Investment Director

Investment Director

Location: Remote. Preference will be given to candidates based in South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, or Mauritius, or in countries where Pula has an established presence. Applicants should be able to collaborate effectively within approximately ±3 hours of the East Africa Time (EAT) zone.

Reports to: President & Co-Founder

About Pula Xcelerator

The Pula Xcelerator is Pula ’s internal M&A and strategic investment vehicle, responsible for identifying, evaluating, and accelerating high-potential businesses across Africa. We enable selected companies to scale using our distribution, data, and partnership networks.

We focus on enterprises generating at least $500K in annual revenue in agriculture, insurance, financial services, or technology. Through structured acceleration, funding pathways, and hands-on operational support, the Xcelerator helps ambitious teams turn proven solutions into continent-wide scale.

About the Role

This role is for someone who thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. You will identify and evaluate high-potential businesses, engage with founders, and play a key role in shaping the systems that define the Xcelerator.

As an Investment Director, you will take ownership of the investment process, from sourcing opportunities through to evaluation and execution.

What matters most is your commercial insight and entrepreneurial experience, rather than a purely formal finance background. You will scout opportunities, perform due diligence, and lead investment recommendations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation of prospective companies, focusing on commercial potential, scalability, and strategic fit

• Conduct end-to-end due diligence across financials, operations, and business fundamentals

• Engage directly with founders and senior management to test assumptions and assess capability

• Reconstruct financials where needed and lead preparation of investment memos for decision-making

• Build, own, and actively manage a pipeline of high-potential companies

• Take ownership of deal execution, including structuring and closing

• Operate as a hands-on execution lead, personally driving outputs

• Contribute to designing and refining internal systems to track and accelerate portfolio companies

Candidate Profile

• 10+ years' experience in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, corporate finance, corporate development, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), asset management, or strategic investments.

• Demonstrated experience leading investment transactions from sourcing through due diligence, negotiation, structuring, and execution.

• Strong commercial and financial analysis skills, with the ability to evaluate business models, unit economics, growth potential, and investment risk.

• Experience gained within a leading investment firm, financial institution, multinational corporation, or professional services firm is highly desirable.

• Experience within a Big Four firm (Deloitte, EY, KPMG, or PwC), particularly in Transaction Advisory, Deal Advisory, Corporate Finance, Strategy, Valuations, Tax Advisory, or Legal Advisory, will be considered a strong advantage.

• Experience in tax advisory and/or legal advisory is considered an added advantage.

• Former founders or startup operators with significant transaction experience are encouraged to apply.

• Comfortable engaging directly with founders, executives, boards, and senior stakeholders.

• Experienced in small, high-performing teams with a high degree of ownership and accountability.

• Hands-on, execution-focused; not purely advisory.

• Formal finance qualifications are beneficial; however, demonstrated investment and transaction experience will be prioritized.

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial and commercially curious

• High ownership and accountability

• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to create structure

• Clear thinker, able to explain insights without jargon

What Pula Will Bring to the Table

Growth Potential:

At Pula , we are building the systems that enable farmers worldwide to access insurance, using technology to insure the previously uninsured. We operate across multiple markets and continue to scale rapidly.

Market Leader:

Pula is a leading player in its category with significant reach and impact.

Strong Backing:

Backed by leading venture capital investors and global institutions, with a strong track record.

Impact & Opportunity:

A high-impact role with the opportunity to shape investment strategy and scale businesses across the continent.

Leadership & Culture:

A culture of transparency, respect, execution, and continuous development.

Purpose:

A rare opportunity to combine professional growth with meaningful impact in emerging markets.

Remuneration:

-A competitive monthly base salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

-Remuneration will be paid in United States Dollars (USD) or the applicable local currency, depending on the employing entity and the successful candidate's location.

-The role also includes performance-based incentives and the opportunity to participate in long-term value creation.

To learn more about Pula :

TED Talk: Crop Insurance, an Idea Worth Seeding

New York Times: He Grew up on a Farm. Now, He Helps Protect Them

The Economist: The Poor, Who Most Need Insurance, Are Least Likely to Have It

Originally posted on Himalayas