Description
Quona Capital is looking for an Investment Officer to join Quona's Africa and Cross-border (AXB) team. The person will work with the AXB team on all aspects of the investment and portfolio management processes and will have exposure to the regional and global entrepreneurial and Venture Capital ecosystems. The role will be part of the investing team covering Africa and Cross-border investments with frequent travel to markets across the region.
We are open and flexible to working locations outside of DC including Dubai, Cape Town, London, or New York. Please make sure to specify in your application your current location and the countries in which you have the right to work.
About Us...
Quona Capital was established in 2015, with a vision to back innovators enhancing the quality and availability of financial products and services for underserved consumers and enterprises through business model innovation and smart leveraging of technology, investing in the best fintech companies in emerging markets. Today, Quona manages approximately $800 AUM, has 70+ portfolio companies across our core funds, and is backed by a marquee group of global investors.
We are a diverse team of 29 professionals who collectively speak 20 languages. Our team spans the globe, and we are deeply embedded in the regions in which we work. Our team members work from locations like Singapore, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Bangalore, Cape Town, Nairobi, and Washington DC - to name a few! We deeply value collaboration and learning and are looking forward to growing our team with individuals who embody our key values: Impact, Trust, Teamwork, Integrity, and Excellence.
To learn more, check out our portfolio and meet the team at quona.com
Key Responsibilities
- Build investment thesis frameworks to drive engagement with entrepreneurs and strengthen Quona's thought leadership
- Conduct market research, sector mapping, and competitive analysis to help with portfolio projects and pipeline development
- Support end-to-end deal process including memos, financial model, and due diligence
- Analyze portfolio performance to identify areas of strengths and improvements
- Support operational initiatives such as knowledge sharing, impact measurement, and LP reporting
- Engage with local startups and the fintech ecosystem
Requirements
Skills and Competencies
- Enthusiasm for technology, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion
- Team player mentality - ready to support the team in achieving collective goals
- Drive, humbleness, adaptability, curiosity, and openness
- Exceptional analytical skills and desire to produce consistent top-tier quality work
- Ability to take initiative and work independently in a fast-paced team that is geographically distributed
- Bachelor's or master's degree with excellent academic performance
- 3+ years of experience in strategy, product, operations, consulting, principal investing, investment banking, or a related field
- Strong financial modeling and analytical skills
- Excellent writing and communication skills
Desired
- Domain expertise in financial services/technology
- Experience evaluating investment opportunities - the ability to quickly identify and analyze key questions, risks, or upsides to an investment
- Existing network or work experience in startup/venture ecosystems in Africa
Benefits
- We offer competitive market-based compensation and benefits which include paid time off, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental/family leave
- Additional perks include an annual professional development stipend, phone expense reimbursement, and a fun annual in-person offsite in Quona's markets
- Plus you get exposure to global start-ups, opportunities to grow and learn, and mission-driven colleagues who are fun to work with!
Application Material
- Apply through Workable
- Resume
- Cover Letter: Why are you interested in financial inclusion?
- One-Page Analysis: A one-page analysis of a particular fintech sector or any fintech startup you would like to invest in. In your analysis, explain your investment thesis and give arguments that support your decision to invest.
