Charmaine Hayden

Founding Partner at GOODsoil VC

Charmaine Hayden is the visionary Fund Manager behind Goodsoil VC, an Africa-focused fund that invests in early-stage startups with exceptional founders. Her investment philosophy is driven by a passion for creating high-performing solutions that address the world's biggest problems, with a particular focus on sustainable tech and tech-enabled startups in the fintech space. However, she also remains open-minded and agnostic to other opportunities in the sustainability sector.

Before founding Goodsoil VC, Charmaine had already made a name for herself in the talent industry, thanks to her award-winning agency, which provided diversity-focused talent for globally recognized brands. A champion of underrepresented groups, Charmaine also established a technical support and incubation community for UK-based female entrepreneurs. Her unconventional personal and professional background enables her to identify promising opportunities that are often overlooked when identifying top-tier startups.

As an angel investor, Charmaine has invested in several UK startups, including Freetrade, Coconut, and Q Doctor (acquired by E Consult Health). Her track record of success has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition by Forbes as one of the 25 Black businesspeople to watch and by the Financial Times as one of 100 BAME leaders in tech. Charmaine is also a founding member of the UK-Ghana Investor Group (UKGIG), a critical aspect of the inter-ministerial UK-Ghana Business Council. The group's primary role is to encourage private sector engagement in priority projects identified by the UK Ghana Business Council, with the ultimate goal of increasing the nation's inflow of FDI.

Charmaine is not only an exceptional fund manager but also a captivating public speaker, renowned for her innate ability to connect with audiences. Her diverse professional background, including her experience as a TV presenter and BBC radio personality, has undoubtedly shaped her charismatic persona and relatability on stage. With her unique career path, she possesses the skills and expertise to engage any audience effectively, leaving a lasting impact on attendees. It's no surprise that she is in high demand as a public speaker.