Jonathan Mazumdar

Jonathan
Mazumdar

Co-Founder, Growth Teams

Partnering with governments and businesses in Africa and India to drive economic growth and create jobs.

Growth Teams → Get in touch
About

I believe economic justice means everyone, no matter their birthplace, should have the opportunity to thrive, not just escape poverty. And history shows that improving the wellbeing of the world's poor is best achieved through broad-based economic growth.

That's why I co-founded Growth Teams. We partner with governments in developing countries to translate pro-growth policies into concrete actions that unlock industries, create jobs, and drive lasting economic progress.

Over the past decade, my career has spanned impact investing in India, advising government leaders on industrialization in Africa, and managing large-scale impact evaluations. Throughout it all, I've been driven by a passion for expanding opportunity.

Born in Rochester, NY. Based in Cape Town, South Africa. Fan of both footballs — Hala Madrid and Go Bills.

Work
  • Co-Founder — Growth Teams
    2021–Present · Cape Town

    Founder of nonprofit that helps government reformers in Africa and India identify and remove barriers to broad-based economic growth.

  • Strategic Advisor — Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
    2018–2021 · Kigali

    Embedded advisor to Rwanda's apex institution on investment promotion, industrial policy, and private sector development.

  • Economic Advisor — Rwanda Development Board
    2017 · Kigali

    Identified growth constraints and developed policy recommendations for key export industries.

  • Portfolio Manager — Sangam Ventures
    2015–2016 · New Delhi

    Closed the fund's first investment and raised capital for a new thesis-driven acceleration programme.

  • Senior Portfolio Associate — Acumen Fund
    2010–2014 · Mumbai

    Built Acumen's education portfolio from scratch, closing three investments including LabourNet, Edubridge, and Hippocampus Learning Centres.

  • Research Associate — J-PAL
    2009–2010 · Bihar

    Managed a large-scale primary education impact evaluation with Nobel Prize-winning economists in rural Bihar.

Education
  • Harvard Kennedy School
    MPA in International Development (MPA/ID), 2018 · New World Social Enterprise Fellow, Center for Public Leadership
  • Tufts University
    B.A. Mathematics & Quantitative Economics, 2009 · Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Writing

Projects

  • Export Boom Atlas
    A searchable map of 80+ case studies of rapid export growth across 9 sectors and 40+ developing countries since 1995.
  • Turambe Shoppe
    Co-owned and managed a healthy food cafe and catering business in Kigali.

Writing

Contact

If you share a vision of a more prosperous and equitable world, or want to explore working together, get in touch.