About
Johnni Kjelsgaard is founder and executive chairman of GrowthAfrica and a member of the sounding board at Innovation Centre Denmark. Over 25 years of experience working with more than 5,000 entrepreneurs and their ventures across African and international markets has informed his work as an investor, mentor, economist, and banker. He has developed a methodology called the Growth Compass that guides entrepreneurs in establishing business foundations aligned with holistic growth, sustainability, and community impact.
Experience
- Innovation Centre DenmarkMember, Sounding Boardcurrent2025 — presentDenmark
- GrowthAfricaFounder & Executive Chairmancurrent2021 — presentNairobi & Copenhagen
- GrowthAfricaFounder & Chief Executive2000 — 2021Nairobi, Kampala, Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dar, Lusaka, Accra, Lilongwe, Monrovia, Maputo, Freetown
- The Aspen InstituteChair – ANDE East Africa Steering Committee2014 — 2020Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia
- Entrepreneurs' OrganizationMember of the Board of Directors2017 — 2018Kenya
- Impact Fund DenmarkAdvisor2005 — 2017
- MetrocomiaDirector, Corporate Development & Co-founder1999 — 2002Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Nepal, Denmark
- AIESEC International / DenmarkExecutive Director / President1996 — 1998Worldwide
Education
- Copenhagen Business SchoolEMBA, Leadership & International Business Development2010 — 2012
- Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen(S.Sc.), Economics1994 — 1997
- ZBC - Zealand Business CollegeHigher National Diploma in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management1988 — 1991
- Benløse Skole1979 — 1988
Skills & more
Strategic Planning43Leadership20Management40Team Management4Analysis5East Africa2Sub-Saharan Africa3Leadership Development CoachingInvestment ManagementEntrepreneurial OrganizationsOrganizational LeadershipBoard of Directors
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipBusiness StrategyStrategic PartnershipsVenture CapitalSocial EntrepreneurshipOrganizational DevelopmentBusiness PlanningInternational DevelopmentManagement ConsultingBusiness DevelopmentStart-upsDue DiligenceLanguages Danish · English · French · German · Norwegian · Swedish
From Johnni's professional profile.
Colleagues at GrowthAfrica
Alex Njoroge
Finance and Administration Associate at GrowthAfrica
Connie Nekesa
Senior Accountant at GrowthAfrica
Doreen Odera
Finance and Administration Intern at GrowthAfrica
Edward Ken-Zorre Angyinaa
Communications Associate at GrowthAfrica
Emmanuel Mbogholi
Growth Catalyst at GrowthAfrica
Eugene Eluerkeh
Senior Growth Catalyst at GrowthAfrica
George Ogada
Growth Catalyst at GrowthAfrica
Ian Lorenzen
Executive Director & Partner at GrowthAfrica
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Johnni Kjelsgaard work?
- Johnni Kjelsgaard is Founder & CEO at GrowthAfrica.
Same school
Also attended Copenhagen Business School299
LinaInvestor at InvestinorAntonio GrifoniAssociate at P101 VenturesThomas JuvinManaging Director Europe at Burda Principal InvestmentsAlexander KremerPartner at Keen Venture PartnersNicolaj ReffstrupFounder, Ganni at Giant Ventures Global LlpJoe ZhangPartner at TNBAura
+ 293 more
Also attended Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen93
Jesper GromadaInvestor at Third Rock VenturesClaus AnderssonGeneral Partner at Sunstone CapitalSten VerlandVenture Partner at Sunstone CapitalSophie Blomgren-HansenStudent Assistant at Sunstone CapitalTine LindgreenPrincipal at SEED Capital DenmarkAnne Cathrine WilhjelmAttorney, Partner at SEED Capital Denmark
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Shared employers
Also worked at Innovation Centre Denmark4
Also worked at GrowthAfrica14
Patricia JumiExecutive Director and Co-founder at GrowthAfricaIan LorenzenExecutive Director & Partner at GrowthAfricaTrudy NatabonaCommunications Lead at GrowthAfricaWinnie NyokabiSenior HR Associate at GrowthAfricaEmmanuel MbogholiGrowth Catalyst at GrowthAfricaJesse BaddooGrowth Catalyst at GrowthAfrica
+ 8 more
Also worked at The Aspen Institute76
Toby CoppelCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesChandar LalPartner at Mosaic VenturesDeena ShakirPartner at Lux CapitalDavid Rosenthal, MDVenture Partner at AlleyCorpGary LauderFounder at Lauder PartnersSamara Mejia HernandezFounding Partner at Chingona Ventures
+ 70 more
Also worked at Entrepreneurs' Organization45
Musaad AlkadiSr. Principal at Graphene VenturesChang NgAdvisor at Maven 11La Keisha Landrum PierreCo-Founder & General Partner at Emmeline VenturesNathan McDonaldManaging Partner & CEO at Keiretsu CapitalRich RobinsonInvestor at NZVCSina FarzanehChief Executive Officer, Pullpath at Orbit Startups
+ 39 more