Runa Alam is the co-founder and former CEO of Development Partners International (DPI). See sector focus and contact routes.
Runa Alam is the co-founder and former CEO of Development Partners International (DPI), a London-based private equity firm that manages $1.6 billion across three Africa-focused funds and has invested in the region for 22 years. She co-founded DPI in 2007 to deploy capital across Africa, targeting companies that address inequality and drive development through private-sector growth. The firm’s investment thesis centers on emerging markets in Africa, with a focus on sectors that generate both financial returns and measurable social impact, particularly in education, infrastructure, and essential services. Typical check sizes are not publicly disclosed, but DPI leads investments and holds significant board influence in its portfolio companies. Notable portfolio companies include those in DPI’s ADP I, ADP II, and ADP III funds, which have achieved top-quartile returns and strong ES&G outcomes, though specific named companies are not listed in available sources. Alam has articulated a distinctive viewpoint that inequality is a primary driver for private equity investment in Africa, emphasizing development economics as the foundation for her strategy. She has contrib
Every field above is read from the StartupFundraising investor directory — disclosed location, recorded investments and stated focus — and re-checked as filings arrive. Founders pair it with investors in London when building a target list.
Investors like Runa Alam · Full investor directory · Investor access · Company funding database