The Sporting Chance Fund
Our team ​

Unleashing Africa's potential
for business innovation in sport

Who we are​​

We are an experienced team who have been successful in pioneering and managing impact-first private sector challenge funds in Africa. Over 250 exciting African businesses and their innovations have been supported to scale through these mechanisms, leveraging investment, generating value and delivering substantial development impact benefiting over 15 million people

We have a deep understanding of African businesses and what they need in order to flourish. We are Africa based, with a global outlook and are keen to apply our experience into an underserved sports sector that has great development impact potential.

Charlie Appleton​​

Former Partner in KPMG Kenya; ex head of KPMG Advisory in East Africa. 32 years development sector experience including large scale programme management and challenge funds. Significant experience in founding social enterprises and charities. Chairman, Alive and Kicking, a social enterprise, the world’s only not-for-profit ball manufacturer.

Anjali Saini ​​​

Successfully led a > US$70m private sector challenge fund in climate change adaptation and renewable energy. 25+ years as a private sector consultant in environmental management, energy, tourism and conservation. Specialised in interface between private sector and development impact, innovation and entrepreneurship; and early stage investing in Africa.

Hugh Scott​​​​

Extensive leadership experience in agribusiness, private sector development and making markets work for the poor. Successful management of large scale multi-disciplinary projects in Sub-Saharan Africa including the largest challenge fund in agribusiness and renewable energy. Unrivalled reputation for innovation and achievement in private sector development.

Colin Azavedo​​​

Brand and communications professional. Experience supporting multiple development programmes including the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund; Mastercard Foundation challenge funds and MercyCorps Agrifin Accelerate. Two decades, strategy, brand, advertising, digital, public relations and direct marketing expertise.

Sheba Nyaronga​ ​​​

CEO at Alive and Kicking. Leads on external engagements and business development. Successfully steered Alive and Kicking through challenges arising from Covid-19, including consolidation of costs and maintenance of revenues; and most recently piloted and implemented a schools mental health programme impacting upon over 16,000 students in 52 public schools.

Rose Ndung’u ​​​​

Over two decades of senior level experience in corporate strategy; management and market development for new and innovative products. Directed operations for the successful execution of challenge funds in financial inclusion; health; renewable energy and climate resilience across numerous geographies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Irene Mbaka​​​

Detail-oriented Finance Manager with the insight to transform data into actionable strategies and operational goals. Irene has significant experience with donor and grants management and establishing robust administrative, accounting, financial reporting and budgeting processes.

The Sporting Chance Fund is a new initiative in development. It is being hosted by Alive & Kicking.

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