Meet the Board of Directors

Yusef Brooks is the visionary Managing Partner of 144 Ventures, where he leads high-impact investments across frontier markets, sovereign finance, and advanced technologies. With a career rooted in strategy, capital markets, and public-private partnerships, Yusef brings over a decade of experience guiding transformational ventures that align profit with purpose.

Formerly a Strategic Advisor at Rothschild & Co, Yusef has advised sovereigns, family offices, and institutional investors across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. His expertise spans asset monetization, blockchain-based infrastructure, climate finance, and the tokenization of real-world assets.

At 144 Ventures, Yusef has built a reputation for unlocking complex value chains—from carbon-negative manufacturing and green bonds to sovereign-backed digital platforms. Known for his integrity, access, and ability to navigate global deal rooms, Yusef is a trusted partner to governments and innovators alike.

His ethos is clear: invest in what endures, act with conviction, and never compromise on impact.

François Laurent-Renet serves as Chief Investment Officer at 144 Ventures, where he leads the firm’s global investment strategy, portfolio architecture, and capital deployment across high-growth sectors including climate infrastructure, digital assets, frontier markets, and sovereign co-investments.

With over two decades of experience in global finance and private equity, François brings a deep understanding of capital structuring, cross-border M&A, and institutional-grade asset management. Prior to joining 144 Ventures, he held senior roles at top-tier investment firms across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, managing multi-billion-dollar portfolios and advising sovereign funds, development banks, and family offices.

François is known for his disciplined investment thesis, data-driven decision-making, and ability to identify asymmetric opportunities ahead of the curve. His leadership at 144 Ventures ensures that every deal is not only financially sound but also strategically aligned with long-term impact.

Fluent in French, English, and Arabic, and with a global network spanning key financial centers, François brings unmatched insight and access to the 144 Ventures platform.

His mission: to deploy capital with precision, purpose, and long-term value.

 Arsen Khousnoutdinov serves as Chief Technology Officer at 144 Ventures, where he leads the firm’s innovation architecture across deep tech, digital infrastructure, and frontier market technologies. A true polymath and serial technologist, Arsen brings over two decades of hands-on experience across sectors including satellite networks, cybersecurity, AI, cleantech, OSINT, EV infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

His global career includes the creation of three high-tech innovation parks—including Innopolis, a fully operational smart city and tech ecosystem in Russia. Arsen has advised governments, sovereign wealth funds, and financial institutions on the development of innovation hubs, smart infrastructure, and digital transformation strategies.

He has also played a leading role in multiple international ventures—from launching geostationary satellites and building lithium-ion battery factories, to pioneering early QR-based banking systems and 3D printing platforms. As both investor and operator, Arsen has helped incubate dozens of startups through to successful exits with major venture and private equity firms.

A graduate of Northeastern University with further credentials from Boston University and MIT’s OCW program, Arsen combines strategic vision with deep technical fluency—delivering scalable solutions across the intersection of technology, finance, and geopolitics.

At 144 Ventures, Arsen ensures our technological edge is not just competitive—but visionary.

Emmanuel Kabila serves as Strategic Advisor for Africa and Frontier Markets at 144 Ventures, where he bridges global investment strategies with transformative opportunities across the African continent. With deep roots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a legacy grounded in both public service and private enterprise, Emmanuel brings unmatched insight into regional geopolitics, infrastructure development, and resource-backed innovation.

A tireless advocate for sustainable economic growth, Emmanuel has been instrumental in advising on sovereign wealth platforms, natural resource monetization, and public-private partnerships that prioritize local empowerment and long-term value creation. His network spans heads of state, international financiers, and grassroots leaders—enabling him to operate effectively at the highest levels of diplomacy while maintaining a grounded, people-first approach.

At 144 Ventures, Emmanuel plays a key role in structuring sovereign co-investments, advancing tokenization strategies tied to natural capital, and mobilizing global resources for energy, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure projects throughout Africa.

Emmanuel believes Africa’s future will not be dictated by extraction—but by innovation, ownership, and strategic collaboration.

Alex Hong is a globally recognized sustainability strategist and serves as Director of ASEAN at 144 Ventures, where he drives regional growth, cross-border investment facilitation, and climate-aligned development across Southeast Asia.

Named the #1 Global Thought Leader on Climate Change in 2024 by illuminem.com, Alex brings deep expertise in sustainable finance, regenerative systems, off-grid infrastructure, and ESG integration. With a strong presence in both public policy and private-sector innovation, he has become a trusted advisor to governments, investors, and institutions across the ASEAN bloc.

Alex is the Co-Founder of Aether Future, a pioneering clean energy and water platform serving underserved communities, and Director of AEIR, promoting wireless energy transmission and breakthrough technologies across Asia. He previously led ASEAN business development for the World Climate Foundation and has presented at premier regional events such as AICEE 2024 and the ASEAN-Japan Centre.

Alex’s multidisciplinary background spans smart tech, ESG consulting, academic research, and impact investing. He holds a Master’s in Applied Economics from the National University of Singapore, along with certifications in sustainable finance, regenerative design, and digital innovation.

At 144 Ventures, Alex leads initiatives that align capital with impact—accelerating investment into sustainable infrastructure, sovereign innovation, and resilient economic ecosystems throughout the ASEAN region.

His mission: to shape a future where prosperity, equity, and ecology thrive together.

Brian Ruijpers is a pioneering blockchain entrepreneur and seasoned financial strategist with a global footprint across Dubai, The Bahamas, and the European Union. As CFO, he brings a sharp edge in digital asset economics, decentralized capital flows, and cross-border financial structuring.

Founder of MCEG, Nestoris, and Outline Investment, Brian has built and scaled ventures in crypto market-making, stablecoin asset management, and Web3 financial infrastructure. His work bridges institutional finance and decentralized systems, enabling next-generation capital mobility across jurisdictions.

Brian’s expertise lies in designing tokenomic models, managing digital treasuries, and implementing asset-backed stablecoin strategies, all while navigating regulatory frameworks in emerging and offshore markets. His deep operational knowledge of liquidity provisioning, DeFi ecosystems, and blockchain-based capital markets positions him as a key architect in future-forward finance.

At the intersection of innovation and compliance, Brian is redefining the CFO role for the Web3 economy.