S02E11 Crown Castê: Can Impact and Profit Coexist? Lessons from Emmie van Helder’s African Investments

Welcome to Crown Castê, your financial literacy podcast for small businesses. We publish inspiring, insightful conversations with investors and stewards of capital.

In this episode of, we welcome Emmie van Helder, an inspiring angel investor focused on SDG-driven investments in Africa. Emmie shares her journey from starting a tech training company to making impactful investments that balance financial returns with social and environmental benefits.

The conversation begins with Emmie recounting her entrepreneurial roots, including her first company teaching people to use personal computers and her eventual pivot to investing in early-stage ventures (0:48). She explains how her passion for building businesses and solving problems has shaped her career.

A key theme of this episode is the transformative potential of African markets. Emmie highlights the importance of investing in projects that not only provide financial returns but also create meaningful change. She shares compelling examples of her investments, including:

• A cheese factory in Malawi that empowered 1,000 local farmers, revitalized the region’s economy, and delivered impressive returns (3:47).
• A medical diagnostics company leveraging AI to improve infant care in low-resource hospitals, saving over 60% more infant lives (6:20).
• An AI language model designed for African languages, enabling millions to access technology in their native tongues and unlocking new markets (7:53).

The episode also explores Emmie’s approach to finding and evaluating investment opportunities. She stresses the importance of identifying real problems, assessing team capabilities, and trusting instincts when metrics are limited in early-stage ventures (8:42). Her hands-on involvement and candid communication style set her apart in a competitive space (11:36).

One standout aspect of the conversation is Emmie’s practical advice for entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the potential of crowdfunding as an effective way to secure early-stage funding and gain momentum before seeking angel or VC investments (17:33).

This episode provides invaluable insights into impact investing and the potential of African markets. Emmie’s experience and practical advice make it a must-listen for entrepreneurs and investors alike Where to connect

• Emmie's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmie-van-halder/