Steve Beck is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Novastar Ventures, which invests in African entrepreneurs from hubs in Nairobi, London and Lagos. He began investing in African start-ups in 2009 through a private investor circle he founded for seed-stage investments in East Africa; those investments, among them NewGlobe and Sanergy, formed the proof-of-concept portfolio for Novastar's first fund in 2014. Before venture capital he spent 18 years in consulting, leading the European, African and Asian businesses of two global consulting firms, and in 2002 helped set up and lead Geneva Global, a philanthropic investment bank. He graduated from Stanford University and earned a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.
Education
Graduate of Stanford University
Ph.D., London School of Economics (politics of foreign direct investment)
Previous Experience
Co-founder and leader, Geneva Global (philanthropic investment bank)
18-year consulting career leading the European, African and Asian businesses of two global consulting businesses
Took leave of consulting to help set up and lead Geneva Global, a philanthropic investment bank managing grants to more than a thousand projects.
2009
Founded a private investor circle making seed-stage investments in East Africa, including NewGlobe and Sanergy.
2014
Those proof-of-concept investments formed the basis of Novastar's first venture fund.
2020
Spoke for Novastar on Komaza's $28 million Series B first close as founding partner.
2024
Spoke for Novastar on its $3.5 million investment in Sistema.bio, the first commitment from the firm's third fund.
2026
Novastar announced the final close of Novastar Ventures Africa People and Planet Fund III at $147 million, with Beck quoted as co-founder and managing partner.