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Startup investors and VC funds in Africa

Find the right investor for your stage and market

African and Africa-focused venture capital funds, angel networks, and investment firms that write checks into startups at all stages - from pre-seed to Series C and beyond.

Works in Africa

Fully operational in at least one African country

Partial support

Works with workarounds, like a US/UK entity

Limited in Africa

Listed for awareness and comparison

Browse investors and vcs by country

🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇰🇪 Kenya 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇷🇼 Rwanda

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4Di CapitalSouth African seed and Series A VC backed by RMI HoldingsWorks in AfricaSouth Africa, Pan-Africanactive. Initial cheques of roughly US$250,000 to US$2 million across pre-seed, seed and Series A, frequently as lead investor, concentrated in SaaS, fintech and digital health. Founded 2009 and based in Cape Town, which makes it one of the longer-running early-stage funds on the continent. Describes its model as nurture capital: smaller cheques paired with heavy operational involvement.

500 GlobalGlobal VC with dedicated Africa programs and a 2,700+ company networkWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyastill investing in Africa, but without a dedicated African entry point. The standard cheque for accepted startups is about US$220,000, allocated through global hubs, so African founders compete against international applicants rather than a regional pool. It runs a Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator in Nairobi, eight weeks, for seed-stage companies in mobility, energy, agriculture and the built environment, as part of UNDP's timbuktoo initiative. More than 100 African portfolio companies since 2011, including Chipper Cash, Smile Identity and Stitch.

A15Cairo-based VC investing in North African and Arab tech startupsWorks in AfricaEgypt, Moroccoactive and returning capital, having delivered a reported 10x on Fund I in July 2025, which is rare enough on this continent to be worth knowing. Cairo-based, founded 2014 by Karim Beshara. First cheques of roughly US$100,000 to US$1 million at pre-seed, seed and Series A, centred on Egypt with wider MENA reach. 48 companies to date and five new investments in the last twelve months. The site carries an apply-for-funding route.

Africa Angels NetworkPan-African angel network connecting startups with operators and diaspora investorsWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanaa network of angel groups rather than a fund, so there is no single cheque or decision-maker. Tickets across the network run from about US$5,000 to US$250,000, though 77% of cheques between 2022 and 2024 were under US$25,000, which is the realistic expectation. Africa now has more than 110 active angel networks, up 27% since 2022, and network members have backed more than 5,000 companies since late 2021. Route in is through local member networks and pitch events.

AfricInvestTunisia-founded pan-African PE fund with $2B+ AUM across 30 countriesWorks in AfricaTunisia, Moroccoone of the largest managers on the continent, with about US$2 billion raised across 21 funds, 135 companies in 25 African countries and more than 90 staff across eleven offices. Its midcap funds write tickets of roughly €5 million to €15 million in health, education, energy and financial services. It also appears among the most active investors at venture stage, so the venture and midcap arms behave very differently; confirm which vehicle you are talking to.

Ajim CapitalPre-seed fund that reads every application and replies within two weeksWorks in AfricaPan-Africanopen to direct applications, which is rare on this list. The firm states it reviews every application and aims to respond within two weeks. Cheques of US$100,000 to US$250,000 at pre-seed and seed.

Algebra VenturesEgypt's leading technology VC fundWorks in AfricaEgypt, Pan-Africandeploying its second fund, which first-closed at US$100 million against a US$90 million target. Cheques of US$500,000 to US$2 million from seed to Series B, targeting about 31 companies in fintech, logistics, health tech, edtech and agritech. Backed by FMO, BII, IFC, EBRD and others. Egypt remains the main focus with some exploration into East and West Africa.

Alitheia CapitalGender-lens investing across African growth businessesWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanainvesting through Alitheia IDF, which closed at US$100 million and is the largest gender-lens private equity fund in Africa, with the EIB joining at final close with US$24.6 million. Led by Tokunboh Ishmael and Polo Leteka, it backs growth-stage companies across Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Zambia, with an explicit mandate to close the funding gap between male and female entrepreneurs. Per-company cheque sizes are not published.

