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
Pula is an African investment and acceleration platform that operates through its Pula Xcelerator division, an internal M&A and strategic investment vehicle. The Xcelerator identifies, evaluates, and accelerates high-potential businesses across Africa in agriculture, insurance, financial services, and technology sectors. It focuses on enterprises generating at least $500K in annual revenue, providing selected companies with structured acceleration, funding pathways, and hands-on operational support leveraging Pula's distribution networks, data capabilities, and partnerships. The company enables ambitious teams to scale proven solutions across the African continent.
