Ventures Platform, one of Africa’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, has announced the first close of its second Pan-African fund at $64 million, marking a major step toward supporting the continent’s next generation of high-growth technology companies.
Founded by entrepreneur and ecosystem builder Kola Aina, Ventures Platform has built a strong reputation for identifying and backing promising founders at the earliest stages. The new fund received backing from leading international and regional institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Standard Bank, British International Investment (BII), Proparco, AfricaGrow, and Nigeria’s iDICE program.
Driving Scale Across the Continent
The firm says the fund will be used to support startups looking to scale beyond their local markets into North Africa, Francophone Africa, and other emerging innovation hubs across the continent. Priority sectors include:
- Fintech
- Healthtech
- Agritech
- Edtech
- Artificial Intelligence
These sectors continue to play a major role in Africa’s digital transformation and economic inclusion efforts.
Track Record of Backing Market Leaders
Since its launch in 2016, Ventures Platform has invested in more than 90 startups, many of which have grown into category leaders. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as:
- Moniepoint (formerly TeamApt)
- LemFi
- PiggyVest
- Thrive Agric
- OmniRetail
Some of these companies have reached unicorn status, validating the firm’s early-stage investment thesis and its ability to identify scalable business models in African markets.
Strengthening the African Innovation Landscape
The closing of this fund signals renewed confidence in Africa’s startup ecosystem at a time when global venture funding has tightened. The capital injection is expected to help founders build stronger operations, access new markets, and attract follow-on investment.
Ventures Platform says the goal is not just to fund innovation, but to help build enduring, globally competitive African technology companies.
