Pontus Engström’s Post

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Investor and entrepreneur

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗧𝗜 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Ten years ago, I co-founded MTI Investment with Professor Trond Randøy and Dr. Neema Mori. We set out to challenge traditional aid models and build a commercial, publicly listed company driving sustainable growth in East Africa. 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 – research shows only 1 in 10 startups succeed. Yet, despite the odds and countless challenges, we’ve created incredible impact, such as: • 𝗣𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 with Mtaji Wetu Finance giving SMEs access to financing that fuels their growth. • 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 in Kenya and Tanzania’s blue economy through a NOK 25 million NORAD grant with TechBridge Invest. • 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗸, growing revenues tenfold, producing award-winning milk, and helping over 400 smallholder farmers while advancing sustainable packaging. • 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗧𝗜 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭, opening the door for anyone to invest in East Africa’s growth story. Along the way, we’ve created enormous social impact, from empowering farmers to fostering sustainability and innovation across the region. 𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿. I’m stepping down as CEO, proud to pass the torch to Anton Dahlberg, an energetic, young and confident leader ready to take MTI into its next era, supported by our new Chairman, Martin Ackermann. 𝗧𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆: thank you. Together, we’ve shown what’s possible when bold ideas meet tireless effort. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁. #Leadership #ImpactInvestment #Entrepreneurship #EastAfrica #SustainableGrowth #BlueEconomy #Innovation #NASDAQ

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Nyamko Sabuni

Advisor, Investor, Board member

2w

Bra jobbat Pontus. Vilken roll ska du ha framåt? Ser fram emot att fortsätta denna resa tillsammans med dig från varsit bolag 🙌🏿

Håkan Krantz

Expert Partner. Kapitalguiden.

2w

#MTIInvestment #VentureCapital #Nasdaq #Africa #EastAfrica #Europe #Norway #Sweden

Nermina Ek

Investment Director | Investing in start-ups building trust in AI

2w

Congratulations on your achievements and tireless efforts in investing in building companies in East Africa creating financial and social impact.

This is milestone achievement..we will always work and pass the legacy you left us with to the next generation.Congratulation Pontus for setting out a strong foundation where many startups will be able to start their story and move forward !

Said Rashid

Founder at AFYA ZAIDI (AZ) CONSULTANTS

1w

I loved your journey, and I wish you all the best Pontus Engström 🎂🎂🎉🎉. May be you can elaborate further on specific challenges you encountered while entering the East African Market? There is more we can learn on it

Congrats Pontus on the great achievements and the decision to take a new step in your career! Bringing Anton as the new CEO sounds like a brilliant plan! Wishing you and the MTI-team all the best in the future! Thanks for the excellent collaborations throughout the years!

Looks like you have laid a good foundation. Entrepreneurship isn't for the faint hearted especially in Africa. Well done and all the best with your next step. On a side note. Tänk på Uganda också.

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The best of luck in the future Pontus and congratulations to a more than impressive African journey, this continent so exciting but frustrating from time to time. I hope we will have some more inspirational meetings in the future!

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It's been an honor to witness and learn from your vision Pontus Engström. Wishing you all the best as you step into this next chapter, and congratulations to Anton Dahlberg .

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