In this first episode of 2025, our hosts Eva Yazhari and Nicholas Java of Beyond Capital Ventures take us inside the BCV portfolio, in particular the firm’s innovative and impactful fintech companies, which make up close to 30% of our business. To usher in the new year, Eva and Nicholas also take their conversation to video so listeners can get to know them and BCV even better.

• Fun fact of the day: Close to half of the world's mobile banking accounts are based in Africa (1:26)
• Why interoperability between various mobile banking platforms and ecosystems is crucial to empowering individuals and building intercontinental economies in our markets of India and East Africa (3:09)
• Eva outlines what typically underserved customers are actually looking for and need from new digital banking products (5:40)
• Eva explains how the US-based SWIFT banking messaging network creates challenges for customers in emerging markets (7:18)
• Nicholas introduces several BCV fintech portfolio companies, including XENO and Zanifu, which are increasing access to financing and investment management (9:39)
• The duo discuss what “digital” actually means when it comes to online financial services (12:35)
• Eva and Nicholas tackle some of the serious gaps that persist in financial services in emerging markets (14:51)
• Eva talks about another BCV portco, Eden Care, which helps African companies manage employee health insurance through a single platform (16:44)

Conscious investing — what does it mean, really? And how is it different from impact investing or philanthropy? In this informative episode of the Beyond Capital Ventures Podcast, our hosts, BCV Managing Partner Eva Yazahri and Partner Nicholas Java, tackle the term and why it serves as our firm’s North Star.

• Eva shares an anecdote about a recent conversation with a “cold-blooded” investor that shed light on the type of individual BCV wants to work with — and why (3:25)
• Nicholas explains the difference in “above-the-line” (i.e. relational) and “below-the-line” (transactional) investments (4:31)
• Why coming in with a superiority complex is never the best approach to true venture capital support (5:14)
• Stakeholder capitalism vs. shareholder capitalism (6:26)
• The mantra of “no money, no mission,” or how conscious investing differs from philanthropy (hint: it’s about sustainable growth) (6:55)
• Eva references her book, The Good Your Money Can Do, and why she focused on conscious investing over impact investing in her personal and professional pursuits (9:43)
• Why investors should support founders who are in love with the problem, not the solution (11:55)
• Eva explains the scarcity vs. abundance way of seeing the world (12:41)
• How to tell if a company founder is a conscious leader (14:28)

Healthcare is a crucial sector within Beyond Capital Ventures’ investment outlook, comprising more than 40% of our portfolio. Access to quality healthcare remains a challenge in much of the world, markedly so in emerging markets such as India and East Africa, where we concentrate our efforts.

In this compelling episode of the BCV Podcast, our hosts Eva and Nicholas discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities presented by investing in early-stage healthcare companies operating in emerging markets — as well as the awe-inspiring products, services, and initiatives the healthcare-focused founders in our portfolio are producing to help improve lives in their communities.

• Eva and Nicholas discuss the allocation of healthcare companies in Beyond Capital Ventures’ portfolio and the various subsectors within this essential investment category (1:44)
• The conversation turns to the similarities and differences in healthcare in emerging markets such as India and Africa as compared to the US (2:20)
• Nicholas shares the staggering percentage Indians pay for out-of-pocket medical costs (4:18)
• Why human capital is so critical in improving healthcare outcomes in emerging markets such as India (5:34)
• How Beyond Capital Ventures portfolio companies such as CarePoint, Eden Care, Kasha, Redwing Labs, and Viebeg are finding innovative solutions to pervasive and specific healthcare issues in their communities, such as fighting tropical diseases via greater access to vaccines (7:46)
• Eva and Nicholas shine a light on the trends and opportunities presented by investing in early-stage healthcare entrepreneurs (10:10)
• How healthcare companies in emerging markets can help create more equitable health outcomes for people of color around the world (16:46)