Authors

Laura Davis is a co-CEO of Renew Capital and a co-founder of Renew Capital Angels, a global angel network dedicated to investing in Africa. She leads Renew Capital’s consulting engagements, which includes activating entrepreneurial ecosystems, investment pipeline development, engagement of government officials and community members and outreach to investors. Laura is an active angel investor and has set up Renew Capital’s operations in Afghanistan and throughout Africa. She has extensive experience in consulting, operations, marketing and public relations in the United States and abroad. While traveling, working and/or living in more than 40 countries in the last 25 years, she has consulted on and managed a variety of initiatives and provided strategic guidance for organizational leaders. Prior to her work at Renew Capital, Laura worked as a consultant for Mayo Clinic, World Vision and Mercy Ships. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business and public relations from the University of Minnesota. Laura is available to present at conferences on impact investing, gender lens investing and investing in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Andrew Larsen is an investment research lead at Renew Capital, responsible for managing the execution of research and data projects in support of Renew Capital’s portfolio companies and development clients. Andrew’s role includes conducting sector-specific research on various topics relevant to Africa’s economic and business growth, including transportation, logistics, fintech, electric vehicles, solar energy, and retail. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with minors in Arabic and Middle Eastern and South Asian studies from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. His work and studies have taken him to Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Middle East.

Josh Parker Allen is a PhD student in international development at the University of Oxford. An ESRC scholar, his research looks at the politics of scientific knowledge production in global health and development, with a particular focus on Uganda - a country he has lived in on and off since 2005. Josh joined the Africa Brief in August 2023 and writes a biweekly column taking a closer look at one of the biggest stories of the fortnight.

Mary Ann Achieng is an executive assistant and administrative associate at Renew Capital. She supports the managing partners of Renew Capital by supporting logistics, conducting research, crafting articles and handling various administrative responsibilities. Prior to joining Renew Capital, she worked in the education and technology sectors, where she gained a wealth of expertise in research, data analysis, project management and effective communication. Mary Ann obtained her BSc. in Computing from the Glasgow Caledonian University which partnered with the African Leadership University.