Creating Real Impact.

Helping you invest for impact and socio-economic growth

Investing made simple, so you can focus on what matters most.
3 women collaborating

What is 144?

Easy impact investing

144 is an impact-driven investment platform that connects businesses and their customers with innovative startups addressing societal challenges.

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A community growth platform

Our vibrant ecosystem unites businesses, customers, investors, startups, and experts, fostering collaboration that fuels lasting, transformative impact.

Icons of people connected by lines

A tool to fight inequality

Empowering everyone to invest in and benefit from purpose-driven startups/projects, creating an inclusive future for all communities and society.

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About us

We help you match your investments with your principles and support long-term growth and systemic change without sacrificing your financial goals.

A simple and effective platform that allows SMEs and their customers to easily invest in innovative purpose-driven companies/start-ups. We enable SMEs and their customers to create positive change while also generating a financial return on their investment.

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Our story

In 2021, Daariq and Tobi founded 144 to revolutionize impact investing for individuals and SMEs. Daariq, a Somali refugee living in South Africa, witnessed firsthand the transformative power of investing in local businesses and startups in his community. Inspired by the long-term systemic impact, they aimed to create a platform to help others invest in their communities.

Joined by Gisele later, we focused on creating a platform that connects SMEs with impactful startups or initiatives, through this approach, 144 hopes to enable startups to seek funding beyond traditional sources and open up new avenues for growth and impact. 144 is committed to building a world where impact and growth go hand in hand.

The ultimate goal is to empower businesses to invest in the future they want to see, through every transaction.

Founders of 144

Behind the name

In the 1950s and 60s in East Africa, an Italian professor presented a mathematical problem to a class of students. Among the young minds sat a boy named Ismail Duale. Despite the challenges that he and his community faced, Ismail had an insatiable hunger for knowledge and a razor-sharp mind. He quickly solved the problem with ease, arriving at the answer of 144. And with that, Ismail gained a new nickname from his classmates: 144.

This story speaks to the harsh realities of inequality and the lack of opportunities afforded to minority and emerging markets. Ismail’s natural talent and ability were clear, but the opportunities available to him were limited by a system that favoured the few.

Today, we at 144 are working to balance the scales of opportunity and investment, to create a brighter and more equitable future for all.

What makes 144 unique?

Simplifying the investment process, educating and driving true impact and systematic change.

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Meaningful impact investing

We provide you with a wide range of carefully vetted investment opportunities that generate both financial returns and drive systemic change. Get access to tangible impact measurement.

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Growth, Community & Accessibility

Make informed financial decisions and connect with an impact-driven community to foster personal and financial growth while ensuring accessibility for all.

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Simplified process

Our streamlined automated process ensures efficient and thorough equity agreements and due-diligence, lifting administrative and legal hurdles for you.

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Empowering SMEs

By offering SME niche segmentation, reduced ticket sizes, and tailored support services, we aim to empower small and medium-sized enterprises to thrive and reach their full potential.

Meet the Executive Team

The executive team at 144 comprises a group of exceptionally talented and visionary individuals who are poised to lead the startup to great success. With their impressive skills and expertise, they bring a fresh and innovative perspective to the industry.

Daariq A. Yusuf - 144 Co-founder and CEO
Co-Founder

Daariq, the visionary, brings a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur and business strategist. With a keen focus on business development, strategy, project management, and product innovation, he drives success and growth.

Fun Fact: Daariq has visited almost every country in Africa.

Tobi Ibikunle - 144 Co-founder and CTO
Co-Founder

Tobi combines his expertise in software engineering, system architecture, and product management. His versatile skills also encompass AI, driving innovation and excellence in technology development.

Fun Fact: Tobi skydived, dressed as a cave man to get a free game.

Gisele Magalhães - 144 Co-founder and CFO
SHAREHOLDER

Gisele brings 5 + years of startup experience, specializing in team structuring, business model pivoting, and monetizing software. Her financial acumen drives sustainable growth and fosters innovation for long-term success.

Fun Fact: Gisele walks her cat every day with a leash and all.

Linda Boulkoroum - Head of Marketing
hEAD OF MARKETING

Linda is an experienced online marketing leader with a sharp analytical mindset, goal-driven attitude and a proven track record in team management, customer acquisition, and revenue growth.

Fun Fact: Linda's cat got a TikTok account before she did.

Meet our Board of Advisors

Our Board of Advisors are a collective powerhouse of wisdom, experience, and visionary insights. Comprising ofindustry leaders and forward-thinking strategists. Combined, they all bring wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide 144 towards unprecedented success.

Chiedza Muguti - 144 Board of advisor - Product Leader | Advisor | Coach | Mentor | Strategist
Product Leader | Advisor | Coach | Mentor | Strategist

Formerly the CPO for Penta Bank and currently serving as the CPO for Alteos. Chiedza is an experienced financial products and services product professional with proven technical and commercial expertise across the complete Product Development Lifecycle.

Theresa Bardubitzki - 144 Board of advisor - Sustainability Manager at KfW Capital
Sustainability Manager at KfW Capital

A member of the Investment Committee and oversees ESG aspects of investments as well as impact measurement over the entire life cycle. Prior to her role at KfW Capital, she worked at the impact asset manager, Finance in Motion, and DZ Bank AG.

Prof. Oliver MacConnell - 144 Board of advisor - Managing Director of Fashion Practice
Academy Berlin
Managing Director of Fashion Practice Academy Berlin

Fashion designer, consultant in the creative industries and professor of business administration. He also leads research projects in the field of sustainable value creation and teaches at universities in Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland.

Moritz Spangenberg - 144 Board of advisor - Executive MBA | Start-ups and scale-ups
Executive MBA | Start-ups and scale-ups

A passionate father, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor with a strong affinity for marketing and sales. He thrives on discussing strategic initiatives, go-to-market strategies, and leveraging the power of LinkedIn. He helps B2B businesses unlock their growth potential.

Simon Peters - 144 Board of advisor - Web3 | Tokenomics | Art
Data | Tokenomics | Art

Driven by a belief in collective intelligence, Simon fosters self-organizing networks and collaborative solutions. With a passion for empowering communities, he serves as a valuable advisor, promoting trust, cooperation, and a shared vision for a brighter future.

Laurenz Lenkewitz - 144 Board of advisor - Business Dev, Advisor, Interim Manager | SaaS, Mobile and Web3
Interim Manager, Senior Advisor | Web3, DAOs, SaaS, Proptech

Former Business Development Executive at IBM, Laurenz, is an accomplished professional with a rich background in IT and digital services. He brings extensive expertise in SaaS, Digital Transformation, and Start-ups.

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Icon - Elements Webflow Library - BRIX Templates

Our culture

Our cultural values are not just words on paper – they are deeply ingrained in our DNA. These values guide our decision-making, shape our interactions, and drive our commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients. We believe that by staying true to our culture, we create an environment where our team can flourish, our clients can trust us, and our business can thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.