Find your path to Johnni
467 people in our graph share verified history with Johnni — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Jesper GromadaunlockedJohnni: together at Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen (1994–1997)
×6Johnni: together at Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen
Johnni: together at Copenhagen Business School
×3Johnni: together at AIESEC International / Denmark
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
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
- Who is Johnni Kjelsgaard?
- 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.
- Where does Johnni Kjelsgaard work?
- Johnni Kjelsgaard is Founder & CEO at GrowthAfrica.
- Where did Johnni Kjelsgaard go to school?
- Johnni Kjelsgaard studied at Copenhagen Business School (EMBA, Leadership & International Business Development); Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen ((S.Sc.), Economics); ZBC - Zealand Business College (Higher National Diploma in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management).
Same school
Also attended Copenhagen Business School477
Jeppe RindomCo-founder & CEO of PleoLinaInvestor at InvestinorJonathan W.Deeptech Fellow at Clear VenturesThanachat Tangsriwongタイオフィス代表 (Thailand Office Representative) at CyberAgent CapitalAntonio GrifoniAssociate at P101 VenturesThomas JuvinManaging Director Europe at Burda Principal Investments
+ 471 more
Also attended Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen181
David HelgasonUnity co-founder; Partner at TransitionJesper GromadaInvestor at Third Rock VenturesUlrik B. NielsenGeneral Partner at Mission BiocapitalTommy AhlersFormer Danish Science Minister at Giant Ventures Global LlpTaro HizumeGeneral Partner at Ff Venture CapitalClaus AnderssonGeneral Partner at Sunstone Capital
+ 175 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Innovation Centre Denmark5
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 Institute143
Toby CoppelCo-founder and Partner at Mosaic VenturesChandar LalPartner at Mosaic VenturesDavid Rosenthal, MDVenture Partner at AlleyCorpGary LauderFounder at Lauder PartnersJoshua BaerFounder & CEO at Capital FactorySamara Mejia HernandezFounding Partner at Chingona Ventures
+ 137 more
Also worked at Entrepreneurs' Organization81
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 NZVCAdam KaufmanSenior Advisor at OVO Fund
+ 75 more