Posted Thursday 10th September 2026
Joelson has advised Unmarkets on the first close of its inaugural investment vehicle, securing US$7.5 million of its US$15 million target. Backed by Shell Foundation, Small Foundation and family office Oasia, the investment marks an important milestone in Unmarkets’ mission to build scalable food and agribusiness ventures across Africa.
Founded by Milan Samani in 2023, Unmarkets partners with established African family-owned businesses to build high-value consumer brands for global markets. By combining local expertise with brand-building, operational support and long-term capital, it is developing a portfolio of ventures designed to deliver both commercial returns and positive impact across agricultural value chains.
Unmarkets works directly with smallholder farmers to improve incomes through market-led growth, while investing in businesses that control their value chains and produce premium, differentiated products in high-growth categories. The first close will support the development of Unmarkets’ initial portfolio of ventures and the continued expansion of its platform.
The transaction reflects Joelson’s continued work advising ambitious founders, consumer brands and impact-led businesses on strategic growth and investment matters.
The Joelson team was led by Managing Partner, Paul Chiappe and supported by Associate, Rajiv Samani.
Milan Samani, Founder of Unmarkets, said:
“From our first conversations, Paul and Rajiv took the time to understand not just the transaction, but the wider vision for Unmarkets. Their commercial approach and practical guidance were invaluable throughout the process, and we’re grateful for their support as we enter the next phase of growth.”
Paul Chiappe, Managing Partner at Joelson, commented:
“What makes Unmarkets particularly compelling is its ability to bring together experienced operators, local expertise and long-term capital in a way that creates value for all participants in the supply chain. Milan has built a thoughtful and differentiated platform, and it has been a pleasure to support the team on this important stage of their journey.”
This article is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking or deciding not to take any action.
The Government's proposed Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill represents one of the most significant reforms to residential property ownership in recent years.
On 1 July 2026, the UK Supreme Court handed down its judgment on BlueCrest Capital Management (UK) LLP v HMRC, providing important clarification on when LLP members can be treated as self-employed partners, rather than employees, for tax purposes.
The growing use of AI in business brings a key legal risk: uploading confidential litigation-related documents to AI platforms could jeopardise legal privilege.
Joelson advises the management team of InfraXmedia on Bowmark Capital's majority investment.
