Geraldine Mupandanyama

I am an entrepreneur and business development strategist with over 25 years of hands-on experience in business development, marketing, and entrepreneurship in Africa. I lead Darena Ventures, where I design and deliver practical support programs for early-stage entrepreneurs, especially women and climate startups in Sub-Saharan Africa. My academic background includes an MBA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from MANCOSA, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and certifications in product marketing, inbound marketing, business mentorship, and investment management. These credentials back up my applied style of coaching, especially when helping founders build solid MVPs, clarify their business models, and prepare confidently for investor conversations. My career background spans energy, agriculture, tourism, environmental services, banking, and ICT, which gives me a broad understanding of what it takes to grow ventures in different sectors. I am also a mentor and coach on global platforms like Seedstars, VC4A, and the Founder Institute.