Antler KenyaUp to $250,000 - and you do not need a startup yetWorks in AfricaKenyaapplications are open, with the next cohort starting 12 October 2026. Award: US$100,000 for 10% equity, plus a pre-committed US$150,000 to match your next VC round at that round's valuation - up to US$250,000 in total. Also included: over US$850,000 in tech credits (rising to US$2 million for portfolio companies) and free office space at ABC Place. No residency fees in Kenya. The Founder Residency runs 10 weeks in two five-week phases. You do not need an existing startup or a co-founder - Antler helps you find one. Highly selective: fewer than 1% of applicants are backed.

Antler NigeriaDay-zero venture building and investment in LagosWorks in AfricaNigeriaAntler runs residencies in both Kenya and Nigeria - check the Nigeria page for the current cohort dates, which run separately from Nairobi. Terms follow Antler's standard model: an initial investment for equity at the residency stage plus a pre-committed follow-on to match your next round. You do not need an existing startup or co-founder to apply. Antler backs fewer than 1% of applicants globally.

Aruwa CapitalNigerian gender-lens fund backing women-led businessesWorks in AfricaNigeriaraising Fund II, targeting US$50 million with a US$60 million hard cap, and the IFC has committed up to US$8 million plus a US$3 million blended-finance co-investment. Cheques of roughly US$1 million to US$3 million into growth-stage SMEs in West Africa, across healthcare, consumer goods, fintech and cleantech. Founded in 2019 by Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes and deliberately aimed at the gap where a company is too large for angels and too small for traditional private equity, with a female-led and gender-diverse mandate.

Catalyst FundPre-seed capital and venture building for climate adaptationWorks in AfricaKenya, Nigeriasecond close reached US$30 million in July 2026 against a US$40 million target, with final close expected later in the year. Writes initial pre-seed cheques of about US$200,000, exclusively as equity, and reserves capital for follow-on through Series A. Plans to back roughly 40 startups. The mandate is climate resilience specifically: agriculture, food systems, energy, water, mobility and climate-adjacent fintech.

CcHUBNigeria’s premier innovation hub and seed-stage investorWorks in AfricaNigeria, KenyaCcHUB invests through two routes and they behave differently. The CcHUB Syndicate, launched December 2020, lets outside investors co-invest from as little as US$5,000 per round into early-stage Sub-Saharan companies, so a round here is assembled from many small tickets rather than one cheque. Separately, the accelerator and the partner Growth Capital Fund have backed more than 40 startups. Offices in Lagos, Nairobi and Kigali. Founded by Bosun Tijani, who has since served as Nigeria's communications and digital economy minister.

Chandaria CapitalNairobi family-backed fund investing in Kenyan startupsWorks in AfricaKenya, Ugandaa Nairobi-based, sector-agnostic early-stage fund founded by brothers Darshan and Neer Chandaria, investing at seed and Series A. It is the venture arm of a long-established East African industrial family business, which is the real distinction: it brings manufacturing, distribution and regional operating experience that a pure financial investor does not. Cheque sizes and any application route are not published, so approach is relationship-led.

ConsonanceLagos seed and growth investor, and an early backer of MoniepointWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanaactive. Lagos-based, founded in 2017 and originally seeded by Kuramo Capital, investing at seed with tickets of roughly US$1 million to US$5 million across Sub-Saharan Africa with a Nigerian centre of gravity. Notably an early backer of Moniepoint. No public application route; entry is relationship-led.

CRE Venture CapitalPan-African fund backing category-defining tech companiesWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaactive with roughly US$406 million under management as of mid-2025, backed by institutional LPs including British International Investment. Invests at seed, Series A and Series B, with seed rounds typically in the US$2 million to US$10 million range. Accepts submissions through a form on cre.vc rather than requiring an introduction. Offices in Lagos and the United States.

