Are you an Investment Director who is motivated and passionate about working with commercial and sustainable investments that create impact in countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia? This might be your next opportunity.
Impact Fund Denmark (IFDK) is the official Development Finance Institution of Denmark. We strive to be a best-in-class impact investor, thinking innovatively about ways to deploy our capital, attract, and mobilise other investors, and drive sustainable impact in emerging markets. Impact Fund Denmark mainly takes minority shareholdings and is an active investor in growth companies within our focus sectors.
Impact Fund Denmark is a global organisation and offers a diverse and inclusive working environment with strong values like 'care for the future’, ‘strive with courage’ and ‘make a difference together’. We are approximately 180 full time employees representing over 30 different nationalities, with more than 15% of staff located at our regional representations, who all share the IFDK purpose: to support the green transition and contribute to just and inclusive economies in developing countries and emerging markets.
Impact Fund Denmark Venture Capital seeks to (i) invest in early-stage companies in emerging markets that are or can become highly impactful from a climate and/or inclusion perspective; (ii) create a pipeline of high potential, impactful opportunities where IFDK can later invest; (iii) and deliver returns while having substantial impact. The average size of a venture ticket is US $2-4m, focused on healthcare, sustainable food systems, green energy and infrastructure, and financial services.
The Venture Capital team has an earmarked pool of funds to invest in companies and financial intermediaries with linkages to Denmark. The latter includes investments in (i) Danish companies looking to expand their businesses in emerging markets; (ii) emerging market companies developed, managed or funded by Danish partners, and (iii) emerging market companies with commercial ties to Denmark, among others. The Investment Director recruited would focus on deploying this pool of funds and managing the subsequent portfolio.
The Position & your tasks
The preferred candidate is a fully versatile expert developing and managing investment transactions, reporting to the Head of Venture Capital. The selected candidate would be expected to:
Identify and create investment opportunities with Danish linkages, leveraging networks of business contacts;
Help spot new trends and business models that can further Impact Fund Denmark’s climate and/or inclusion goals.
Screen and assess potential investment opportunities that are or can become commercially viable;
Lead deal teams throughout the entire investment transaction cycle, offering guidance to less experienced colleagues;
Develop investment pipeline and manage demanding business relationships;
Help investee companies scale by providing advice and/or representing Impact Fund Denmark on their boards, and eventually secure additional financing.
Establish relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders that stretch across several functions and geographies.
The position is based in Copenhagen, with preference for candidates legally allowed to work there.
Qualifications & experience
Key qualifications are >10 years of full-time experience and track record from private equity, venture capital (preferred), mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investment banking, or other relevant experience, with direct exposure to emerging markets (preference for Africa). In addition, the ideal candidate has:
A Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or another related field.
Experience in one or more of the sector verticals in which IFDK invests: green energy and infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, or sustainable food systems. Preference for experience in the first two of these sectors.
Experience sourcing and creating investment opportunities and managing an investment process.
Proven knowledge of the Danish private sector and strong network of business contacts in it.
Experience with international engagements of Danish corporates and their stakeholders
Experience valuing companies, conducting financial analyses, building financial models, structuring a transaction to optimize its risk/return profile, and negotiating legal documentation. Preference for investment experience in the range of USD $2-3 million tickets.
Proven ability to think strategically and collaborate and manage stakeholders.
Strong interpersonal skills and business judgement.
Experience with project management, including executing against implementation plans.
Experience working with junior team members and mentoring those team members.
Strong organizational skills and proven ability to work on several assignments simultaneously is required.
Outstanding and demonstrated history of analytical, creative problem solving and critical thinking skills is required.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills in Danish and English are required. Proficiency in other languages spoken in emerging markets would be a plus.
Genuine dedication to development and to IFDK’s mission and values.
Willingness to travel moderately.
Working and Learning at Impact Fund Denmark
As an investment professional in Impact Fund Denmark, you will become familiar with how we work and create impact through investments in developing countries. Learning is an important element of working at Impact Fund Denmark, and we will support your personal development through training, sparring and by ensuring that you get exciting and challenging tasks that you can learn from supplemented by regular internal and external training sessions. When joining Impact Fund Denmark, you will participate in our extensive onboarding programme to give you the best possible start in your new role.
Your application
If you can see yourself in this role and think the job sounds interesting, we would love to hear from you! Submit your CV and cover letter as soon as possible and no later than March 8th.
Please include in your cover letter why you believe you are a strong candidate for the position. As an annex to your cover letter please add your deal sheet, which should include for each transaction:
Company name, sector, geography
Entry and exit dates
Investment size, investment instrument, ownership (if equity), and valuation (or multiple)
Exit status and performance (MOIC / IRR / TVPI where available)
Your specific role and responsibilities. Please distinguish clearly between deals where you were lead vs. team member.
Board involvement, if any
Include both successful and underperforming investments
Further information & Contact
For further information and to learn more about working at Impact Fund Denmark, please visit our website at www.impactfund.dk. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Maria Paulina (Ina) Mogollon, Head of Venture Capital, at mpm@impactfund.dk.