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CTO and co-founder of AgroCenta (Holdings)
Michael Ocansey graduated in accounting and IT from Regent University of Science and Technology in Dansoman, Ghana. From 2005 to 2010, Ocansey worked as a lead web developer at Ghanaian digital development agency Esoko in Accra, where he met business development executive Francis Obirikorang. Ocansey also worked as a contract web developer for software developer Origo in San Diego for two years until 2013.In 2015, Ocansey and Obirikorang co-founded Swappaholics Holdings in British Virgin Islands. He worked for one year as CTO for the online marketplace that allows users to “barter” or exchange products, skills and services.In January 2016, Ocansey and Obirikorang established AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius. The agritech startup set up its first office in Accra to provide an e-commerce platform, supply-chain and fintech services to smallholder farmers in Ghana.
Michael Ocansey graduated in accounting and IT from Regent University of Science and Technology in Dansoman, Ghana. From 2005 to 2010, Ocansey worked as a lead web developer at Ghanaian digital development agency Esoko in Accra, where he met business development executive Francis Obirikorang. Ocansey also worked as a contract web developer for software developer Origo in San Diego for two years until 2013.In 2015, Ocansey and Obirikorang co-founded Swappaholics Holdings in British Virgin Islands. He worked for one year as CTO for the online marketplace that allows users to “barter” or exchange products, skills and services.In January 2016, Ocansey and Obirikorang established AgroCenta (Holdings) Limited in Mauritius. The agritech startup set up its first office in Accra to provide an e-commerce platform, supply-chain and fintech services to smallholder farmers in Ghana.
Rodolfo Lomascolo is a serial entrepreneur with a strong technical foundation in the software, e-commerce and energy sector. He has more than 25 years of experience in C-level positions and is one of the pioneers who fostered the early growth of the tech ecosystem in Spain. For over 14 years, Lomascolo was CEO of the Internet Publishing Services Certification Authority (ipsCA) that was eventually acquired by the STS Group, of which he was subsequently vice-president of International Business Development, growing the company's revenue from zero to €30m in three years. In 2015, he became co-founder and CEO of Pervasive Technologies, a company that deploys big data, machine learning and IoT for digital innovation.
Rodolfo Lomascolo is a serial entrepreneur with a strong technical foundation in the software, e-commerce and energy sector. He has more than 25 years of experience in C-level positions and is one of the pioneers who fostered the early growth of the tech ecosystem in Spain. For over 14 years, Lomascolo was CEO of the Internet Publishing Services Certification Authority (ipsCA) that was eventually acquired by the STS Group, of which he was subsequently vice-president of International Business Development, growing the company's revenue from zero to €30m in three years. In 2015, he became co-founder and CEO of Pervasive Technologies, a company that deploys big data, machine learning and IoT for digital innovation.
TRATON is a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group and one of the world’s largest producer of commercial vehicles. It manufactures light-duty commercial vehicles, trucks and buses at 29 production and assembly sites in 17 countries.The company is now focusing on developing electric trucks and announced in March 2021 that it will invest a total of €1.6bn in e-mobility R&D by 2025. In September 2020, it partnered with self-driving trucking startup TuSimple to mass produce driverless trucks.In March 2021, Navistar stockholders approved the acquisition of Navistar by TRATON. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed by mid-May.
TRATON is a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group and one of the world’s largest producer of commercial vehicles. It manufactures light-duty commercial vehicles, trucks and buses at 29 production and assembly sites in 17 countries.The company is now focusing on developing electric trucks and announced in March 2021 that it will invest a total of €1.6bn in e-mobility R&D by 2025. In September 2020, it partnered with self-driving trucking startup TuSimple to mass produce driverless trucks.In March 2021, Navistar stockholders approved the acquisition of Navistar by TRATON. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed by mid-May.
SoftBank Internet and Media Inc (SIMI)
Founded by the charismatic Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp is a multinational conglomerate with assets totaling about $342bn in 2020. SoftBank is best known in Japan for its mobile phone network and distribution business, and it was the sole distributor of the Apple iPhone in Japan until 2011. SoftBank also has subsidiaries in online gaming, publishing, and energy, and owns stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint.Outside of Japan, SoftBank is known for its venture capital investments. In October 2016, it teamed up with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to lead a $100bn tech fund, named Vision Fund. Through Vision Fund, SoftBank has made some major high-profile investments into tech companies, such as TikTok developer ByteDance, e-commerce platforms like Coupang, Tokopedia and Flipkart, and coworking operator WeWork.
