Gagan Gupta is the Founder and CEO of ARISE IIP, ARISE IS, and ARISE P&L, three vertically integrated companies developing sustainable infrastructure across 14+ African countries, including Gabon, Togo, Benin, Rwanda, and Nigeria. In under a decade, Gagan built the ARISE group into one of Africa’s largest infrastructure investment platforms, with over $2 billion invested and $4 billion committed across 18 major projects.

With over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Olam, Gagan is known for building high-impact, sustainable ventures through strong public-private partnerships, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability is central to ARISE’s mission, from traceability and renewable energy to biodiversity protection and carbon neutrality. In 2021, the Gabon Special Economic Zone became Africa’s first carbon-neutral industrial zone and was recognized by the Financial Times for leadership in the wood sector.

In 2023, ARISE received Environmental Finance’s IMPACT Awards for its pioneering efforts. Gagan also launched EQUITANE, a fund advancing Africa’s sustainable industrialization. EQUITANE’s flagship company, Spiro, leads electric mobility in Africa with 22,000+ e-bikes and a vast battery-swapping network. A father of two and passionate runner, Gagan organized sub-Saharan Africa’s first official marathon in Gabon, drawing over 14,000 participants annually.