Launch Africa Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm, has made 133 investments through its first fund and has invested a total of US$4.3 million to date in 16 startups across Africa as part of its second fund.
It was founded in July 2020 by Zachariah George and Janade du Plessis, and its chairperson, Margaret O’Connor, also sits on the board. Launching Africa Ventures The firm closed its first fund, Launch Africa Ventures Fund 1, in March 2022 at US$36.3 million, attracting investment from 238 private and institutional investors across 40 countries.
Launch Africa Ventures said that through Fund II it will “invest in and grow the continent’s top technology-driven ventures and continue to scale to become market leaders in their respective industries.”
“As one of the most active pan-African investors in 2020 and beyond, we will maintain our commitment to Africa’s growing venture capital and startup ecosystem by continuing to be a top-performing, value-adding and founder-friendly investor,” the company said.
To date, the second fund has invested in 16 startups that align with investment themes around founder diversity, industry strength, market opportunity and geographic scope, deploying US$4.3 million across 11 African countries to support these market-leading opportunities.
Three of the companies are Kenyan data management startups. Periculuman inventory tracking platform Logisticsand Direct Air Capture Company Octavia Carbon.
The remaining three are South African automotive service marketplaces. serverWorking Capital Services Credit Circuitlogistics platform Shiprather – Three companies from the FMCG Insights Platform participated from Senegal LengoLogistics Services PupEnergy Company Solar Box.
The remaining investment goes to a Zambian proptech startup BossoDemocratic Republic of Congo-based beauty startup JerkAn e-health company based in Côte d’Ivoire MeditectNigeria’s lending market CredeteRwanda eHealth Startups Vivegan electric bicycle venture in Ghana Wow!(formerly known as MANA Mobility) is an Egyptian e-health startup.