Founded by the charismatic Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp is a multinational conglomerate with assets totaling about $342bn in 2020. SoftBank is best known in Japan for its mobile phone network and distribution business, and it was the sole distributor of the Apple iPhone in Japan until 2011. SoftBank also has subsidiaries in online gaming, publishing, and energy, and owns stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint.Outside of Japan, SoftBank is known for its venture capital investments. In October 2016, it teamed up with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to lead a $100bn tech fund, named Vision Fund. Through Vision Fund, SoftBank has made some major high-profile investments into tech companies, such as TikTok developer ByteDance, e-commerce platforms like Coupang, Tokopedia and Flipkart, and coworking operator WeWork.
Based in Amsterdam, BC Begin Capital Limited was established in April 2019 by Alexey Menn as managing partner in Moscow. The VC has invested in five startups. In 2019, it invested in e-grocery food delivery service Samokat that was acquired by Mail.Ru Group.In February 2020, the international firm was lead investor for Finnish fashion marketplace Zadaa, raising €3.5m for its Series A round. Both Begin Capital and Bulgaria’s BrightCap Ventures were lead investors for Woom, raising €2m in May. The two investments are the biggest so far, compared to previous fundraisers for startups like Bulbshare in March 2020.
Based in Amsterdam, BC Begin Capital Limited was established in April 2019 by Alexey Menn as managing partner in Moscow. The VC has invested in five startups. In 2019, it invested in e-grocery food delivery service Samokat that was acquired by Mail.Ru Group.In February 2020, the international firm was lead investor for Finnish fashion marketplace Zadaa, raising €3.5m for its Series A round. Both Begin Capital and Bulgaria’s BrightCap Ventures were lead investors for Woom, raising €2m in May. The two investments are the biggest so far, compared to previous fundraisers for startups like Bulbshare in March 2020.
Co-founder of Pintek
Formerly a financial analyst, Ioann Fainsilber graduated from the University of Bath in UK, with a bachelor's in business administration in 2012. He also has a master's in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics. While at university, he worked briefly as an analyst at Essilor's USA and Lloyd's Banking Group. He also acted as financial advisor for a student advertising company for over two years in Bristol while studying for his degree.In 2014, Fainsilber joined Morgan Stanley as a tech analyst. In 2016, he worked as a private equity associate at American VC Silver Lake. He left UK for Indonesia in 2017 and became the CFO of Ayopop, an android developer for e-commerce platforms and payment apps. Pintek, with Ayopop as shareholder, was established by Fainsilber and Ayopop co-founder Tommy Yuwono in March 2018. Fainsilber remained as CFO at Ayopop until January 2019.
Formerly a financial analyst, Ioann Fainsilber graduated from the University of Bath in UK, with a bachelor's in business administration in 2012. He also has a master's in Finance and Private Equity from the London School of Economics. While at university, he worked briefly as an analyst at Essilor's USA and Lloyd's Banking Group. He also acted as financial advisor for a student advertising company for over two years in Bristol while studying for his degree.In 2014, Fainsilber joined Morgan Stanley as a tech analyst. In 2016, he worked as a private equity associate at American VC Silver Lake. He left UK for Indonesia in 2017 and became the CFO of Ayopop, an android developer for e-commerce platforms and payment apps. Pintek, with Ayopop as shareholder, was established by Fainsilber and Ayopop co-founder Tommy Yuwono in March 2018. Fainsilber remained as CFO at Ayopop until January 2019.
Founded under a different name in 2002, the company became UCAR in 2016. A comprehensive car services provider, it now operates in nearly 300 cities across China. It has served around 60 million Chinese users and manages a total of 400,000 vehicles. UCAR has four business units: car rental service provider zuche.com, chauffeured car service provider 10101111.com, auto e-commerce platform maimaiche.com and automotive financing service platform carbank.cn. It invests in automotive businesses and startups.
Founded under a different name in 2002, the company became UCAR in 2016. A comprehensive car services provider, it now operates in nearly 300 cities across China. It has served around 60 million Chinese users and manages a total of 400,000 vehicles. UCAR has four business units: car rental service provider zuche.com, chauffeured car service provider 10101111.com, auto e-commerce platform maimaiche.com and automotive financing service platform carbank.cn. It invests in automotive businesses and startups.
VP and Co-founder of Bailian.ai
She Wei graduated from Tsinghua University with a master's in Computer Science in 2006 and has since worked for IBM, CDL and HP Labs China. He joined Miaozhen Systems at the end of 2011, where he developed a series of B2B products for brands and advertisers. She joined MININGLAMP Technology as co-founder and CTO in 2013; led development of DataInsight (MININGLAMP's data mining platform); and headed the algorithm team, which served clients in the sectors of finance, homeland security and manufacture. A serial entrepreneur, he co-founded game media platform Ye Zizhu in 2003.