Digital AfricaFrench-backed catalytic funding for African startupsWorks in AfricaSenegal, Ivory Coastone of the few names here you can genuinely apply to cold. The Fuzé programme runs an annual application window with tickets of €20,000 to €100,000 sized to project maturity, backing roughly 30 startups a year. A larger seed fund announced in May 2026 deploys €30 million initially against a €50 million hard cap, with tickets of €300,000 to €2 million across about 30 startups in roughly 20 priority countries. Backed by the French AFD group, with a deliberate emphasis on Francophone markets other investors overlook.

DOB EquityLong-horizon Dutch family capital for East AfricaWorks in AfricaKenya, Tanzaniaactive, and structurally unusual. DOB Equity is a Dutch family-backed evergreen fund, meaning it reinvests all proceeds rather than returning capital on a ten-year clock, so it can hold positions far longer than a conventional VC. About €75 million deployed across 26 companies to date, in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, across agriculture, food, health, education, energy, logistics and financial services. Offices in Kenya, Tanzania and the Netherlands. It does not publish a cheque range.

EchoVCOne of Nigeria's pioneering early-stage venture fundsWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanaactive, and unusually willing to write the first institutional cheque. Investments span roughly US$100,000 to US$5 million depending on stage, with pre-seed entries starting far lower. Runs a dedicated climate vehicle, Eco Pilot Fund I, at US$2.5 million for neoenergy, sustainable mobility, agriculture, food security and climate risk. Led by Eghosa Omoigui, with an explicit focus on underrepresented founders and underserved markets.

Enza CapitalPan-African seed and Series A VC with $58M across its fundsWorks in AfricaKenya, Tanzaniaclosed US$58 million across its funds and launched a founder partner programme alongside it. Cheques run roughly US$250,000 to US$5 million at pre-seed and seed, across fintech, logistics, health, human capital and climate. 48 investments in 31 companies to date, across eight markets: Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Egypt and South Africa. Worth knowing for pre-seed: the stated preference there is repeat founders with a complete founding team.

EquatorSeed and Series A for African climate technologyWorks in AfricaKenya, Nigeriadeploying a US$55 million debut fund that reached final close in March 2025 with Proparco and IFC among its backers. Seed cheques of about US$750,000 to US$1 million and Series A up to US$2 million, with a stated range of US$500,000 to US$5 million across the fund. Plans 15 to 18 companies. The remit is climate specifically: low-carbon energy, agriculture and mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Support extends to unit economics and governance, not just capital.

First Circle CapitalFemale-led pan-African fintech fund writing $100k to $250k first chequesWorks in AfricaPan-Africanactively deploying, US$30 million target with US$10.9 million raised and a further US$6 million from the IFC. Cheques of roughly US$100,000 to US$250,000 at pre-seed and seed. Based in Morocco and Uganda, which is unusual coverage: most pan-African funds are run from Lagos, Nairobi or Cape Town. Approach through the firm's site.

Flourish VenturesGlobal fintech fund with a dedicated Africa pipelineWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaan evergreen fintech and financial-health fund backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, with about US$850 million under management. Evergreen matters here: there is no ten-year clock, so it can hold positions far longer than a conventional fund. Cheques of roughly US$500,000 to US$7 million at pre-seed, seed and Series A. In Africa it backed Stitch's US$55 million Series B. It also runs Madica, the pre-seed programme listed separately here.

Founders Factory AfricaAfrica's leading corporate-backed startup studio and VCWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaaccepts applications directly through foundersfactory.africa/apply, which is rare on this list. Cheques are small and programme-attached: recent accelerator cohorts invest roughly US$20,000 to US$50,000, and the typical implied equity range is about 5% to 15%. It states a preference for unpriced instruments such as a SAFE with a valuation cap and no discount, explicitly to avoid setting a low price before your first priced round. The six-month Scale programme is for companies already trading.

Future AfricaPan-African VC investing in Africa's futureWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaactively deploying. Cheques of roughly US$100,000 to US$500,000 at pre-seed and seed, with follow-on reserved for the companies that work and selective Series A participation. Structured so individual African operators can co-invest alongside the fund through syndicate SPVs rather than only institutions. Founded by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, previously of Andela and Flutterwave.

