We are a lean, passionate team that sits at the intersection of investor and operator.
Gbemi Akande
Managing Partner
Gbemi, a seasoned innovator and leader, brings over a decade of experience driving transformative ventures. Formerly Head of Operations at TribalScale Venture Studios and Innovation Manager at Emirates NBD where he managed the innovation lab at the largest banking group in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Region.
He created the Middle East’s first corporate venture capital model, and led startup accelerator programs at the DMZ Innovation Program where he designed Canada’s first cybersecurity incubator, incubating cybersecurity startups and achieved an average 25% MoM growth across the portfolio.
With a Mechanical Engineering degree, an MBA from Hult International Business School, and an MS in Management (Sloan Fellow) from Stanford, Gbemi now leads Pacer Ventures and serves as Executive Director at Optimus AI Labs, a Pacer Ventures portfolio company, shaping the future of African tech through visionary leadership and cutting-edge innovation.
Geoffrey Weli Wosu
General Partner
Geoffrey serves as Chairman of the Board at Domineum Blockchain Solutions. He was previously Co-Founder and Director at VoguePay, a leading payment processing startup in Africa, serving 100,000+ global merchants across the continent.
A hands-on entrepreneur, Geoffrey actively contributes to startup creation, growth, and scaling. He’s a member of Forbes Business Council, an Investment Committee Member at Marathon Capital Markets, and a Change Performance Management expert. Recognized by the UK Government as a ‘Global Leading Exceptional Talent in Digital Technology.
Ray Sharma
General Partner
Ray is the Founder and CEO of Extreme Venture Partners (EVP), Canada’s leading seed-stage investor, spearheading investments and mentorship for Canadian-based seed-stage startups. As Co-Founder and General Partner at Pacer Ventures, he fuels African tech startups’ success. Ray is also at the helm of Optimus AI Labs, driving innovation in AI development.
With a track record of generating $250M in disclosed shareholder value from a $5M investment at EVP, Ray has exited companies to tech giants like Google, Apple, Salesforce, Rubicon, and EA Sports. His software companies boast 500 million worldwide downloads.
A global authority in Mobile technology, Ray collaborates with media, industry conferences, and academic institutions, providing invaluable insights. His profound impact transcends borders, making him a strategic force in the tech landscape.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata
General Partner
CFA is a leading advocate for African tech, championing entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation across the continent. He launched 12 Founder Institute chapters in Africa, fostering 120+ companies and empowering entrepreneurs.
Through platforms like Tech Trends on Channels TV, ICT Clinic in Punch Newspapers, and techbuild.africa, CFA reaches diverse audiences, promoting African technology. He serves as Director of ISN Hubs, a coalition of 100+ innovation hubs, and the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
An accomplished author, CFA has written Becoming a Professional Blogger and Powering Your Business on the Internet and Social Media, and co-authored Technology Disruption.
Committed to impact, he founded Techamaka, a coding initiative for girls, judged global innovation events, and inspires audiences at conferences worldwide with his vision for Africa’s digital future.
David Sharma
Chairman
David is a seasoned Board Member and Executive Leader in technology & telecom. With a track record of scaling companies, from $10B IPOs to $10M RTOs, David’s expertise spans diverse roles, including President of TELUS Enterprise & Partner Solutions.
His executive leadership in Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and more has been integral to the success of multi-billion-dollar business units. David’s extensive experience includes roles as Chief Procurement Officer, President at GoCo, and SVP Marketing Business Solutions.
Beyond his operational roles, David has served on the boards of Telus, 8Twelve, Swarmio Media, and Torinit Technologies, bringing invaluable insights to drive strategic excellence.
