Building Africa’s bright future:

 

Businesses that create

flourishing communities,

compelling investor returns,

life changing jobs.

Africa’s moment has arrived

“Today’s Africa is the China of 20 years ago”

$150B

of annual economic growth

$1 Trillion

Agribusiness value by 2030 (3x in 10 years)

55%

of the world’s mobile money accounts are in Africa

An industrial & economic revolution is bringing Africa out of poverty.

Large-scale businesses create jobs that enable individuals and families to thrive. Business done right pumps money into local economies, enabling individuals to earn personal wealth. These individuals then invest in education, healthcare, and standard of living improvements for families. Together, the business and individuals create a virtuous cycle of economic development.

We invest early stage capital.

We bring entrepreneurial expertise and technology.

We launch new businesses creating jobs and planting seeds of
entrepreneurship and innovation.

We’ve Already Made a Significant Impact.

… and we’re just getting started.

3

sectors of focus: agriculture, real estate and fintech

2,500+

jobs created

$180M

total market value of assets created by Verdant since 2013

We are results oriented – driven by our values of integrity always, collaborative teamwork and our double bottom line | both / and profit + purpose.

We fight poverty by building large-scale, profitable, thriving businesses in Africa which empower workers, uplift communities and delight our investors.

Our portfolio.

Verdant Ventures

International real estate development

Verdant Ventures is an emerging markets real estate development and management company whose mission is to provide high quality real estate projects across Africa meeting diplomatic and international standards creating satisfied customers, empowered workers, and delighted investors.

Verdant Orchards

Orchard platform

Verdant Orchards is high-value, high-impact, perennial orchard business in Africa.  The portfolio currently holds Verdant Produce in Massingir, Mozambique and Verdant Orchards Munyati in Choma, Zambia.

Verdant Produce

Vegetable crop + citrus farm

Verdant Produce is a 500 hectare (1,235 acre) vegetable crop and citrus growing, packing, and global export business located at the base of the Massingir Reservoir in Southern Mozambique.  The soil and climate are ideally suited for crop and citrus production.

Verdant Orchards Munyati

Multi-crop farm

Verdant Orchards Munyati is an established 3,000 hectare (7,400 acre) multi-crop farm in southern Zambia.  370 hectares (915 acres) of this exceptionally well-managed property has been set aside for avocado production.

Verdant Frontiers Fintech Fund

Fintech fund

Verdant Frontiers Fintech Fund is an early-stage fintech venture fund focused on accelerating financial inclusion for African consumers and small businesses.

Verdant Consulting

Consulting

Specializing in solving business and social problems in tandem, we collaborate with leaders and entrepreneurs to start-up or scale purpose-driven businesses that accelerate Ethiopia’s industrial, agricultural, and technological transformation.

Kizo Lodge

Mid-level hotel and restaurant

Mid-level hotel and restaurant targeted towards the thriving eco-tourism segment of those who come to visit the Kara, Hammar and Benna tribes surrounding the town of Turmi, Ethiopia where the lodge is located.

International Hospital Kampala

Medical imaging and radiology center

A medical imaging and radiology center. The center is open 365 days a year, and provides high quality medical imaging and diagnostic services for thousands of patients per year.

The management team.

Scott Friesen

CEO, Verdant Frontiers

Scott is a serial entrepreneur who has started, grown, and sold companies since 1998. Having led operations, sales and technology, Scott has a track record of consistent growth and profitability.

Tony Chen

Partner, Verdant Frontiers

Tony has enjoyed 20+ years creating new businesses, launching five companies with multiple exits. Tony and his family lived in rural Kenya for three years, where he built a portfolio of 15 Kenyan companies.

Bruce Hamilton

Africa Director, Verdant Frontiers + CEO, Verdant Produce

Bruce, a resident of South Africa, has over 25 years of agricultural experience in Africa with specific experience in floriculture, tree nut and orchard crops, livestock, and grain, managing up to 10,000 staff and covering thousands of hectares.

Sherri Holland

Group CFO, Verdant Frontiers + Verdant Ventures

Sherri has over 15 years experience in the CFO role.  Her background includes founding, scaling, and selling businesses in the Real Estate, Technology and Media industries.  She has been with Verdant the past 7 years and has been a key executive overseeing the growth of our portfolio that has deployed over $140m into the agriculture and real estate sectors in Africa.

Mike Murphy

General Counsel, Verdant Frontiers

Mike is an entrepreneurial lawyer with over 15 years of experience with a heart for helping grow successful businesses that promote human flourishing.  Before joining Verdant full-time, Mike had a private law practice providing strategic legal counsel and served as fractional general counsel to growth-stage companies.

Emily Mihailoff

Investor Relations Manager, Verdant Frontiers

Emily has spent much of her career in information technology as well as database and executive administration. She holds a BS and MS in mathematics. Her motivation, focus and passion for service enables her to bring unique dedication to her role.

Alex Stewart

General Counsel, Verdant Frontiers

Alex is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with extensive Africa experience. He provides legal and commercial support to Verdant and its portfolio companies.

The advisory board & advisors.

Shannon Sedgwick Davis

Advisory board member

Shannon is a passionate advocate for social justice around the world. As an attorney and activist, she sits on the board of several organizations including The Elders, Humanity United, TOMS, and charity: water.

Joey Feste

Advisory board member

Joey is the Senior Managing Partner of KM Capital Management, Ltd., a leading private wealth management firm focused on providing personalized comprehensive financial services to high net-worth professional athletes.

Scott Harrison

Advisory board member

Scott is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit organization that works to bring clean and safe water to people in developing nations.  Over the past 14 years, charity: water has funded over 59,000 water projects in 29 countries, providing over 11 million people with clean and safe drinking water.

Neil Portus

Advisor

Neil brings over 17 years financial leadership experience spanning Goldman Sachs in NY and operational experience as a startup founder, and as the CFO of an East Africa-focused infrastructure development firm.

The investment committee.

Seth Levine

Investment Committee Member

Seth is Co-Founder of Foundry Group, a venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs and venture capital fund managers turn promising ideas into market-defining and market-leading businesses.

Mike Mulcahy

Investment Committee Member

Mike is the Founder of Kings Path Partners, a firm providing investment management and wealth services for families and foundations. In addition, he serves as the Strategic Financial Advisor to the H.E. Butt Foundation.

Let’s connect.