Goodwell InvestmentsDutch impact VC backing inclusive businesses across AfricaWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyadeploying uMunthu II, first close US$154 million against a €150 million target. Tickets of roughly US$250,000 to US$5 million, with smaller possible but rare. Allocation is explicit: about 35% financial inclusion, 25% agriculture and 25% mobility and logistics. It backs companies with revenue and demonstrated traction rather than ideas, and adds governance support and a multi-country network alongside capital.

HAVAÍC$1M–$5M for post-revenue African tech companiesWorks in AfricaSouth Africa, Kenyadeploying African Innovation Fund 3, a US$50 million vehicle that reached a second close in July 2025 and plans about 15 investments. Cape Town based, founded 2016 by Ian Lessem, investing between seed and Series B. The defining screen is that it backs post-revenue companies only, with global rather than purely local prospects. The firm does not publish a per-deal range on its site; figures in circulation put cheques at roughly US$1 million to US$5 million, so treat that as indicative and confirm directly.

Helios Investment PartnersAfrica's largest homegrown private equity firm - $3.6B+ AUMWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaa London-headquartered pan-African private equity firm that has deployed about US$3.6 billion in African businesses. Helios Investors IV targeted US$1.25 billion, writing equity cheques of US$30 million to US$200 million per transaction for significant minority or control positions in mid to large-cap platform companies. Known in tech circles as a long-standing Interswitch shareholder rather than as a startup investor.

IFC VenturesWorld Bank Group’s private sector investment arm - Africa’s largest DFI investorWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyathe IFC's venture arm has committed about US$3 billion across startups, VC funds, seed funds and accelerators, and runs a platform investing up to US$225 million across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Pakistan. In practice most African founders meet it indirectly: it is a limited partner in many funds on this list, including P1 Ventures (US$5 million), 4DX Ventures (US$10.5 million), Aruwa, Flat6Labs and Knife Capital. Direct startup cheque sizes are not published.

Ingressive CapitalPan-African early-stage VC investing in the next wave of African techWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanadeploying Ingressive Capital II, closed at US$50 million in 2021. Cheques of roughly US$100,000 to US$500,000 at pre-seed and seed, with initial tickets typically US$200,000 to US$400,000. Focused on early-stage African tech. No published open application route, so an introduction through the portfolio or the wider ecosystem is the practical path.

Janngo CapitalFrancophone-strong pan-African fund with a gender mandateWorks in AfricaIvory Coast, Senegaldeploying a second fund closed at about €73 million (US$78 million), oversubscribed against a €60 million target. Cheques from €50,000 to €5 million across seed to Series B, with €150,000 to €1.5 million typical at seed and pre-Series A, into 10 to 15 companies. Founded by Fatoumata Ba, with an explicit gender-equal mandate and unusually strong coverage of Francophone West Africa, which most pan-African funds underweight.

Kepple Africa VenturesJapanese-backed pan-African VC with 100+ investmentsWorks in AfricaNigeria, KenyaKepple's African activity now runs mainly through Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, the joint venture with Verod Capital, which closed its first fund at US$60 million in April 2024 to back up to 21 companies at Series A and B. Individual cheques are not published as a standard range; a disclosed Series A into mTek Services was US$1.25 million. Kepple itself was previously one of the most prolific small-cheque investors on the continent, so older profiles describing many tiny tickets describe the earlier model, not this one.

Knife CapitalSouth Africa's leading growth equity investor for tech startupsWorks in AfricaSouth Africa, Pan-Africandeploying Fund III, backed by the IFC among others, with an average cheque near US$3 million and a range from roughly US$600,000 at Series A to US$8 million for expansion, across 10 to 12 companies. Unusually for this list, it has a real front door: an online application form reviewed by the investment team, with a follow-up conversation if the fit is there. Primarily South African, with some Sub-Saharan reach.

