Seasoned PE exec launches investment firm dedicated to African luxury brands
Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated exclusively to African luxury and premium heritage brands, has been launched. Birimian is led by Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, a seasoned executive in the African financial services and private equity industries. Kouassi-Olsson has experience at Amethis and Investisseurs & Partenaires. From launch, Birimian will support designers on the continent and in the diaspora to facilitate and accelerate the growth of their businesses regionally and internationally.
Birimian will be the bridge between the continent’s entrepreneurs and creative talent, and strategic stakeholders in the international fashion and luxury industries. The company will establish an ecosystem of experts and professionals who specialise in value creation for independent labels and international brands.
Created by a team with a strong understanding of digital premium brands, Birimian will address the challenges associated with capital, production and international distribution faced by African designers. Birimian will focus on:
– Long-term financing of brands in the company’s portfolio, investing between $30,000 and $3 million in brands and creative enterprises at incubation, acceleration and growth levels
– Brand consultation and coaching to ensure business processes and brand identity are in line with each designer’s goals.
– Strengthening of internal control and financial planning processes
– Strengthening of production and distribution capacity through strategic partnerships, in addition to financial planning processes
– Implementation of an expansion plan ensuring sustainable growth, with investors tied in for a minimum of five years to ensure long-term support for partner brands
– International exposure for creative companies by optimising the use of digital channels.
Birimian is also made up of Michelle Kathryn Essomé, former CEO of the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, chief financial officer and head of investor relations; Céline Gainsburg-Rey, who specialises in supporting luxury brands, head of strategy and marketing ; and Olufunke Faweya, who has dedicated her career to operations management and international brand expansion, who joins as head of brand operations.
Commenting on the launch, founder Laureen Kouassi-Olsson said, “Birimian has been created to champion the exceptional talent and creativity emanating from the continent in order to help it reach the audience it deserves. Our mission is to use a combination of finance, mentoring and operational support to help our brands gain international exposure, achieve their true potential, placing hence the continent’s cultural heritage on the world stage.”
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