She Wei graduated from Tsinghua University with a master's in Computer Science in 2006 and has since worked for IBM, CDL and HP Labs China. He joined Miaozhen Systems at the end of 2011, where he developed a series of B2B products for brands and advertisers. She joined MININGLAMP Technology as co-founder and CTO in 2013; led development of DataInsight (MININGLAMP's data mining platform); and headed the algorithm team, which served clients in the sectors of finance, homeland security and manufacture. A serial entrepreneur, he co-founded game media platform Ye Zizhu in 2003.
Silicon Valley-based investor Sapphire Ventures was formerly known as SAP Ventures, the investment arm of the software giant SAP SE, until 2011. It typically invests in mid-stage startups with at least $5–10m in annual revenue across market verticals, geographies and technologies. It typically invests $10–50m (with the flexibility to invest less or up to $100m) as part of its initial investment. With approximately $4bn in assets under active management and more than 50 startups in its portfolio at present, Sapphire has also managed more than 35 exits and 20 IPOs. Its most recent investments include co-leading the $153m Series D round of workplace skills training platform Degreed in April 2021, and, in March 2021, it invested in two new unicorns. Sapphire contributed to US digital home workout tech Tonal’s $250m Series E round and to the $200m Series D round of Portugal’s Feedzai, the world’s market-leading solution in fighting online fraud.
Silicon Valley-based investor Sapphire Ventures was formerly known as SAP Ventures, the investment arm of the software giant SAP SE, until 2011. It typically invests in mid-stage startups with at least $5–10m in annual revenue across market verticals, geographies and technologies. It typically invests $10–50m (with the flexibility to invest less or up to $100m) as part of its initial investment. With approximately $4bn in assets under active management and more than 50 startups in its portfolio at present, Sapphire has also managed more than 35 exits and 20 IPOs. Its most recent investments include co-leading the $153m Series D round of workplace skills training platform Degreed in April 2021, and, in March 2021, it invested in two new unicorns. Sapphire contributed to US digital home workout tech Tonal’s $250m Series E round and to the $200m Series D round of Portugal’s Feedzai, the world’s market-leading solution in fighting online fraud.
Cofounder and CEO of VUE Vlog
Co-founder and CEO of VUE Vlog, Kuang Fei was so intrigued by design when he was studying electronics and communication engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology that he spent most of his time doing part-time designing jobs. Upon graduation, he started his designing career at NetEase in 2007. However his career veered towards product management when, a year later, he joined Tencent in Allen Zhang's team (the team that later designed WeChat). In 2012, Kuang joined a startup, an Android app store called Wandoujia as Chief Product Officer. In late 2015, he left Wandoujia and, in 2016, started VUE with two colleagues, an app that both fits his interest in designing and experience in product.
Co-founder and CEO of VUE Vlog, Kuang Fei was so intrigued by design when he was studying electronics and communication engineering at the Harbin Institute of Technology that he spent most of his time doing part-time designing jobs. Upon graduation, he started his designing career at NetEase in 2007. However his career veered towards product management when, a year later, he joined Tencent in Allen Zhang's team (the team that later designed WeChat). In 2012, Kuang joined a startup, an Android app store called Wandoujia as Chief Product Officer. In late 2015, he left Wandoujia and, in 2016, started VUE with two colleagues, an app that both fits his interest in designing and experience in product.
Chief Growth Officer and co-founder of Kobo360
After graduating in business administration at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2013, Ife Oyedele II stayed on at the university to obtain a master’s in information technology in 2016.While studying in Michigan, Oyedele met up with Obi Ozor and the two friends started an e-commerce venture to sell diapers and baby soap from the US to customers in Nigeria. Ozor later moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Wharton School.Still at university, he gained work experience in business intelligence at Michigan consultancy firm CFI Group for about three years. He has also conducted some research for pharma group iLabs and completed stints in business analysis and quality assurance at various companies. In May 2014, he joined General Fuels company in Detroit and worked as a business manager for almost two years.In 2016, Ozor and Oyedele co-founded Uber-style logistics platform Kobo360 in Nigeria. Oyedele was CTO at Kobo360 until 2020 when he became the company’s Chief Growth Officer.
