Our Team.

We are a purpose-driven team with deep local insight and agri-food expertise, committed to creating meaningful impact. We leverage a strong network of local and international food experts and collaborators.

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact us.

Food Flourish Ventures leadership team

Dr. Elisabeth Hirschbichler

Founder and CEO

Austrian, NL- and Nairobi-based.

  • 20+ years of professional experience in industry and strategy consulting in food & beverage value chain.
  • Previously SVP for DSM-Firmenich, a global food ingredients producer, and Associate Partner with McKinsey
  • Worked across Europe, US, China and Africa
  • BA/MA (University of Oxford), PhD in Economics (University Graz, Austria)
  • Board positions (Raiffeisen Holding Wien-Niederösterreich, Austria; Vivici, Netherlands)
Linkedin

Fund Manager

Senior Investment Executive

East-African, Nairobi-based.

  • 20+ years of experience in private credit, equity, blended finance across sub-Saharan Africa
  • Focus on food systems, agribusiness, climate-resistant value chains
  • Led transitions across a range of capital instruments – supporting exits and portfolio value creation across 30 investments in 10+ African countries
  • Part of team that raised and deployed >$130M in catalytic and commercial capital for African SMEs
  • MSc in Finance, qualified CPA
Linkedin

Omid Kassiri

Equity Partner

Nairobi based.

  • Previously Managing Partner for McKinsey East Africa and lead for McKinsey’s Africa agriculture practice
  • Founder of FarmWorks and Malaika Kitchens in East Africa. Investor in multiple agri-businesses across East Africa
  • MSc Massachusetts Institute of Technology; BSc University of Cape Town
Linkedin

Partners in Food Solutions – Team

Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) works to increase growth and competitiveness of high-potential food companies in Africa strengthening their ability to create sustainable development, grow markets for smallholder farmers, & deliver safe, nutritious food to local consumers. Over 17 years of its existence, PFS has demonstrated tremendous impact and reach across the continent.

Magdalene Mbaga

Director, Services Innovation & Impact PFS, entrepreneurship Tanzania

Selase Sabah

Business Services Lead, PFS
Portfolio mgmt., finance, investment in Africa

Mandla Nkomo

CEO, PFS; 20+ years in private and public sector, previously chief growth officer CGIAR

Jimmy Bettcher

Director, Partnerships & Business Development; start-up support in East Africa, India