A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence
Adesuwa Rhodes is changing the face of investing and entrepreneurship in Africa one investment at a time
Adesuwa is a leading investment professional and CEO with over 14 years of experience in investment banking and private equity in developed and emerging markets across a number of sectors including healthcare, financial services, technology and consumer goods. Adesuwa is an entrepreneur, CEO, mother, investor and women’s empowerment advocate. She is one of the youngest female private equity fund managers running her own fund in Africa, having launched her fund at 29 years old. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management, one of the few women owned and led private equity funds in Africa investing into untapped investment opportunities in West Africa in the small to lower mid-market. Adesuwa is focused on using Aruwa Capital Management’s investments as a case study to make the business case to invest in women as fund managers, entrepreneurs, consumers and stakeholders in society. Adesuwa is a mission driven pioneer on a mission to unlock the power of private capital as a catalyst for change in her environment.
Learn More"I am on a mission to unlock the untapped potential of women as capital allocators, consumers, founders, board members, suppliers and across all levels of society, to unlock enhanced financial returns and positive social impact."
~ Adesuwa Rhodes
I had the pleasure of moderating one of the panels at the 2nd Annual PEVCA Nigeria conference with the theme: The Next Frontier: Private Capital Opportunities in a Shifting Economic Landscape. The panel -Planning for successful exits and performance had esteemed speakers in attendance – Nnenia Ejebe, Partner Adenia Capital, Laolu Alabi, Senior Vice President, African Capital Alliance, Mobolaji Adeoye, Founder and Managing Partner, Consonance Capital and Daniel Adeoye, Partner Verod Capital.
I am humbled to be recognized as one of the Ventures Africa 20 women of impact for the year 2023. This recognition highlights women who have displayed outstanding leadership and also contributed to community building, economic empowerment, leadership, innovation and societal change.
I am grateful and humbled to have emerged as the 2X Global Woman Fund Manager of the Year in 2023 at the Informa SuperReturn Africa conference in Cape Town. The award is a testament of how Aruwa Capital Management stands as a beacon of hope for female fund managers and female entrepreneurs across Africa. Thank you to 2X Global for the recognition and honour. I am so grateful to everyone that has joined me in this journey so far, the best is yet to come.
It was great to attend the Gender Champion Meeting hosted by the African CEO Gender Forum themed “Pioneering change: The Female Champions Driving Africa’s Success”. I had the pleasure of moderating of the panel sessions tagged- “Breaking into the Boys Club: Navigating Male-Dominated Environments” where I shared my experience founding Aruwa Capital at the age of 29 and navigating a male dominated industry. I was honoured to speak alongside notable women like- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (DG World Trade Organization) Dr. Ola Brown (Founder Health Cap) Lucy Quist (Author and Founder, The Bold New Normal) etc.
I am truly honoured to have been named among the Choiseul Africa 100 Africa laureates for the second consecutive year 2023. Recognized as one of the 100 young African leaders aged 40 and under who are playing pivotal roles in Africa's economic development, this recognition reflects the immense opportunities that our beloved continent, Africa, presents to its young leaders. I am proud to be among the 10 Laureates from Nigeria who made the top 100 list for 2023.
It was a pleasure to join host- Frank Aswani CEO AVPA and Bernard Chidzero, Snr. Investment Advisor Bridgespan on the webinar hosted by African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) in collaboration with the Bridgespan group tagged- Closing the Capital Gap in Investing in Africa. We discussed closing the capital gap for fund managers in Africa and the challenges faced by African investments funds when they prioritize social impact alongside financial returns.
I am honoured to have been recognized by Empower Africa as one of the 30 extraordinary individuals who have played a pivotal role in fostering innovation, economic growth, and positive change across the African Tech Landscape.
I had the pleasure of joining Dream VC and its fellows on their Webinar tagged: Unlocking the Power of Boards. I shared valuable insights on maximizing the potential of boards at early stages of investment. From selecting independent board members to thinking long-term.
I am pleased to have been featured in the recent Value for Women Ltd. Series which was launched to mark its 10th year anniversary. I was featured in 4th issue of the series titled "Women Decision Makers" which centered on the need to intentionally channel more capital towards women decision-makers in emerging markets. I shared valuable insights, talking about the challenges women fund managers like me encounter in the investment field. I highlighted the systematic obstacles that exist, especially for first-time fund managers and also emphasized the importance of thinking outside the box when it comes to evaluating investments, instead of simply following the usual methods.
It was a pleasure to join John Coleman on the 156th Faith Driven Investor Podcast. The conversation was themed 'Investing in Women and Africa'. I shared my personal journey from investment banking to founding Aruwa Capital, our gender lens approach, and how we are empowering and inspiring women through our investments in female-owned and female-led businesses.
"I believe the way to effectively provide women with more seats at the table is for us to create our own tables. More women succeeding as capital allocators means more women getting funded, more mentors, more torch-bearers, and more examples to follow. Investing in or with funds like Aruwa Capital Management is a practical way to narrow the gender funding gap and making money while you do so."
- Adesuwa Rhodes
Adesuwa is the Founder & Managing Partner of Aruwa Capital Management an early stage private equity fund investing in rapidly growing businesses in West Africa. With Aruwa Capital and her own personal investments, Adesuwa is focused on uncovering untapped investment opportunities that are typically overlooked and underserved. Adesuwa is passionate about showcasing the natural competitive advantage women allocating capital have when investing in businesses for women and by women. Through a gender lens investment strategy, Adesuwa is focused on generating enhanced financial returns whilst delivering positive social impact with a multiplier effect across societies and economies.
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