Unreasonable Fellows
Samuel Alemayehu
General Partner of C1 Ventures
Sam is an Unreasonable Fellow and Mentor. Sam has participated in 2 programs, including Unreasonable Impact Americas 2023, and has advised over 31 Unreasonable companies.
Samuel "Sam" Alemayehu, co-founder and General Partner at C1 Ventures (C1V), drives the emergence of sustainable industries by backing scientific innovations. He champions technology that deeply decarbonizes and enhances industrial efficiency. Sam began as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, founding two startups during his Stanford days. He entered venture capital at Venrock Associates, focusing on media services. His African ventures span founding and investing across industries, including a mobile gaming platform that reached 50 million users by 2013. He also collaborated with banks to bolster African health infrastructure. Later, he initiated Cambridge Industries Ltd (CIL) to boost infrastructure in emerging cities. As its Managing Director, he developed Africa's inaugural waste-to-energy facility. Currently CIL's Chairman, Sam is also a global angel investor, board member of various firms, and participant in three non-profits. He's recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
