Investors backing African startups

• Voltron Capital

  Voltron Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund partnering with African founders. Its portfolio includes businesses providing logistics, mobility finance, healthcare technology and digital financial infrastructure for consumers and enterprises across African markets.

  Nigeria

• A15

  A15 is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology startups across the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on Egypt. It combines pre-seed and seed investment with support for hiring, partnerships, fundraising and operations.

  Egypt

• Kaleo Ventures

  Kaleo Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing faith-aligned technology founders across Africa. It invests at pre-seed and seed stages and supports portfolio companies through mentorship, founder communities and connections to later-stage capital.

  United States

• Baobab Network

  Baobab Network is an accelerator and early-stage investor supporting African startups. It combines funding with hands-on assistance on product-market fit, customer traction and fundraising readiness, alongside access to a network of founders, experts and investors.

  United Kingdom

• CRE Venture Capital

  CRE Venture Capital is a venture capital firm backing founders building technology companies connected to Africa. Its investment focus centres on businesses whose growth is linked to African markets.

  South Africa

• Saviu Ventures

  Saviu Ventures is an Africa-focused investment firm backing early-stage technology and technology-enabled businesses, particularly in Francophone Africa. It provides capital alongside operational assistance, including business development, recruitment and access to its network.

  France

• Chandaria Capital

  Chandaria Capital is the Nairobi-based investment arm of Chandaria Group. It backs early-stage businesses across sectors and supports portfolio companies with mentorship, business development and fundraising.

  Kenya

• Government of Canada

  The Government of Canada is Canada’s federal government. Its departments and agencies deliver public services and business support programmes. This record represents the government rather than an individual venture capital fund or funding programme.

  Canada

• Samurai Incubate

  Samurai Incubate is a Japanese venture capital firm providing investment and growth support to startups. Its activities include an African investment operation, alongside investments in Japan and Israel, with a focus on working closely with founders.

  Japan

• E Squared Investments

  E Squared Investments is a South African impact investment organisation supporting entrepreneurship through long-term capital and business assistance. Its activities span venture and growth investment, co-investment, fund investments and social entrepreneurship funding, with eligibility varying by programme.

  South Africa

• Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO)

  PREO is a renewable-energy support programme helping businesses develop productive uses of off-grid energy. It provides project funding, technical assistance and shared knowledge, with work spanning sub-Saharan Africa and Pacific Island countries.

  Global

• Havaic

  HAVAÍC is a Cape Town-based venture capital firm investing in technology businesses in Africa. It combines investment with strategic advice, capital-raising support and networks to help portfolio companies expand locally and internationally.

  South Africa

• Uncovered Fund

  Uncovered Fund is a Tokyo-based venture capital firm focused on emerging markets, including Africa. It backs technology companies developing industrial and social infrastructure, with an emphasis on businesses addressing needs in underserved markets.

  Japan

• Magic Fund

  MAGIC Fund is an early-stage venture investor built around a founders-backing-founders approach. Its international portfolio includes financial technology, healthcare, enterprise software and other technology businesses, including companies serving African markets.

  United States

• AfricInvest

  AfricInvest is an investment firm providing growth capital to businesses across Africa. Its portfolio spans sectors including financial services, agriculture, healthcare and education, with strategic and operational support for companies expanding beyond their home markets.

  Tunisia

• Asia Africa Investment and Consulting

  Asia Africa Investment and Consulting combines business advisory work with investment management. Its fund-management arm, AAIC Investment, manages Africa-focused healthcare funds and supports businesses developing healthcare services and related technologies.

  Singapore

• Lendahand

  Lendahand is an online investment platform that channels loans to businesses and financial institutions in emerging markets. Its focus is improving access to finance for entrepreneurs and small businesses through investments funded by its community.

  Netherlands

• UM6P Ventures

  UM6P Ventures is Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s investment arm. It backs digital transformation and deep-tech businesses, combining capital with access to scientific expertise, talent and research infrastructure to support entrepreneurship in Morocco and Africa.

  Morocco

• Acumen Fund

  Acumen is an impact-investing organisation that supports businesses addressing poverty. It combines patient capital with entrepreneur development, working across sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, education and health in Africa and other regions.

  United States

• FINCA Ventures

  FINCA Ventures is FINCA’s impact-investing initiative supporting businesses serving communities in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides capital and practical support to enterprises working in areas such as agriculture, financial inclusion, health and education.

  United States

• Novastar Ventures

  Novastar Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in businesses addressing needs across African markets. It backs entrepreneurs serving everyday consumers and developing business models intended to create social and environmental value alongside commercial growth.

  Kenya

• Egypt Ventures

  Egypt Ventures is a government-backed venture capital firm investing in Egyptian technology-enabled businesses. Its portfolio covers industries including financial services, education, healthcare and e-commerce, supporting companies as they develop and expand their operations.

  Egypt

• Orange Ventures

  Orange Digital Ventures was Orange’s corporate venture investment initiative, launched in 2015. Management of its portfolio transferred to Orange Ventures in 2021, which became a separate legal entity supporting technology companies connected to Orange’s areas of expertise.

  France

• U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

  DFC is the United States government’s international investment agency. It uses debt, equity, guarantees and insurance to support private-sector projects overseas, including investments in infrastructure, healthcare, energy, financial services and technology.

