Aaron Cheng | Powering Africa: Challenges, Innovations, and a Sustainable Future

Matt Tilleard is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CrossBoundary, a firm dedicated to unlocking capital for sustainable growth in underserved markets. With a vision to transform frontier economies, Matt has led CrossBoundary in connecting global investors with high-impact opportunities, particularly in Africa. His work focuses on sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and economic development, blending finance, strategy, and development for measurable social and environmental impact. In this conversation, we uncover: Matt's journey from startup to global impact, challenges and successes in building a business in Africa, secrets to a successful co-founder relationship and leadership balance, building a dynamic company culture and attracting top talent, and staying motivated and resilient through tough times, with future goals for CrossBoundary.

Zaina has a background in the energy and investment space with top-tier investment banking on wall street and canary wharf. She then moved back to Kenya, where she was born and raised, to work with Crossboundary as part of their investment team to deploy capital for energy projects across the African continent. On the podcast we explore: her journey into the energy investment space, the driving force behind her move back to Kenya, adapting to the different working cultures between Wall Street/Canary Wharf and Nairobi, working in large investment banks vs. boutique investment firms, attracting more women into the energy and investment space, capital raising challenges for energy projects in Africa, and the most important lessons she has learnt throughout her career.

Andreas has a background negotiating and structuring corporate PPAs across the world with some of the worlds biggest energy consumers. He previously worked at Bain & Company within their private equity practice before moving into the energy space. He has worked across Africa, Asia, Central, North and South America, Europe and speaks 8 languages! On the podcast we explore: moving from management consulting into the energy sector, whether corporates are serious about their decarbonisation targets, the potential role of carbon capture in decarbonising certain industries, the challenges (and joys) of developing projects in emerging markets, and getting energy buyers comfortable with signing long-term corporate PPAs.

Erik began his journey within the Hydrogen sector in 2017, out of personal interest and a desire to shape an industry that was at a nascent stage. Fast forward to 2023 - he has worked on over 50 clients cases within the sector with Baringa Partners & Boston Consulting Group, co-authored a book on our hydrogen future called “Touching Hydrogen Future” and chaired the World Hydrogen Leaders congress. On the podcast we explore: the motivation behind the “Touching Hydrogen Future” book, the book writing and publishing journey, why the book took a colourless approach to hydrogen, solving the issue of water accessibility for GH2 projects, key takeaways on Africa’s hydrogen potential, and the importance of governmental support.

Dan has a background in delivering critical infrastructure projects across Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Australia. He found his way into the Green Hydrogen sector with Fortescue Future Industries, attracted by the prospect of helping a start-up scale in a new and exciting technology. Through that journey he has gone on to establish himself as an industry specialist and is the author of the Green Hydrogen Insight newsletter. On the podcast we explore: his journey into the Green Hydrogen sector, the various colours of Hydrogen, use cases and the impact on reducing CO2 emissions, busting the Hydrogen myths, Africa’s Green Hydrogen potential.

Bhavik is at the forefront of the data centre boom in Africa. He started his career working in private equity before moving to Raxio where he has played a key role in helping them become one of Africa’s premier data centre companies. On the podcast we explore: the driving force behind Raxio’s growth, how DC companies can approach scaling their teams, raising capital within the sector, the challenges that might hinder the growth of the sector, and Raxio’s ambitions moving forward.

Diana is a rising star when it comes to investment facilitation for SMEs in East Africa. She currently works at Future Africa, where she helps their portfolio companies get investment ready and is also a founding member of the Nairobi Business Angel Network. On this podcast, we explore: the Nairobi Business Angel Network (NaiBan), the need for a stronger local funding ecosystem, capital raising tips for start-ups, funding disparity between male and female founders, and keeping African talent in Africa.