Lagos Angel NetworkNigeria’s oldest angel investor networkWorks in AfricaNigeriaactive. This is a network of individual angels investing their own money, not a pooled fund, which changes what a yes means: you are raising from several people rather than signing with one entity. Deal sizes run from about ₦500,000 to ₦50 million, and members add mentoring and introductions alongside cash. The Lagos Startup DealDay is the pitch event where startups present to members and other ecosystem investors.

Launch Africa VenturesThe most active pan-African pre-seed and seed micro-VCWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyathe most prolific investor on the continent by cheque count, with roughly 198 investments since 2019. Headquartered in Mauritius, aimed squarely at the seed and pre-Series A gap. Fund II writes initial cheques around US$250,000, with follow-on scaling to US$1 million if pre-agreed KPIs are hit within six to twelve months. It accepts pitches directly through its site or at [email protected], with a stated response time of two to four weeks. Fund II is more concentrated than Fund I, across B2B, fintech, AI, cleantech and logistics.

LeapFrog InvestmentsLarge-cheque impact capital for financial and health servicesWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyadeploying Emerging Consumer Fund IV, closed at just over US$1.02 billion against a US$1 billion target. Initial tickets are typically US$30 million to US$70 million across 18 to 20 companies, taking control-oriented majority or significant minority stakes, in healthcare and financial services only, across Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Cornerstone investors include Temasek, Prudential Financial, the EIB and the US DFC.

Lofty Inc.Pan-African pre-seed and seed VC with an open founder communityWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanadeploying LoftyInc Alpha, its third fund, which reached a US$43 million first close in March 2025 with commitments from FMO, Proparco, IFC, AfricaGrow and US family offices. It targets late-seed and Series A specifically, to bridge the gap African companies hit after seed. Operating from Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya with Francophone coverage. One of the ecosystem's earliest investors: Flutterwave, Andela, Wave Mobile Money, Reliance Health, Moove and OmniRetail are all in the portfolio. The Lofty Community is free to join without investment and gives access to the operator network.

MadicaUp to $200,000 pre-seed plus multi-year structured supportWorks in AfricaPan-Africanopen and explicitly built for founders the rest of this list tends to miss. Madica is a structured 12 to 18 month programme with up to US$200,000 invested per company, run as an affiliate of Flourish Ventures. It deliberately targets women-led companies, local founders and companies outside the established hubs; recent cheques went to Algeria and Cameroon. Portfolio stands at 18 companies across 10 African markets. Comes with mentors, executive coaches and subject-matter support rather than capital alone.

MEST AfricaPan-African accelerator and talent investorWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaruns an annual training programme plus the MEST Africa Challenge. This is the most dilutive entry on this list and the terms are rarely stated plainly: MEST takes 10% to 15% equity in exchange for a year of training, workspace and access to seed capital, and if it then writes the seed cheque, typically around US$50,000, it takes roughly a further 20%. Graduating teams meeting investment criteria receive US$50,000 to US$100,000. The separate Challenge awards US$50,000 as an equity investment.

MicrotractionNigeria's most active pre-seed fund - $100K for 7%, open to anyoneWorks in AfricaNigeria, Pan-Africanopen to anyone, which makes it one of the few genuine front doors on this list. The deal is standardised at US$100,000 for 7% at pre-seed, raised from the original US$25,000 for the same 7%. Sector-agnostic but looking for technology businesses aimed at very large markets. Founded 2017 by Yele Bademosi and Kwamena Afful; 36 companies across two funds in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda, which have raised more than US$100 million in follow-on.

Norrsken22$205M impact fund backing African tech from seed to Series AWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyadeploying its US$205 million debut fund, closed November 2023. Initial cheques run about US$250,000 to US$2 million, rising to roughly US$1 million to US$5 million at Series A. Seed through Series A, concentrated in fintech, edtech, medtech and market enablement. Based in Cape Town and most active in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. A warm introduction from within its network materially improves your odds over a cold approach.

