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.

Ruth Ayalew is a junior research analyst at Renew Capital, supporting a diverse portfolio of projects, including research. She also supports project managers with project planning, coordinating logistics, and ensuring project deliverables meet customer expectations. Before joining Renew Capital, she worked as a project intern at iCog, where her main duties included startup acceleration and training, as well as actively participating in Toastmasters International and Rotary International. Ruth Ayalew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Unity University and is working on her Master of Science in Economics from Addis Ababa University.