  United States

• EdVentures

  EdVentures is the corporate venture capital arm of Nahdet Misr Group focused on education technology. It invests in startups developing education, culture and learning solutions, pairing funding with industry knowledge and operational support.

  Egypt

• HoaQ

  HoaQ is an investment community supporting technology companies built for Africa and its diaspora. It brings together founders, operators and investors, combining startup funding with expertise, industry connections and support for portfolio companies.

  Global

• Raba Partnership

  Raba Partnership is an early-stage technology investment firm focused on Africa and other underserved markets. It partners with software and internet businesses, with investment themes centred on infrastructure that helps move capital and essential products.

  South Africa

• SOSV

  SOSV is a venture capital firm investing in deep-technology businesses focused on human and environmental challenges. It supports founders with capital, laboratories, engineering resources and commercial guidance, and participates in subsequent financing rounds.

  United States

• Adaverse

  Adaverse is a venture firm investing in blockchain and Web3 businesses. It supports founders developing decentralised technologies through funding, strategic guidance and market networks, with a focus on applications used in emerging markets.

  Nigeria

• Five35

  Five35 Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on female-focused, technology-enabled businesses in Africa. It applies a gender-lens investment approach and supports portfolio founders with capital, networks and strategic assistance.

  South Africa

• Katapult

  Katapult is an Oslo-based impact-investment group comprising funds, accelerators and supporting organisations. Its ecosystem backs technology businesses addressing environmental and social challenges, including ocean-related industries, and supports founders through investment and development programmes.

  Global

• Azur Innovation Fund

  Azur Innovation Fund supports innovative startups in Morocco through equity and quasi-equity investment. Managed by Azur Innovation Management, it backs businesses in areas including financial technology, healthcare, software and other technology-driven industries.

  Morocco

• Janngo Capital

  Janngo Capital is an Africa-focused venture investor using technology investment to support economic development. Its approach emphasises gender inclusion and businesses that expand opportunities for small enterprises, women and young people.

  Cote d'Ivoire

• Antler

  Antler is a global venture capital firm that invests in companies from their earliest stages. It combines funding with founder support and international networks, with local operations across multiple regions, including Kenya and Nigeria.

  Singapore

• Knife Capital

  Knife Capital is an investment firm supporting African technology businesses with international growth potential. It combines funding with commercial expertise and networks to help portfolio companies expand, with a presence in Cape Town and London.

  South Africa

• Untapped Global

  Untapped Global finances technology-enabled businesses in emerging markets using operational data to assess investments. Its approach includes financing revenue-generating assets, supported by investment and data platforms connecting businesses with international capital.

  United States

• MSA Capital

  MSA Capital is a global investment firm focused on private venture and growth investments. Its investment activities include biotechnology and core enterprise technologies, with additional startup creation support through its Spark programme.

  China

• BECO Capital

  BECO Capital is a venture capital firm supporting technology companies in the Gulf and wider Middle East. It invests across company development stages and helps founders with fundraising, business development and building their organisations.

  United Arab Emirates

• Mercy Corps Ventures

  Mercy Corps Ventures, now Prosper Global Ventures, backs early-stage businesses developing climate resilience solutions in emerging markets. Its funds focus on areas including adaptive agriculture, food systems and inclusive financial technology.

  United States

• Mobility 54

  Mobility 54 is a corporate venture capital firm within the CFAO Group focused on African mobility businesses. It combines investment with operational support and commercial connections, including for electric mobility and mobility marketplace companies.

  Japan

• RaliCap

  RaliCap, now presented as Rally Cap, is a venture investment firm focused on financial technology. Its funds back companies developing financial infrastructure and applications, drawing on a community of founders, operators and investors with experience in emerging markets.

  United States

• Consonance Investment Managers

  Consonance Investment Managers is an investment company supporting early and growth-stage businesses in Africa. Its activities include venture building, debt finance and special opportunities, alongside practical support for entrepreneurs developing their businesses.

  Nigeria

• Sawari Ventures

  Sawari Ventures is a Cairo-based venture capital firm investing in technology businesses across North Africa. Its investments span areas including financial services, education, healthcare and enterprise infrastructure, with operational support for portfolio companies.

  Egypt

• On Deck

  On Deck is a founder community and fellowship platform, with its founder programme presented as ODF. It connects people developing companies with collaborators, feedback and networks of founders and investors.

  United States

• VestedWorld

  VestedWorld is an investment firm backing businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Its investment areas include agribusiness, consumer products and services, and enabling technology, with an emphasis on commercially sustainable companies that create jobs and social impact.

  United States

• E4E

  E4E Africa is an entrepreneur-led venture capital fund backing African businesses from early development through scaling. Its team combines investment capital with entrepreneurial experience, mentoring and networks to help founders develop their companies.

  South Africa

• Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P)

  Investisseurs & Partenaires is an impact investment group financing and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa. It operates investment funds and support programmes designed to strengthen businesses and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

  France

• Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy

  The Milken Institute’s strategic philanthropy work helps individuals and foundations plan and implement their giving. Its activities include philanthropic strategy, collaboration and initiatives addressing environmental and social challenges and advancing scientific research.

  United States