Novastar VenturesImpact VC investing in startups that transform African marketsWorks in AfricaKenya, Nigeriadeploying the Africa People and Planet Fund III, which reached final close at US$147 million in early 2026, below its US$200 million target. Cheques of roughly US$1 million to US$8 million from pre-Series A to Series B, with a typical lead cheque around US$1.5 million. About 75% of initial investments go into companies raising a seed or Series A round. Focus markets are Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Egypt, with a climate and impact mandate.

Oui CapitalLagos-based early-stage VC for African tech foundersWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanadeploying the Mentors Fund II, a US$30 million fund whose first close was a little over US$11 million. Average cheque around US$400,000 to US$500,000, up to US$750,000 initially and as much as US$1 million across two rounds, at pre-seed and seed. Ten times the cheque size of its first fund. Notable track record: Fund I was returned by Moniepoint's unicorn round alone. Active in Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa.

P1 VenturesPan-African early-stage fund with a data-driven sourcing modelWorks in AfricaPan-Africandeploying Fund II, closed at US$50 million in February 2025. Cheques of roughly US$500,000 to US$1.5 million at pre-seed and seed, in fintech, healthcare, e-commerce and AI. Primary markets are Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco and Ghana, with Côte d'Ivoire, Tunisia, Senegal and the DRC as a secondary focus, so it covers Francophone Africa more seriously than most pan-African funds.

Partech AfricaPan-African VC with $280M+ and the deepest francophone coverageWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyadeploying Partech Africa II, closed above its hard cap at €280 million (over US$300 million), the largest Africa venture fund at the time. Initial tickets of US$1 million to US$15 million from seed to Series C, with Series A and B prioritised, across a planned portfolio of about 20 companies. Backers include US and Middle East pension and sovereign funds, plus Africa Re and the Dubai Future District Fund.

Persistent Africa Climate Venture Fund$70m climate fund with a venture-building facility attachedWorks in AfricaPan-Africanfirst close US$52 million against a US$70 million target, announced March 2026, plus a US$5 million venture-building facility. Pre-seed through Series A with follow-on reserved. Reported ticket sizes vary by source between roughly US$100,000 and US$2 million, so treat the range as indicative and confirm directly.

Prosus VenturesNaspers-backed global growth investor, formerly behind Naspers FoundryWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyathe venture arm of Prosus, which also managed the Naspers Foundry fund, South Africa's most visible corporate venture vehicle. It invests globally across e-commerce, fintech and edtech, with recent 2026 cheques ranging from US$5 million seed rounds to a US$70 million Series B, which shows the spread rather than a standard ticket. It does not publish an Africa-specific cheque range or mandate, and Naspers Foundry's local activity has been quieter than at its launch; confirm current appetite before planning around it.

Samurai Incubate AfricaJapanese seed fund bridging East African startups to TokyoWorks in AfricaKenya, Tanzaniadeploying Samurai Africa Fund II, about ¥2 billion (US$18.6 million). Cheques of roughly US$50,000 to US$200,000 at seed, averaging around US$100,000, with US$200,000 to US$500,000 for follow-on at Series A and a stated maximum of US$800,000. The plan is 30 to 40 new pre-seed and seed companies plus follow-on into 7 to 10 existing ones. Core markets are Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with Egypt added for Fund II. A rare route to Japanese corporate networks for an African company.

Sanari CapitalR50M-R250M for founder-led and family-owned South African businessesWorks in AfricaSouth Africathe Sanari 3S Growth Fund reached final close at about R1.5 billion (US$80 million) in December 2024. Cheques run roughly R50 million to R250 million, so this is growth private equity rather than venture. Women-led and majority Black-owned, investing in founder-run, owner-managed and family-owned mid-market businesses in South Africa at an inflection point. Portfolio includes Edulife Group, LightWare LiDAR, iiDENTIFii and Energenic.

SatganaEarly climate-tech first cheques of roughly €100,000 to €300,000Works in AfricaKenya, Nigeriastructuring two dedicated vehicles, one for Europe and one for Africa, with final sizes not yet public. First tickets of roughly €100,000 to €300,000 at pre-seed and seed, with some sources citing up to €500,000. The remit is earth tech: mobility, food and agriculture, energy, industry, buildings and the circular economy. It invests across both Europe and Africa, and takes the view that African climate startups are built to go global.

