Kresten Buch

Kresten Buch is a Danish entrepreneur and investor with a significant focus on the African technology and iGaming sectors. He is currently the Executive Chairman of pawaTech Group, a business-to-business technology company co-founded by him in 2015 that develops and licenses sports betting and gaming platforms, and associated support services, primarily operating in Africa under the betPawa brand. pawaTech Group has its African service headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda, and a tech hub in Tallinn, Estonia.

Buch's involvement in the African startup ecosystem began earlier with the founding of 88mph, a seed fund and accelerator, in 2011. 88mph aimed to invest in early-stage mobile web startups targeting the African consumer, launching operations in Nairobi, Kenya, and later expanding to Cape Town, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria. Through 88mph, Buch made over 43 investments in African startups. He expressed a strong belief in the long-term opportunities in emerging markets over traditional developed markets.

He has a strong entrepreneurial background, having previously built a business to over €200 million in revenue between 1997 and 2001, with two successful exits. Buch also served as the Group CEO of betPawa, an online betting brand owned by Mchezo Limited, which runs on pawaTech's gaming technology platform. Under his leadership, betPawa expanded its footprint across numerous African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, and Tanzania. He continued as Group CEO until at least July 2023, with Ntoudi Mouyelo being appointed Managing Director of Mchezo and Chief Commercial Officer of the group in April 2023 as part of a long-term plan to increase local employment and African ownership.

Kresten Buch is recognized for his strategic leadership and acumen in identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities, particularly in the mobile technology and online gaming space in Africa. He is also a minority investor in pawaPay, a spinout from pawaTech, which serves as an important customer for pawaTech's services. His career reflects a commitment to fostering technological innovation and entrepreneurial growth across the African continent.