Round 1 panel

To ensure transparency and to make sure that the ideas selected for RIU Best Bets are viable and most likely to succeed, all submissions were initially screened against the published criteria by in a process led by independent advisors. The resultant shortlisted applicants then pitched their proposals to an independent expert panel, drawn from the African business, finance, research and development communities, at the Nairobi Best Bets event.

The panel made recommendations to RIU as to which proposals should be funded: these recommendations were binding subject to satisfactory due diligence.

The East, Central and Southern Africa Best Bets advisory panel
RIU used its extensive networks in the region to identify potential panellists for RIU Best Bets. They were approached with an outline brief. The selected panellists were issued contract setting out exactly what was expected of them in terms of preparation ahead of the event on the day. This involved reading the concept notes and business plans and familiarising themselves with the Best Bets process.

For the East, Central and Southern Africa round of RIU Best Bets a high-calibre group of independent panellists was assembled. Their role was to review the short-listed proposals at the Nairobi Best Bets event. All were leaders in their respective fields and their individual skills and experiences are highly complementary.

		Muchiri Wahome Facilitator and chair of the RIU Best Bets panel Muchiri is the Managing Director of Deacons (K) Limited, the leading fashion chain store in the region. He is a non-executive director of Scan Group, the largest marketing agency in East and Central Africa. In addition to a range of voluntary and leadership roles, he hosted a popular talk-show on Kenya television.
		Ali A Mufuruki Chairman and CEO of the Infotech Investment Group in Tanzania Infotech Investment Group has business interests in real estate, retail, advertising, IT and telecommunications services. Ali is the Founding Chairman of The CEOs' Roundtable of Tanzania, a policy dialogue forum that brings together CEOs of the top 50 companies in Tanzania. He is also a member of the Presidential Investors Roundtable that advises the President of Tanzania on a wide range of economic policy issues. Ali, a mechanical engineer by training, sits on the board of a wide range of for-profit, non-profit and philanthropic organizations.
		Patrick Oketa Chief Investment Officer at the Kampala-based African Agricultural Capital (AAC) AAC is an investment fund established by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Volksvermogen NV to invest in small and medium-sized agriculture-related businesses in East Africa. Patrick has a wealth of experience in private equity and project financing gained from many years of working with projects and entrepreneurs across Africa. Previously he was responsible for the administration of the US $100 million Actis Agribusiness Fund.
		Judi Wakhungu Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies based in Nairobi, Kenya Judi's research interests include science, technology, and innovation; agriculture and food security; biodiversity and natural resource management; energy and water security; and gender issues in science and technology. Judi serves on several national and international working groups including the African Conservation Centre, High-Level Consultative Group (United Nations Environment Program-Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-4), the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), Legatum Centre at MIT and the World Bioenergy Association.