Savannah FundEast Africa's longest-running seed fund for tech startupsWorks in AfricaKenya, Ugandanow a seed and Series A investor writing roughly US$25,000 to US$500,000, having started in 2011 as a Nairobi accelerator putting US$25,000 to US$30,000 into three-month cohorts. It moved away from the accelerator model in 2016, so older write-ups describing a programme are out of date. Founded by Mbwana Alliy, focused on web and mobile across Sub-Saharan Africa with an East African centre of gravity.

Secha CapitalOperator-investors in South African small and mid-sized businessWorks in AfricaSouth Africaraising a second fund, first close US$15.7 million against a US$34 million target. The model is the point: Secha seconds one of its own team members into the portfolio company for a year to run its value-creation framework, alongside the cheque. It targets growth-stage SMEs in large, fragmented, unglamorous markets in Southern Africa rather than technology startups. Cheque sizes are not published.

Seedstars AfricaSwiss-backed pan-African seed fund with global competition exposureWorks in AfricaKenya, UgandaSeedstars Africa Ventures I is anchored by LBO France with US$8 million and a US$30 million commitment from EIB Global, targeting a US$80 million to US$100 million final close. Initial cheques of US$250,000 to US$2 million with follow-on up to US$5 million, across up to 30 companies at seed and Series A, with follow-on through Series B. Focus on education, healthcare and utilities. Worth knowing: you do not need to have been through a Seedstars accelerator to be eligible, which is a common misconception.

Speedinvest Africa FundTargeting $230m for African fintech, anchored by the European Investment BankWorks in AfricaEgypt, Moroccolaunched March 2026 and deploying, targeting US$230 million (EUR 200 million) and anchored by a EUR 40 million commitment from EIB Global. Treat the fund size as a target rather than a final close. Seed to Series A, fintech and fintech-enabled only. Focus markets are Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, with Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon and the DRC named as high-potential additions. No published cheque range or open application route; entry is through the firm's network.

The Baobab Network$100,000 into early-stage African startupsWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaapplications run through the site on an ongoing basis. Award: reported at US$50,000 to US$100,000 for 12.5% equity, plus a 12-week accelerator and partner network access. The site does not publish the equity figure, so confirm it in writing before committing; 12.5% for US$50,000 values the company at US$400,000, which is a low price for a company with traction. More than 65 startups backed across 16 African countries. Requires an MVP with early traction and an African-based, African-led team.

TLcom CapitalPan-African VC investing $500K–5M at seed and Series AWorks in AfricaKenya, Nigeriadeploying TIDE Africa Fund II, closed at US$154 million and described at the time as Africa's largest early-stage fund. First cheques typically US$1 million to US$3 million, a stated minimum around US$500,000 at seed, and up to US$15 million across the life of an investment. More than 80% of Fund I went in at seed or Series A and Fund II keeps that shape. It runs a public pitch portal at tlcomcapital.com/pitch, which is rare at this size.

Ventures PlatformNigeria's most active early-stage VCWorks in AfricaNigeriaactively deploying Fund II, which reached final close at US$84 million in August 2026. This is a venture fund, not a grant: first cheques run up to US$3 million with an average around US$1.5 million, and the fund targets a 10% to 12% stake at entry, leading rounds from pre-seed to Series A with capital reserved for follow-ons. There is no public application form; entry is through warm introduction.

Verod CapitalWest African private equity for established businessesWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanaa mid-market private equity firm rather than a venture investor. Growth Fund III targets around US$150 million as a ten-year closed-end vehicle, taking controlling stakes or significant minority interests in established mid-market companies. Geography is mandated: at least 50% Nigeria, up to 30% Ghana, and up to 10% across Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Sectors are consumer goods and services, light industrials, agribusiness, financial services, business services and education.

