Unparalleled Consumer Credit Intelligence
Nithio's solution combines rich customer insights with scalable, structured institutional debt financing.
By 2030, 9 out of 10 people living without electricity globally will be in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A new breed of distributed energy service companies, PAYGO financing and catalytic capital offer promise of increased electrification. But constraints to reaching scale remain.
Limited Data & Transparency
Consumer targeting, market intelligence and customer creditworthiness determination is ineffective and inexact, limiting targeted sales and precision cash flow projections.
Little Flexibility, Liquidity & Scale
Viable multi-country, multi-operator investments with requisite ticket sizes are lacking. Financial and social returns are imprecise, while opaque portfolio performance and ineffective risk pricing reduce viable receivables-backed financing opportunities.
Broken Credit Scoring Models
Markets lack clarity on characteristics of repayment behaviors and future payment predictability, creating missed sales opportunities and inaccurate portfolio risk assessment.
Nithio is the solution for scaling off-grid energy.
We increase the ecosystem's effectiveness by
advancing customer intelligence with AI-driven insights and by channeling capital through a
financial intermediary platform for investors and solar operators.
"The PAYGO business creates affordability by extending a consumer loan which needs to be financed. This need to fund receivables can range from USD 35-65 million per company or even higher.”
Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report - 2018
Our Team
Hela Cheikhrouhou
Co-Founder & CEO
Ms. Cheikhrouhou was previously the Minister of Energy in Tunisia and the first Executive Director to establish and manage the Green Climate Fund. She also ran the Energy Department at the African Development Bank, one of the largest financiers of energy projects across Africa.
Kate Steel
Co-Founder & COO
Dr. Steel has a long career in the off-grid power sector, most recently as Energy Director for Power Africa. Prior to Power Africa, Dr. Steel was on the Energy Access and Investments team at Google and was manager of the World Bank-IFC Lighting Africa initiative.
Madeleine Gleave
Chief Data Scientist
Ms. Gleave was previously at Dharma.ai where she led data management software implementation. Previously, she was a Policy and Advocacy Officer for the International Rescue Committee and a Research Assistant focused on energy access and infrastructure investment with the Center for Global Development.
Ms. Akindolie supports Nithio's on the ground operations in Lagos. Her expertise is in finance and logistics. Previously she was an analyst at Abraaj and a fellow at the Albright Stoneridge Group's Africa practice. This experience is augmented by internships at Africa Courier Express, Sahel Capital Partners and FBN Capital.
Ms. Akindolie supports Nithio's on the ground operations in Lagos. Her expertise is in finance and logistics. Previously she was an analyst at Abraaj and a fellow at the Albright Stoneridge Group's Africa practice. This experience is augmented by internships at Africa Courier Express, Sahel Capital Partners and FBN Capital.
Ms. Akindolie supports Nithio's on the ground operations in Lagos. Her expertise is in finance and logistics. Previously she was an analyst at Abraaj and a fellow at the Albright Stoneridge Group's Africa practice. This experience is augmented by internships at Africa Courier Express, Sahel Capital Partners and FBN Capital.
Shambhavi Mohan
Data Scientist
Ms. Mohan was previously a Research Assistant at the Center for Robust Decision Making on Climate and Energy Policy. Prior to this, she was a Senior Business Analyst at Credit Suisse and an Associate at the Quality Council of India.
Dave Wilson
Data Solutions Analyst
Mr. Wilson was previously a General Engineer with Pepco Holdings in the Capacity Planning Department where he specialized in the technical screening and modeling of distributed energy resource interconnections; he also helped to lead future looking data and analytics projects.
Ardan Demirayak
Investment Associate
Mr. Demirayak was previously a Venture Capital Analyst Intern at Brighten Management. He also worked as an Equity Research Analyst Intern covering commodities and Turkish small-cap companies for Global Securities.
Yewande Odumosu
Nigeria Lead
Ms. Odumosu has over 10 years' experience leading key strategic initiatives for such clients as Google, Exxon Mobil, Vodacom, and Nigerian Bottling Company. She has also worked with various startups and businesses to define and implement their business, operational, growth, and product strategies.
Mouhammad Fall
Financial Analyst
Mr. Fall was previously an Investment Associate at Kupanda Capital where he conducted market research, financial modelling, and operational planning. He was previously a Summer Analyst at Black Rhino Group and a Business Development Analyst at China Partners Worldwide.
Maya Chorengel
Board
Ms. Chorengel is Senior Partner, Impact and Financial Services Sector Lead at The Rise Fund. She also serves as a Director of Varo Money, Kiva, GloboKasNet, and Nithio. Maya has over 20 years of private equity, venture capital, and impact investing experience in the US and emerging markets, including co-founding venture impact firm, Elevar Equity, and previously working at Warburg Pincus.
Queen Chinyere Quinn
Board
Ms. Chinyere Quinn is Co-Founder and Partner at Kupanda Capital. She has helped to found several new companies and ventures, including Fraym and Nithio. Prior to this, she was an Investment Officer in the Private Sector Department of the African Development Bank and a Management Associate with the Citigroup Corporate and Investment Bank.
Bobby Pittman
Board
Mr. Pittman is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Kupanda Capital. He has helped found numerous companies, including Fraym and Nithio. Previously, he was VP of Infrastructure, Private Sector and Regional Integration at the African Development Bank. He also held senior positions at several U.S. government agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council, Treasury Department, State Department and served as the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs in the White House.
Raghav Sachdeva
Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Sachdeva was previously the Director of Structured Finance at Standard Chartered Bank. He has over nine years of banking experience in originating, structuring, and executing high-value debt transactions across multiple geographies.
Chris Woolhouse
GC
Mr. Woolhouse has over 20 years' experience working at international law firms, including Clifford Chance, Orrick, Hogan Lovells and BLP. He has established a number of start-up companies in the low carbon technology sector for a boutique investment house and served as a private equity fund's general counsel.
Robert Colvin
Director of Strategy & Client Solutions
Mr. Colvin was previously a Strategy Consultant with Dalberg Advisors where his project work focused on organizational effectiveness, finance and investment. Previously, he worked for Crown Agents and focused on business development and program management.
Linda Oramasionwu-Leverette
Board
Ms. Oramasionwu is a Co-Founder and Partner at Kupanda Capital. In this capacity, she has helped to found several new companies and ventures and serves as in-house counsel for Kupanda Capital and its portfolio companies. Prior to Kupanda Capital, Ms. Oramasionwu worked in the Legal and Private Sector Departments at the African Development Bank and also served as corporate counsel at Schwarz Law Firm, LLC. She is admitted to the New York State Bar.
John Simon
Advisor
Ambassador (ret.) Simon is the Founding Partner at TOTAL Impact Capital. Previously, he held a variety of posts in the US federal government, including serving most recently as the United States Ambassador to the African Union and the Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. He also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Relief, Stabilization, and Development for the National Security Council.
Contact us to learn more about revolutionizing energy financing and credit access for unbanked households worldwide.
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805 15th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005
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