OUR APPROACH IS DIFFERENT
1) We are one of very few funders exclusively focused on filling the "finance gap.”
2) We offer both equity and debt investments and are purposefully flexible as the capital needs of the companies are diverse.
3) We provide a solution to prepare startups for funding rounds and put the right tools at their disposal.
OUR TEAM
Rekia Foudel, Managing Partner
Rekia is a corporate finance professional, with experience working and investing in Africa. Rekia leads Barka’s investment activities and manages the team. Rekia's professional career spans more than 15 years in the financial services sector, across 3 continents (North America, Europe and Africa). As Head of Project Development at MCA, a structure of the Office of the President of Niger, Rekia helped raise $437 million for two greenfield, growth-focused climate-resilient projects.
Rekia graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA in Finance. She is bilingual in English and French.
CHRIST LOKONDA MAKANGA, DIRECTOR, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & OPS
Christ has an extensive experience and expertise in supporting African SMEs by designing, implementing, and managing technical support and capacity-building programs. As the Chief Operating Officer at Impact Abidjan, Chris managed all aspects of the company's day-to-day operations and helped solved the challenges faced by SMEs, building a track record of leadership and execution. His efforts resulted in fundraising of over $300k through partnerships with organizations such as the US Embassy and the African Development Bank. Chris also has experience in data research and analysis, specifically in impact measurement, showcasing his analytical skills and ability to derive insights from data.
Christ attended Northeastern University in Boston where he studied Economics and Mathematics. He is bilingual in English and French.
ANAÏS AMAZIT, CONSULTANT
Anaïs has over 10 years of experience supporting social and environmental start-ups and non-profits. She specializes in renewable energy and agriculture sectors in Africa, employing public-private-community partnerships, blended finance, advocacy, and women-led rural innovation.
Anaïs holds a BA from Sorbonne University and a Master's in Management "Grande Ecole" from SKEMA Business School.
She is conversant in several languages, including French, English, Kiswahili and Kabyle. She is an Algerian and a French national.
