Our approach
We understand the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and a deep and nuanced understanding of the contexts in which we and our clients operate. Our multidisciplinary team of experts brings together diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives to build and deploy solutions built not only on solid business fundamentals but that are contextually specific and relevant as well.
We work actively across sectors because we know that an enabling business environment – as well as the large-scale systemic change needed to promote more equitable and sustainable global economic systems – require concerted efforts and collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
Focus areas
- Business development, strategy, and support: We analyse, develop, and support the implementation of new and innovative business opportunities and strategies, as well as identify and fix gaps in existing operations.
- Expansion and new venture planning and execution: We conduct comprehensive feasibility studies, and model, planning, and analyse expansion and new venture scenarios. Our team can provide operational, regulatory, or other support to de-risk investments.
- Fund management support: We support funds (early to growth stage) and conduct VC-related tasks, including pipeline development, due diligence, and post-investment support to the invested businesses to mitigate risk. Our approach ensures long-term value creation, driving both impactful outcomes and financial sustainability for investors and the supported companies.
- Impact: Broadly, we support the linkage between business or market-driven activity and tangible, measurable impact. More specifically, by providing valuable insights through Weaverbird, stakeholders can create, implement, and evaluate targeted policies, support private sector growth, and encourage investment in African economies – with an emphasis on fostering innovation.
- Market and consumer intelligence: Our Weaverbird platform provides valuable insights into market dynamics and consumer behaviour, enabling data-driven decision-making.
By building our work off of these focus areas, Petrichor Ventures delivers holistic, context-specific solutions that promote a thriving private sector in East Africa, contribute to sustainable economic growth, and drive lasting positive impact.
Our services
Interim management and advisory
Embedded advisory and management roles supporting East African businesses seeking growth and improvement opportunities
Through our interim management and advisory services, we provide customised support to East African businesses pursuing growth and development opportunities. This is typically in three contexts:
1) support to underperforming businesses or investments that need additional capacity or expertise beyond their internal resources,
2) pre-funding support to high-potential companies requiring assistance in strengthening specific areas of their business before securing capital, and
3) post-funding support to companies as a means of mitigating investment risks.
In all of these scenarios, support packages will be customised and based on the needs of each company. Additionally, based on the technical, organisational, or operational gaps that have been identified, we will make sure to bring on board the relevant expertise from our consultant network for the most impactful results.
Focus areas: business development, strategy, and support; fund management support; impact
Business planning, strategy, and execution
Development and implementation of growth, innovation, and expansion strategies that balance financial sustainability with driving meaningful impact
Our business planning, strategy, and execution services are highly adaptable and can cater to a wide range of use cases. In this context, our support typically revolves around three primary scenarios:
1) rapid scoping and feasibility studies, where we work with clients to evaluate potential business opportunities and conduct research to assess project viability, taking into account factors such as market conditions, competition, and operational needs;
2) regulatory management, operational support, and stakeholder engagement, where we assist businesses in navigating intricate regulatory landscapes, ensuring compliance and smooth operations while cultivating positive relationships with key stakeholders; and
3) new venture planning and execution, where we undertake business and expansion planning, providing the necessary tools and support to successfully launch, scale, and manage new ventures in alignment with impact goals.
In each scenario, we tailor our support packages and leverage our network of consultants to provide the most relevant expertise for achieving impactful outcomes.
Focus areas: business development, strategy, and support; expansion and new venture planning and execution; impact
Market and consumer intelligence
AI-enabled market and consumer intelligence to identify growth and impact opportunities in hard-to-reach, high-potential emerging markets
With a projected population of 2 billion by 2050, Africa is one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets. However, economic and social development cannot be sustainably realised without timely access to credible data. In most of Africa, access to even basic data and market information continues to be difficult.
Through our Weaverbird platform, we have developed a suite of automated mobile data collection tools built on existing technology including WhatsApp and SMS. These tools are used to quickly collect targeted data that’s rapidly processed using AI into actionable African consumer intelligence. Example use cases include companies expanding to an African market or markets and that need to inform their market entry or adapt their offerings for African consumers; companies in Africa wanting to understand their customers better or develop more tailored products or services; development partners targeting and information interventions or assessing outcomes, and investors conducting market-related due diligence.
Focus areas: market and consumer intelligence; fund management support; impact