After graduating in business administration at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2013, Ife Oyedele II stayed on at the university to obtain a master’s in information technology in 2016.While studying in Michigan, Oyedele met up with Obi Ozor and the two friends started an e-commerce venture to sell diapers and baby soap from the US to customers in Nigeria. Ozor later moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies at Wharton School.Still at university, he gained work experience in business intelligence at Michigan consultancy firm CFI Group for about three years. He has also conducted some research for pharma group iLabs and completed stints in business analysis and quality assurance at various companies. In May 2014, he joined General Fuels company in Detroit and worked as a business manager for almost two years.In 2016, Ozor and Oyedele co-founded Uber-style logistics platform Kobo360 in Nigeria. Oyedele was CTO at Kobo360 until 2020 when he became the company’s Chief Growth Officer.
Co-founder of Vence
Sky Kurtz graduated in finance at Arizona State University in 2004. He also completed a master’s in business administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2011.He started his corporate career in New York at Lehman Brothers where he worked as an analyst from 2004–2006. He went on to work at CCMP Capital as an associate for three years until 2009. After various board member roles in US, he became the VP of Francisco Partners in 2011, a global private equity firm based in San Francisco.In 2014, he became the CEO of Mateen Corporation that manufactures high-performance fiber-reinforced polymers in the UAE and New Zealand. In 2016, he co-founded Vence Corp, a virtual fencing device manufacturer for livestock management. Currently based in UAE, Kurtz also founded Pure Harvest Smart Farms in Abu Dhabi. He is the CEO of the Middle East’s first commercial-scale, semi-automated, hybrid greenhouse growing system. Kurtz is also an advisor at e-commerce beauty startup Powder.ae and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Shorooq Investments.
Sky Kurtz graduated in finance at Arizona State University in 2004. He also completed a master’s in business administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2011.He started his corporate career in New York at Lehman Brothers where he worked as an analyst from 2004–2006. He went on to work at CCMP Capital as an associate for three years until 2009. After various board member roles in US, he became the VP of Francisco Partners in 2011, a global private equity firm based in San Francisco.In 2014, he became the CEO of Mateen Corporation that manufactures high-performance fiber-reinforced polymers in the UAE and New Zealand. In 2016, he co-founded Vence Corp, a virtual fencing device manufacturer for livestock management. Currently based in UAE, Kurtz also founded Pure Harvest Smart Farms in Abu Dhabi. He is the CEO of the Middle East’s first commercial-scale, semi-automated, hybrid greenhouse growing system. Kurtz is also an advisor at e-commerce beauty startup Powder.ae and an entrepreneur-in-residence at Shorooq Investments.
The venture capital arm of Cisco was established in 1993 in San Francisco and currently has a US$2bn active portfolio. Each year, it invests between US$200-300m from Series A rounds to later investment stages. Cisco Investments has more than 120 companies in its portfolio. It has managed multiple exits and acquisitions, most recently by purchasing customer analytics technology CloudCherry for an undisclosed sum in August 2019. Cisco Investment's recent portfolio investments include healthcare platform Luma Health's US$16m Series B round and big data cybersecurity startup Exabeam's US$75m Series E round.
The venture capital arm of Cisco was established in 1993 in San Francisco and currently has a US$2bn active portfolio. Each year, it invests between US$200-300m from Series A rounds to later investment stages. Cisco Investments has more than 120 companies in its portfolio. It has managed multiple exits and acquisitions, most recently by purchasing customer analytics technology CloudCherry for an undisclosed sum in August 2019. Cisco Investment's recent portfolio investments include healthcare platform Luma Health's US$16m Series B round and big data cybersecurity startup Exabeam's US$75m Series E round.
Born in 1973, Li graduated from the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China in 1997. After graduating, he worked as an IT journalist for China Youth Daily, where he interviewed tech giants such as Jack Ma. In early 2003, Li became chief editor of the IT section of web portal Sohu and then joined web portal NetEase as chief editor of its IT section later that year. In 2005, he resigned from NetEase and founded gaming portal Duowan. In 2008, Li founded YY Inc., a live streaming social media platform that went public on Nasdaq in 2012.
Born in 1973, Li graduated from the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China in 1997. After graduating, he worked as an IT journalist for China Youth Daily, where he interviewed tech giants such as Jack Ma. In early 2003, Li became chief editor of the IT section of web portal Sohu and then joined web portal NetEase as chief editor of its IT section later that year. In 2005, he resigned from NetEase and founded gaming portal Duowan. In 2008, Li founded YY Inc., a live streaming social media platform that went public on Nasdaq in 2012.
