Mark Karake is founder of Impact Africa Network, a non profit startup studio in Nairobi on a mission to ensure young talented Africans have a chance at participating in the digital transformation of Africa as creators and owners. Having spent 15 years working with startups in Silicon Valley, he brings a wealth of practical startup operational expertise to From Here Ventures. He is passionate about changing the African narrative by building great African companies and helping to establish a culture of high performance, high integrity and high collaboration

With over 5 years experience working in nonprofits, specifically in project management and fundraising Phyllis brings a strong background of building institutions from the ground up. In her career, she has been instrumental in developing strong relationships with Donors and Partners. In addition she has a background in Communication and Public Relations with certification in Project Management.

Clara Kitungulu is a lawyer with an LLB from The University of Nairobi. She has experience in working with startup businesses. She is skilled in commercial law such as business set-up, contract drafting, compliance management and tax advisory, and has exposure to intellectual property law, employment law and company law. She has worked with project teams, which develop into successful startup companies, by ensuring that all the legal requirements for their growth such as entity registration, compliance needs and legal advice are met.

Modestar is a Financial Analyst with a bachelors in Financial Engineering. She is proficient in doing business valuation and building financial models. She has been able to immerse herself in the world of startups and assist in cost optimization. She has also been part of the process of early stage financing for startup projects. Due to her interactions with early stage startups, she is keen on seeing companies move from their very early stages all the way to traction & growth.