Investment Director

Pula; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Pula is seeking an Investment Director for its Pula Xcelerator. The role centers on identifying and evaluating high-potential African businesses, engaging with founders, and shaping the systems that drive the accelerator.

You will own the investment process from sourcing to execution, using commercial insight and entrepreneurship over pure finance background. Requirements include 10+ years in related fields, strong financial analysis, and proven transaction leadership.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in private equity, venture capital, investment banking, or similar.
• Demonstrated end-to-end investment transaction experience (sourcing to execution).
• Strong ability to evaluate models, fundamentals, growth potential and risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation of prospective companies for commercial potential and fit.
• Perform end-to-end due diligence across financials, operations, and fundamentals.
• Engage with founders and senior management to test assumptions.
• Reconstruct financials and prepare investment memos for decisions.
• Build and manage a pipeline of high-potential opportunities.
• Own deal execution, including structuring and closing, with hands-on leadership.

Skills

Financial analysis

Commercial acumen

Sourcing & deal execution

Due diligence

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Job description

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.

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

Sounds like your next step?

Meet the team

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.

Pula

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.