Agnes Manthi

Having grown up in a farming environment in eastern Kenya, I’ve been interested in agriculture for a long time. For ten years, I worked in the microfinance industry offering microloans to mostly smallholder farmers. Through this work, I experienced firsthand how so many subsistence farmers struggle to repay even small amounts of credit when they aren’t organized into an income generating activity. At Root Capital, I love that I can support the growth of businesses that create opportunities for hundreds or even thousands of farmers in vulnerable environments. As Root Capital’s business development officer for East Africa, I support the growth and diversification of our regional portfolio by generating new clients, researching new opportunities, and managing relationships with our partner organizations. It’s also exciting that I play a lead role in developing our strategy to reach more high-impact businesses across East Africa.