AHL Venture Partners and DOB Equity Launch Kahawa Council to Support Founders Beyond Capital
07 August 2026
AHL Venture Partners and DOB Equity have launched the Kahawa Council, a new forum designed to bring founders, senior executives and industry experts together to discuss the practical challenges of building and scaling businesses in Africa.
The inaugural session, hosted at the AHL Venture Partners offices in Nairobi, focused on tax - an area that is often treated as a back-office issue but can have significant implications for fundraising, business structuring and long-term growth.
The session brought together leaders from AHL and DOB Equity’s portfolio and pipeline companies for a candid and practical conversation with Waithera Mugo, Founder of Ithera Africa; Brian Waruru, Principal Associate at ALN; and Sharon Makena, Assistant Manager, Audit and Risk at the Kenya Revenue Authority’s Large Taxpayers Office.
The discussion was moderated by Cikü Mugambi, Investment Director at DOB Equity, and Kerry Nasidai, Senior Investment Manager at AHL Venture Partners.
The conversation highlighted the importance of investing in strong finance and tax capabilities early. For growing companies, tax risks can build quietly over time and may only become visible during a fundraising process, regulatory review or major transaction.
Panellists encouraged founders to ensure that their accounting records, contracts, tax filings and corporate structures consistently reflect the commercial reality of the business. They also stressed the value of involving finance teams in investment discussions and transaction planning from the outset.
The session explored several issues commonly faced by scaling businesses, including offshore holding structures, transfer pricing, debt and equity conversions, the separation of founder and company accounts, and the management of tax disputes.
A recurring theme was that tax planning should not be approached solely as a compliance exercise. Instead, it should form part of broader business and investment planning, particularly for companies operating across multiple markets or preparing to raise external capital.
The panellists also encouraged businesses to engage early with tax advisers and regulators where uncertainty exists, rather than waiting for an assessment or dispute to arise.
The Kahawa Council forms part of AHL Venture Partners’ and DOB Equity’s broader commitment to supporting entrepreneurs beyond capital. The two organisations intend for the forum to become a recurring platform through which founders and management teams can engage with experts, exchange experiences and explore practical solutions to shared challenges.
AHL Venture Partners and DOB Equity extend their appreciation to the panellists for sharing their expertise, and to the founders and senior executives who participated openly in the discussion.
About Kahawa Council
Kahawa Council is a joint initiative of AHL Venture Partners and DOB Equity. It brings together experts, founders and senior leaders from portfolio and pipeline companies to discuss practical issues affecting start-ups and scale-ups across Africa.