Village Capital, a global nonprofit investor focused on supporting startups in emerging markets, has invested $350,000 in two Ghanaian startups through its latest Africa-focused investment vehicle. The funding marks the first deployment from the Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF), a $4 million fund created to support early-stage African companies solving critical economic and social challenges.
The beneficiaries of the investment are Ghana-based healthtech startup Rivia Clinics and logistics platform VDL Fulfilment. Rivia Clinics secured $200,000, while VDL Fulfilment received $150,000 in financing structured through a combination of convertible debt and milestone-based funding.
The AECF fund was launched in partnership with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, FMO, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). It aims to support startups improving economic mobility and climate resilience across Africa by backing locally driven innovation.
Founded in 2024, Rivia Clinics operates a membership-based healthcare platform that connects individuals and businesses to a network of clinics offering both physical and virtual healthcare services. The startup says it has already served over 50,000 patients across Ghana. The new capital will help the company expand its clinic network, improve sales operations, and strengthen its virtual healthcare infrastructure.
VDL Fulfilment, on the other hand, provides warehousing, order management, and delivery services tailored to African small and medium-sized businesses. Since launch, the company has processed more than 170,000 orders and supported over 150 vendors through its logistics platform. The startup plans to use the funding to expand its warehouse infrastructure, increase fleet capacity, and establish new distribution hubs closer to customers. According to Heather Matranga, Managing Director of Venture and Investments at Village Capital, both startups demonstrate how African founders are creating practical solutions to everyday challenges in sectors such as healthcare and logistics.
The investment comes at a time when startup funding across Africa has slowed following a decline in development finance activity. However, the deal signals continued investor confidence in startups building essential infrastructure and services across underserved markets. Village Capital also noted that more investments are expected in Nigeria and Tanzania as the facility expands across the continent.
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