Lyndsay Holley Handler

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

2023 - Current

Delta40 is a new Venture Studio bringing world-class talent together with innovative technologies to solve some of the greatest climate and income inequality challenges in Africa. We build and invest in technology-enabled energy, agriculture, fintech, and mobility ventures led by diverse, experienced founders. Beyond capital, we provide hands on support and shared services to increase the speed and scale of these ventures across Africa.

Director Board of Directors

2022

SunFi is a clean energy platform replacing dirty generators in Africa and was recognized as one of the top 100 impact startups in the world by top investors and thought leaders.

Board Director

2022

Through Gridless OS and Gridless data centers in 4+ countries in Africa, we help new and existing distributed energy producers become profitable thus expanding access to clean energy across the continent.

Partner & Chief Venture Builder

2023

At Factor[e], I lead Delta40, a new Venture Studio at Factor[e], to bring world-class talent together with innovative technologies to solve some of the greatest climate and income inequality challenges in the energy, agriculture, and mobility sectors. I also provide post investment support to Factor[e] & Equator's portfolio of 30+ technology ventures. I am on the Factor[e] Ventures Investment Committee, am a Board Director for SunFi, Gridless, Easy Solar and am a Board Observer for Ampersand. Factor[e] Ventures is an early-stage seed investor and venture building group that invests capital and hands-on support to high-impact, technology-enabled businesses in India and Africa. To date, Factor[e] has invested in 30 companies that have gone on to raise over $500M in co-investment. Factor[e] has had 4 exits to date and is growing its impact in 2023 with the Delta40 Venture Studio and a sister fund called Equator.

Board Director I Coach I Advisor I Speaker

2020

I actively coach, advise, champion and support entrepreneurs, CEOs, C-kevel leadership and investors building businesses in Africa in the areas of clean energy, fintech, education and agriculture. I am especially passionate about working hands on with entrepreneurs and leaders to build new ventures, bring new products to the market, create strong teams and expand across Africa.

Board Observer

2022 - 2023

CEO

2015 - 2019

Fenix International (acquired by ENGIE in 2018) is a venture-backed energy company providing clean, affordable power to over 3,000,000. With teams in 9 countries - Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Mozambique, Paris, Shenzhen & San Francisco - Fenix designs, manufactures, distributes, sells, finances and services its flagship product Fenix Power. Following a period of rapid growth, Fenix was acquired by ENGIE in 2018 and continues to grow under the brand ENGIE Energy Access. • Built a high performing, mission-driven team over over 1,100 employees and over 5,000 commission- based agents. Built a strong, collaborative team culture and an inclusive employee ownership program called Fenix Flames. Nurtured the "Fenix Family" culture as we scaled to 9 markets with an employee NPS >88. • Designed & developed an expandable, pay-to-own home solar system called Fenix Power financed through affordable payments over Mobile Money. This inclusive approach to financing is made possible by our unique lockout technology and proprietary software platform. Use real-time transaction data to enable access to power, finance additional Fenix products and to unlock a wider world of financing for over 500M unbanked people in Africa. • Created and refined a customer-centric sales, distribution and service strategy that enabled Fenix to sell more than 1,000,000 solar home systems with an NPS of >70. With continuous improvements in new markets, we grew from 0 to 50,000+ customers in year 1. Built strong commercial partnership with Africa's largest telecom and top brand MTN. • Built professional and scalable finance, operations, legal and ethics teams to support growth and attract commercial capital. • Led significant equity and debt fundraising efforts and successfully took the company through an acquisition by French energy leader ENGIE. Remained as CEO for 2 years after the acquisition before passing the torch to a new CEO in October 2019.

East Africa Managing Director

2012 - 2015

Senior Director of Programs & Operations

2010 - 2011

• Created over 10,000 micro-businesses in agriculture, service and retail sectors in East Africa • Built and led a team of over 75 people across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania • Professionalized operations & improved operational efficiency • Created Village Enterprise’s 5 year Strategic Plan together with the CEO and Board of Directors

Director of Operations

2006 - 2009

Fellow, Haas Center for Public Service

2004 - 2005