Kaszek Ventures is an Argentinian VC co-founded in 2011 by Hernan Kazah and Nicolas Szekasy, both hailing from Latin America’s e-commerce success story MercadoLibre. Starting with $95m, the VC made its first investment in Brazilian fintech, Nubank. The VC now has over 159 investments and has managed 21 exits. It mainly focuses on B2C solutions, mobile, healthcare technology, retail and media.The most recent Kaszek investment is in Latin America’s leading crypto platform Bitso, co-leading Bitso’s $62m Series B round with QED Investors. Managing partner Szekasy has also joined Bitso’s board. Existing shareholders Coinbase Ventures and Pantera Capital joined the Bitso round.In 2019, Kaszek raised two new funds securing a total of $600m to invest in later-growth stage companies to tap into Latin America’s rapidly maturing tech ecosystems. The rollout of 4G has also helped to speed up the adoption of new technologies across the region, according to Kazah.
Kaszek Ventures is an Argentinian VC co-founded in 2011 by Hernan Kazah and Nicolas Szekasy, both hailing from Latin America’s e-commerce success story MercadoLibre. Starting with $95m, the VC made its first investment in Brazilian fintech, Nubank. The VC now has over 159 investments and has managed 21 exits. It mainly focuses on B2C solutions, mobile, healthcare technology, retail and media.The most recent Kaszek investment is in Latin America’s leading crypto platform Bitso, co-leading Bitso’s $62m Series B round with QED Investors. Managing partner Szekasy has also joined Bitso’s board. Existing shareholders Coinbase Ventures and Pantera Capital joined the Bitso round.In 2019, Kaszek raised two new funds securing a total of $600m to invest in later-growth stage companies to tap into Latin America’s rapidly maturing tech ecosystems. The rollout of 4G has also helped to speed up the adoption of new technologies across the region, according to Kazah.
Circular economy: Discarded goods get a new lease of life in Spain
From e-chargers inside phone booths, recycling chatbots to refurbished stadium seats from Atlético Madrid, the offbeat magic of the circular economy is fast becoming a lucrative business in Spain
Yimutian: China agriculture e-commerce's comeback kid
As the world’s most populous country faces potential food supply shortages, Yimutian, China’s No. 1 agro trading marketplace, is seeing more opportunities
Indonesia finance ministry cans e-commerce tax compliance law
The ministry says the law was misunderstood, but industry players had long questioned the need for such regulation
With universal QR code, Indonesia achieves e-payment harmony
The move to standardize Indonesia's QR code is expected to unify the country's cashless payments system and lift tens of thousands of small merchants into the payments mainstream
Indonesian B2B e-procurement platforms: Disrupting long-standing practices
Indonesia’s B2B e-commerce players are winning over corporate clients with education and government support, growing a market forecast to be worth $13.4bn by 2023
Loones' cooperative e-marketplace connects farmers directly with agrifood businesses
Loones, Spain's first cooperative-based e-marketplace for bulk produce, helps traditional agricultural producers go digital
MBiz: Working toward the "tipping point" of e-procurement mainstreaming
Trusted by multinationals and conglomerates, Mbiz wants to take e-procurement mainstream by also working with municipal governments
BukaPengadaan: The B2B procurement service from e-commerce giant Bukalapak
Bukalapak’s e-procurement arm taps a growing market while helping vendors get online and access a broader range of clients
Billin offers unlimited free e-invoicing services to SMEs and freelancers
Offering automated online invoice generating, sharing, tracking and payments, the Spanish fintech wants to become the billing Dropbox for businesses worldwide
300 million users in 3 years: Cracking e-commerce the Pinduoduo way
The dark horse of online retail is our key to understanding China's new consumer growth story
In China, e-commerce platforms and brands bet big on live commerce
Retailers embrace shopping via livestreaming, where social media influencers hawk products and get rapid sales
QRIS: Will the new QR code standard rewrite Indonesia’s e-payments scene?
Enabling interoperability, the QRIS seeks to level the playing field until now dominated by GoPay and OVO – disruption that could go beyond the e-wallets scene
Enoc Armengol: The design and e-commerce 3.0 star inspired by Inspector Gadget
Also a serial entrepreneur, the Spaniard has created a trail of celebrated design products and startups from Singapore to Barcelona
Indonesian state enterprises launch e-wallet LinkAja, competing with Go-Pay and OVO
Even with a wider range of services and extensive state backing, LinkAja faces a tough battle
E-wallet LinkAja gets access to Indonesia's Civil Registry for user data checks
Move allows more than 2,000 public and private entities to verify user data against government records, but the public has raised privacy and security concerns
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