VC Associate @ Ring Capital in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Ring Capital is an ecosystem dedicated to investing in impact startups based in Paris and created in 2017 by Nicolas Celier and Geoffroy Bragadir. The Board of Directors of Ring Capital is chaired by Elisabeth Moreno who is also a partner of the Ring Africa fund.

Ring stands out for:

• Expertise in social and environmental impact investing , investing in companies with responsible management practices and aiming for a positive societal impact through its core business
• Experience in tech , the investor team being made up of professionals combining investment, entrepreneurial and operational Tech skills (ex-R&D @Criteo, ex CMO-Fintech, ex-Data @Stuart, );
• Strong operational support , in particular through the team’s operational experience and an extensive network of operating partners and experts.

Ring manages five investment vehicles:

• Ring Altitude:  a Growth Impact fund investing in French scale-ups and supporting them in their scaling, structuring and internationalization. The portfolio of this fund is composed of 17 companies, such as Castalie, Yespark and Livementor.
• Ring Mission:  a VC Impact fund investing in early-stage companies using technology or digital to achieve social and environmental impact with strong growth potential. The fund invests in the EdTech, HR, Healthtech, Food Processing, Smart City, Sustainable Consumer, etc. sectors. Created in early 2021, the fund has invested in 13 companies such as Spring, O’clock and Vestack.
• Ring Generations:  an impact seed fund launched in partnership with EDHEC, which invests in startups that contribute to the creation of a desirable and sustainable future.
• Ring Foundation:  an endowment fund that finances high-impact associations Six associations are part of the Ring Foundation portfolio.
• Ring Africa:  an early stage Impact fund investing in startups with a strong social and/or environmental impact, primarily in French-speaking West Africa. Based in Abidjan and in partnership with Mstudio, the leading local startup studio, the fund aims to support and invest in future impact champions in French-speaking Africa and to build a bridge between African, European and diaspora entrepreneurs to provide solutions to major global challenges.

Responsibilities:

Ring Capital is looking for a Venture Capital Analyst/Associate/Manager based in Abidjan who will be a key member of the Ring Africa strategy investment team. You have the opportunity to join a new investment team to support future impact champions in French-speaking Africa.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Identifying and evaluating investment opportunities.  Using your network and knowledge of the venture capital market in French-speaking Africa, you are responsible for identifying the most promising companies. You conduct in-depth sector research and frequent travel to French-speaking West African countries to prospect and identify the best investment opportunities in line with the fund’s thesis, and meet with stakeholders.
• Investment opportunity analysis and due diligence.  You will conduct due diligence on target companies, assessing risks and opportunities. You will work closely with Ring Capital’s investment teams and collaborate with external experts to obtain specialized information.
• Preparing investment recommendations.  You prepare presentation documents and recommendations for the investment team, in particular through the direct contacts you will maintain with target companies. You will participate in the presentation of opportunities to the Investment Committee.
• Investment monitoring.  Once the investment is made, you will collaborate with the operational teams and with the mentors in Abidjan and Paris to provide operational and strategic support to the entrepreneurs supported by Ring Africa. You will also monitor the performance of the investments.
• Setting up the local Ring Africa office and its influence.  In collaboration with the M Studio team and in close collaboration with Elisabeth Moreno, you will contribute to the structuring of the fund’s team as well as its visibility and credibility within the VC ecosystem in French-speaking Africa. You will participate in the fund’s communication and fundraising with partners, as well as in the organization of major events for its development.

Required Skills:

• 2-8 years of experience, with a preference for venture capital and investment sectors, and/or experience in high-growth start-ups.
• Benefit from a solid knowledge – and strong cultural ties – with the entrepreneurial ecosystem of French-speaking West Africa. Knowing market trends will be a great advantage.
• Express a strong interest or have worked in the field of impact. Know and be able to present the major impact issues of the African continent.
• Have strong financial, analytical, organizational and writing skills.
• Benefit from an excellent command of French and English (written and oral) and very good written and oral communication.
• Be able to work independently and manage multiple tasks while meeting tight deadlines.
• Have good networking and representation skills.
• Be a team player and enjoy working and succeeding as a team.

Qualifications:

University degree in finance, economics or a related field. Prior experience in venture capital, private equity or a similar field is an asset.

• This position is for you if:  you have a good understanding of the business and the ecosystem, and like to participate in the emergence of a new activity. Proactive and autonomous, you like to evolve in a context. You are driven by collective success and impact.
• This position is not for you if:  you feel a need for strong leadership, if individual recognition is the main driver of motivation for you and if you do not feel comfortable in a representative role.