VestedWorldEarly growth capital for underserved African marketsWorks in AfricaNigeria, Ghanaraising the Rising Star Fund, US$20 million secured against a US$50 million target as at March 2025. Cheques of roughly US$100,000 to US$500,000 early on, with initial investments cited between US$500,000 and US$1 million, at pre-Series A and Series A. Primary markets are Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, with Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda secondary. Sectors are agribusiness, consumer products and technology-enabled businesses. It publishes its process and prefers to meet founders early and track progress over months before investing.

Voltron CapitalOperator-led pan-African pre-seed fund that moves fastWorks in AfricaNigeria, Kenyaactive. Cheques of roughly US$20,000 to US$100,000, which is angel-sized and deliberately so: this is often the first institutional money in, before a fund like Ventures Platform or TLcom will look. Co-founded by Olumide Soyombo, an early Paystack backer, and Abe Choi, with a stated plan of up to 30 companies across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and North Africa. Explicitly founder-first rather than sector-led.

Y CombinatorThe world's most valuable startup acceleratorWorks in AfricaPan-Africanruns batches rather than rolling applications; the Fall 2026 batch closed on 27 July 2026 and ran October to December in San Francisco. The deal is standardised and worth reading closely: US$125,000 for 7% on a post-money SAFE, plus US$375,000 on an uncapped SAFE with a most-favoured-nation clause, US$500,000 in total. The 7% is fixed regardless of your valuation, which is expensive if you are already well along and cheap if you are not. Nigeria and Kenya hold the highest concentration of YC-backed companies in Africa, and the alumni network is the real asset for fundraising, hiring and B2B sales afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

How many investors & vcs options are listed, and which are built in Africa?

61 options are listed under Investors & VCs. 36 are built in Africa, including 4Di Capital, Africa Angels Network, AfricInvest, Ajim Capital and Algebra Ventures.

Are there free investors & vcs options?

27 of the 61 listed have a genuine free tier: Alitheia Capital, Antler Kenya, Antler Nigeria, Aruwa Capital, Catalyst Fund and Chandaria Capital. The rest are paid or trial only, and each entry records which.

Which African countries do these investors & vcs options cover?

19 markets are covered. Best served are Nigeria (48), Kenya (46), Ghana (36), South Africa (34), Egypt (23) and Tanzania (15). Every entry records the specific countries it works in rather than claiming "international".

Does a listing guarantee availability?

No. Pricing, eligibility and country support change. FounderStack Africa records country coverage, a use-when and a skip-when, and a last-verified date on every entry, but confirm current terms with the provider before committing.

Step-by-step guides

Walkthroughs that put these tools to work.

Pan-African

Raise a pre-seed or seed round in Africa

The complete step-by-step playbook for raising your first pre-seed or seed round in Africa - from deciding you're ready to closing the round.

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Pan-African

Apply to Y Combinator from Africa

A complete guide to applying to Y Combinator from Africa - what YC looks for, how to structure your application, and what to do after submitting.

Read guide

Pan-African

Build relationships with African investors before you fundraise

How to find, approach, and build warm relationships with African investors before you ever send them a pitch deck - the relationship-first fundraising playbook.

Read guide

Pan-African

Apply to top African accelerator programs

How to write a winning application for a top African accelerator program - what they’re actually looking for and how to position your startup for acceptance.

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Pan-African

Access DFI funding and development grants in Africa

What development finance institutions (DFIs) are, how they differ from VCs, which ones invest in African startups, and how to approach them.

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Pan-African

Launch on Product Hunt from Africa

How to launch on Product Hunt from Africa and use it to get your first wave of international users, press coverage, and investor attention.

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Pan-African

Scale your startup from one African country to three

A step-by-step playbook for expanding your startup from your home market into a second and third African country - when to do it, what to fix first, and how to avoid the most common expansion mistakes.

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Pan-African

Understand and negotiate your first term sheet or SAFE

A practical guide to understanding, negotiating, and signing your first term sheet or SAFE agreement as an African founder.

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All tools