If he weren’t an entrepreneur sitting on various boards, George would be on a farm away from the busy city, catering to his new orchard.
George, the founding partner and arts manager at HEVA Fund LLP, describes himself as a passionate, skilled builder and committed leader who likes to turn things around for the better.
That’s what he has been doing for the last 10 years.
“It’s a beautiful feeling to know the work we have done has had an impact,” he says.
"The Daystar University communications graduate enjoys a slow morning; making breakfast for his family, a round of golf or the gym before embarking on board meetings, consultancy work, lecturing at the Goldsmiths University in London before family time in the evening."
George is also a member of the International Advisory Council of the Policy and Evidence Centre in the United Kingdom, an Honorary Entrepreneurship Fellow at the Goldsmiths University of London and a consultant at Mastercard Foundation, among others.
“I sit on numerous boards, including UNESCO, the Policy and Evidence Centre, and Africa.”
Heva Fund is a dedicated finance, business support and knowledge facility for people and businesses in the creative industries including arts, music, and fashion among others.
According to George, the company has raised about Sh1 billion in financing to support local creatives.
His passion for creatives comes from being a film director.
The Daystar University communications graduate enjoys a slow morning; making breakfast for his family, a round of golf or the gym before embarking on board meetings, consultancy work, lecturing at the Goldsmiths University in London before family time in the evening.
“We started in 2013, we are a team of 15 to 23 depending on the level of work and we’ve invested in over 100 different projects and are operating in 14 countries in Africa,” said Mr Gachara.
“Most of our financing activities are based on debt, we give loans, revenue share, short-term products that are not available in any banks or financial institutions for example money to organize a concert anything between Sh10 million to Sh50 million.”
Mr Gachara has served as the chief executive officer of Heva Fund for 10 years and is now working as the board chairperson.
Heva Fund has also partnered with Netflix, the world’s leading streaming entertainment service towards a Creative Equity Scholarship Fund (CESF) in East Africa that provides financial support to African creatives to access quality tertiary education in film and TV-focused disciplines at sought-after academic programmes or institutions.
“The other fund that I’m very excited about and I hope outlives me is one in partnership with Netflix. I’m passionate about film. Film not only gives expression but it helps create employment for so many people; directors, transport, designers, camera people, catering among others.”
The fund has sponsored 46 students to five universities in the first year.
George is also a private pilot who enjoys taking up new challenges every year. Who knows what he’ll be next?
Edna Mwenda