SUNU Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in companies that are creating a more prosperous, inclusive, and self-sustaining future across the global south.
SUNU makes tailored investments to help companies pursue game-changing opportunities and realize their vision. Post-investment, we draw upon our network to offer additional capacity and capital that helps businesses grow and prepare to access follow-on investments. We move swiftly and responsively. We commit long-term. We love a good challenge.
Investing in
Our Shared Future
Backing companies that
do better
We see boundless opportunity for companies to take the lead in advancing green economies that provide jobs and social benefits in urban and rural communities. SUNU primarily targets early-stage companies that aim to radically improve the collective wellbeing of workers and consumers at the bottom of the pyramid.
SUNU has no sector-specific agenda: we care most about why and how you do what you do. We partner with a diverse mix of entrepreneurs and skilled teams that are creative problem solvers, big thinkers, and compassionate individuals. We celebrate those who wield uncertainty, creativity, and optimism to reimagine our future.
Who we are
SUNU Capital was inspired by the dirt roads of Peru, the coffee houses of Atlanta, and the highlands of Rwanda. SUNU is a partnership between Scott Satterwhite and Ben Schmerler, who combine deep investment experience with a field-tested ability to identify creative, local solutions in emerging markets. They are motivated by the power of businesses to advance the shared prosperity of communities, the environment, and the world.
The concept of Sunu means “Ours” in Wolof, the national language of Senegal. The word doesn’t have a precise translation in English but evokes a sense of togetherness and collective ownership, referring to the idea that all members of society share equally in its social and environmental assets.