Lise Birikundavyi – Impact Investment Leader Driving Inclusive Growth in Africa

Her work focuses on using capital as a tool to drive positive social and economic change, especially in emerging markets like Africa.

Lise is currently the Managing Partner at BKR Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in Black-led innovative companies.

While based in Canada, her professional journey and values are deeply rooted in creating real impact across African markets.

She has spent years working in roles that support African entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and underserved communities through investment and ecosystem-building.

Before joining BKR Capital, Lise worked with Sarona Asset Management, a global investment firm that channels funding into growth-stage companies in emerging markets.

At Sarona, she played a key role in managing investments that directly supported African businesses, helping them scale operations, create jobs, and improve livelihoods in local communities.

Her work focused not just on financial returns but also on measuring and delivering social and environmental impact.

Lise has also been a strong advocate for gender-lens investing in Africa—supporting efforts to direct more capital to women-led businesses and projects that advance gender equity.

She has worked with several partners and initiatives that aim to close funding gaps for women entrepreneurs across the continent.

Throughout her career, Lise has spoken on global stages about Africa’s investment potential, the importance of inclusive economic systems, and the role of finance in solving development challenges.

Her insights have helped bring attention to the need for equitable access to capital in Africa, especially for those often left out of traditional funding models.

Lise’s mission is clear: to make capital more accessible, more inclusive, and more impactful in driving Africa’s long-term development.

She believes that investment should serve people and communities—not just profit. She continues to work towards building investment ecosystems that support local talent, innovation, and sustainable growth across the continent.

She has been recognized as one of the leading voices in impact investing, particularly in the context of Africa and the Global South.

She is a regular speaker at international forums and conferences, where she shares her insights on inclusive finance, development financing, and gender equity in investment.

Lise is also a strong contributor to global discussions on Africa’s economic transformation and has helped shape narratives around sustainable investing..