Intrepid Entrepreneurs Team Archives - Next Health Accelerator

Lindsey Simmonds

Lindsey Simmonds has nearly 20 years of experience in international development focused on women’s issues, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. While living in Jordan, Simmonds focused on advancing women’s issues during her time working for the largest social development agency in the country. Later, she served as the Academic Director for an American study abroad program in Jordan and Syria. Most recently, Simmonds enjoyed 15 years working in philanthropy at the Buffett Foundation, where she oversaw tens of millions of dollars annually and designed programming for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programs in Africa. In addition to service delivery programs, Simmonds also created and led leadership and innovation programs for the global advancement of SRHR.

In 2020, Simmonds’ entrepreneurial spirit led her to transform her love of jigsaw puzzles from a hobby into an international business. Simmonds also established Intrepid Entrepreneurs with her co-founder. After nearly two decades in global development and SRHR, Simmonds is certain the talent to advance SRHR, equality, and employment exists among the youth and women of Africa.

Senam Beheton

With an education in law, political science, international development and instructional technology, Senam has a unique gift for proposing common sense solutions to positively transform communities, businesses and individuals. He is helping a generation of young African entrepreneurs build valuable and lasting businesses through programs addressing critical issues such skills gaps, funding, mentoring and networking. As an entrepreneur, he has founded or invested in over 35 companies/organizations in the past 20 years, most of them in the technology sector.

Senam is also Co-Founder of Noru Capital, a venture fund, Co-Founder of TEKXL, a startup studio that launched several companies with some successful exits, and the Founder of EtriLabs, an innovation lab with operations in Benin and 8 other African countries.

Senam graduated Summa Cum Laude with BAs in Political Science and French from the University of the District of Columbia. He holds a Master of Arts in International Development from American University and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology (Phi Kappa Phi Honors) from the University of Maryland University College.

Awa Sarr

With over 15 years of experience, Awa has extensive experience in Project Management and Process Improvement gained notably in world-leading financial institutions like RBC, Investors Group, Dexia, BNP Paribas, Société Générale or HSBC. She can also be credited with contributions to non-profit organizations supporting female entrepreneurs in Canada and economic development in Africa.

She is excellent at supporting small businesses and individuals, taking into account their personalities, their capacities, and the ecosystem in which they operate. The combination of her technical skills with her creativity and her sense of analysis is her gift.

Awa holds a Master of Arts with Honors in Sociology from the University of Paris North and a Master of Arts in Economy with specialization in International Development from the University Pierre Mendes France. She is also Green Belt Lean Six Sigma Certified from the Mc Gill University in Canada.