve Tawia is a finance thought leader with over 25 years of experience in angel investing and venture capital/private equity funds and fund of funds, impact investing, development & blended finance and strategy consulting in Europe, UK, Africa and more and more in the Middle East. He is a fervent advocate of the Africa Opportunity.

A strategic advisor to fund of funds and fund managers, he is the Founder & Managing Partner of Jaza Rift Ventures, a target $50m venture fund backing innovative and resilient digital health, medtech, biotech and assistive technology startups founders across Africa and Middle East. He’s also an angel investor at Asime Ventures, advises various organisations and firms as investment committee member or NED on alternative investments, asset allocation and impact investing (Asime Partners).

Sewu-Steve is an alumnus of London Business School (UK), Audencia Business School (France), and has an executive leadership certificate in social entrepreneurship (EPSE) from Stanford GSB (USA). He holds a number of professional charters: including CDFP (Digital Finance), CAIA (Alternative Investments), CIFE (Islamic Finance), Prince 2 (Project Management), ANDE Investment Management Trainer and Toastmasters (public speaking). He’s a speaker/MC, coach and mentor to various local and international organisations and startups. He’s also one of the judges at the UK Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize. He is also a JKA Karate Shotokan (4th Dan) and Kizomba instructor.