In a major boost to Africa’s tech ecosystem, Ventures Platform, one of the continent’s leading early-stage venture capital firms, has announced the first close of $64 million for its Pan-African Fund II. This milestone underscores growing global confidence in Africa’s innovation landscape and marks a new chapter for Ventures Platform as it expands its support for startups driving transformative change across the continent.
Founded by Kola Aina, Ventures Platform has long been recognized for identifying and backing some of Africa’s most promising early-stage companies. With Fund II, the firm aims to deepen its reach across key markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa—regions that continue to lead in tech-driven entrepreneurship. The fund will focus on startups tackling pressing challenges in financial inclusion, healthcare, education, climate, and digital infrastructure.
The $64 million first close attracted participation from a diverse pool of global and regional investors, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Proparco, and the AfricaGrow fund, among others. Their involvement signals a rising appetite among institutional investors to participate in Africa’s growing venture ecosystem.
Ventures Platform’s investment strategy emphasizes not only capital deployment but also strategic mentorship and ecosystem building. The firm plans to provide portfolio companies with access to global networks, operational guidance, and follow-on funding opportunities. This approach has already yielded success with previous investments in standout African startups such as PiggyVest, Mono, and SeamlessHR, all of which have achieved strong market traction.
Commenting on the milestone, Kola Aina noted that the new fund reflects Ventures Platform’s long-term commitment to empowering African founders solving real problems. “Africa’s entrepreneurs are building resilient solutions for local and global markets,” he said. “With Fund II, we aim to double down on supporting these visionaries as they scale.”
As Africa’s tech ecosystem continues to mature, Ventures Platform’s Pan-African Fund II positions the firm as a key catalyst for sustainable innovation—fueling the next generation of startups set to redefine the continent’s economic future.
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