Kiara Suttner-Tromp has been named a new partner at South Africa-based HAVAIC, an African venture capital firm.

She joins HAVAIC's team, which includes managing partner Ian Lessen and partners Grant Rock and Rob Heath.

HAVAIC says Suttner-Tromp will use her financial and analytical skills to push the company to new heights by expanding her portfolio companies toward sustainability.

Kiara Suttner-Tromp first joined HAVAIC in 2019 as a senior associate, where she oversaw negotiations to bring breakdown management platform RNR and AI chatbot developer Rather. Chat in HAVAIC's portfolio of 20 African-born tech start-ups.

Suttner-Tromp attended the University of Cape Town, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Science and a postgraduate diploma in accounting, as well as the CFA qualification.

Following her tertiary education, she finished her articles at KPMG South Africa before joining RisCura as a senior private equity analyst.

Her elevation comes at a time the equity capital company showing strong performance after the release of HAVAIC's 2023 results, which showed a 400% increase in total yearly income and a historic fifth exit.

Suttner-Tromp’s promotion corresponds with the first closing of HAVAIC's third Africa-focused fund, African Innovation Fund 3 ($50 million), which aims to grow African start-ups.

"It's an industry that will always keep you humble and leave you hungry to learn and grow at the same rate as the disruptions we see in this space, making it ever more rewarding," says Suttner-Tromp.