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Discover the top active investors and investment firms backing entrepreneurs and startups across Africa, from venture capital funds and accelerator programs to notable individual investors and development-focused backers. These entities are known for financing startups from seed to growth stages and helping scale businesses across the continent:
Top 10 active investors in Africa
1. Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates
Founded by billionaire Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was launched in 2000. By December 2014, the Foundation had already donated money and assets to non-profit organizations totaling $44.3 billion.
2. L’Initiative Chan Zuckerberg
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) was announced in 2015 by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. The organization’s mission is to “advance human potential and promote equality.” The CZI has pledged to donate 99% of its Facebook shares, valued at $45 billion.
3. Investment AB Kinnevik
Investment AB Kinnevik was founded in 1936. The Sweden-based Organisation is one of Europe’s largest listed investment company, with total assets estimated at $7 billion. Being a major investor on the Africa continent, about 8% of the company’s portfolio is made up of African businesses.
4. Helios Investment Partners
Helios Investment Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm founded in 2004. The Organisation focuses on businesses in telecommunications, media, financial services, travel and leisure, FMCG and logistics.
5. Seedstars World
Seedstars is one of the most highly regarded start-up funders. The Swiss-based venture builder Organisation is active in 35+ countries around the world, with investments in young start-up businesses in emerging countries.
6. Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program
The Tony Elemelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) selects 1,000 entrepreneurs across the African continent every year for a program of training, mentoring and funding. The TEEP is backed by a $100 million fund from The Tony Elemelu Foundation.
Every participant to the TEEP program receives a $5,000 seed investment to their business
7. International Finance Corporation
Commonly known as the IFC, the International Finance Corporation is a member of the World Bank Group. The Organisation is the largest global development institution focusing exclusively on the private sector in developing regions.
8. African Women’s Development Fund
The AWDF is the first pan-African women’s grant maker in Africa. One of the primary objectives of the AWDF is to help build a culture of learning and partnerships within the African women’s movement.
9. Omidyar Network
Founded by the billionaire founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, the Omidyar Network opened its Africa office in 2013. The firm is made up of a foundation and an investment firm, offering support to both profit and non-profit organisations across the world.
10. Africa Innovation Foundation
Every year, The Innovation Prize for Africa provides a grant to inventors and innovators with breakthrough ideas and solutions that can positively impact Africa. The foundation accepts applications in priority areas in Africa; health, agriculture, energy, ICT, manufacturing and services.
Top platforms to find investors in Africa for startups
Angel Investor Networks & Syndicates
These platforms play a key role in supporting early-stage startups across Sub-Saharan Africa. Angel investment networks connect founders with accredited investors who are often former entrepreneurs themselves and are willing to back early innovation before traditional venture capital firms step in. For many African founders, angel investment networks are the first entry point into the broader investment landscape.
Popular platforms include:
- VC4A – One of Africa’s largest startup-investor communities, connecting founders with angels, funds, and accelerators.
- ABAN – A pan-African network of angel groups active across multiple countries.
- Kepple Africa Ventures – Combines capital with ecosystem support, particularly for early-stage startups.
Venture Capital & Startup Databases
Venture capital platforms are especially useful for startups seeking seed funding or preparing for Series A funding rounds, as they help founders identify venture capital firms, review portfolio companies, and understand where active venture capitalists are deploying capital across the African market.
Commonly used platforms include:
- Crunchbase – Useful for researching active funds, recent deals, and investor focus areas.
- PitchBook – Offers deeper insights into fund strategies, cheque sizes, and portfolio activity.
- AngelList – Popular for connecting with angels and syndicates, especially for tech-enabled businesses.
Equity Crowdfunding Platforms in Africa
For fintech startups and businesses operating in financial services, equity crowdfunding platforms offer structured access to investment opportunities, provided the startup meets disclosure and regulatory requirements in the relevant African country.
Notable platforms include:
- Thundafund – Supports equity and reward-based crowdfunding in Africa.
- Republic – Increasingly open to African startups with international structures.
- Seedstars Africa Ventures : Focuses on seed-stage investments across sub-Saharan Africa, supporting founders solving local problems with technology.
Other Important VC & Investment Players
- Launch Africa Ventures : One of the most active VC investors on the continent, leading many deal rounds across sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and SaaS.
- Y Combinator : Though U.S.-based, it’s a major early-stage backer of African startups, having participated in dozens of deals across multiple countries.
- Raba Partnership : Early-stage fund in fintech & digital infrastructure.
- TheVentureCity : Supports startups with global backing and specialized growth support.
- Jozi Angels : South African angel investor network for early-stage ventures.
- Future Africa : Invests in technology-driven companies solving continental challenges.
- 4Di Capital : Focuses on fintech, insure-tech, and health-tech startups.
EchoVC Partners : Broad-sector VC supporting founders across markets.
