Ben Peterson
Ben Peterson has fifteen years of experience founding, managing and investing in successful organizations.
Since February 2016, Ben has been a venture capital investor in East and Southern Africa. Based in Nairobi, Ben is the Senior Partner at AHL Venture Partners, one of the largest impact-focused VC firms in Africa. Ben runs AHL’s Nairobi office, sits on the Board of many AHL portfolio companies, oversees new investment opportunities in East & Southern Africa, and is currently managing the launch of the new AHL Growth Fund.
Previously, Ben served as Founder and CEO of Newsana Incorporated. Newsana took an innovative approach to solving one of the internet’s biggest challenges – how filter all available content down to the most important and impactful stories of the day. Ben sold Newsana to Relish Interactive in September, 2015.
From May 2002 to October 2011, Ben served as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of JHR (Journalists for Human Rights). Under Ben’s leadership JHR grew into Canada’s largest international media development organization, running projects in 17 African countries and building one of Canada’s strongest student leadership networks. Ben continues to serve as Chair Emeritus of JHR’s Board of Directors.
Ben has a BA in Economics and a BAH in Political Studies from Queen’s University, and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Ben has received many awards for his work, including Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Award, the Action Canada Fellowship, the Queen’s University Alumni Humanitarian Award and recently received the Meritorious Service Medal, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.
