There are many reasons to invest, but investors must be aware that Africa can test their patience. The African markets are unstable, and time horizons don’t always work. Even the most sophisticated businesses might have to review their business plans, as Nestle did last year in 21 African countries. Many countries also have deficits. These gaps will need to be filled by smart and savvy investors who will bring more prosperity to Africa.
The $71 million investment by TLcom Capital. TIDE Africa Fund
The latest venture of TLcom Capital has been closed at an estimated $71 million. The fund’s predecessor shut down in January of this year, company funding options and TLcom, Bio, CDC Group, and Sango Capital contributed five million dollars. The first fund invested in a dozen tech companies in Kenya, Nigeria, business funding and South Africa. TIDE Africa II will concentrate on fintech companies located in East Africa. The investment firm also has offices in Nigeria and Kenya. The portfolio of TLcom includes Twiga Foods, Andela, uLesson, and Kobo360. Each company is worth anywhere from $500,000 and $10 million.
TLcom is an Nairobi-based VC company has more than $200 million under management. The company’s managing partner, Omobola Johnson, has helped to launch more than dozen tech companies across the continent, including Twiga Foods and a trucking logistics company. The team of the investment firm includes Omobola Johnson, a former Nigerian minister of communication technology.
TIDE Africa is an equity fund that invests in growing-stage tech companies in SSA. It will invest between $500,000 to $10 million in early-stage companies that are focusing on Series A and II rounds. While the fund will concentrate on Anglophone Africa, it plans to invest in Eastern and Southern African countries, too. TIDE for instance, has invested in five high-growth digital companies in Kenya.
Omidyar Network’s $71 Million TEEP Fund
The Omidyar Network is a US-based foundation that invests in philanthropy and aims to invest between $100-$200 million in India in the next five years. Pierre Omidyar, co-founder of eBay, founded the fund and has invested $113 million in 35 Indian companies. In India the fund invests in entrepreneurship, consumer internet, financial inclusion, government transparency property rights, and businesses that have social impact.
The Omidyar Network’s TEEP Fund invests in projects that improve access to government information. It’s goal is to find non-profits using technology in creating public information portals as well as tools for citizens. The network believes open access to government information improves the public’s knowledge of government processes and contributes to a more engaged society that ensures that government officials are accountable. Imaginable Futures will use the funds to invest in non-profit and for-profit organisations that focus on healthcare and education.
Raise
If you’re planning to raise funds for your African start-up, you need to look for a company with an African-centric focus. One of these companies is TLcom Capital, a fund management firm that is based in London. Its African investments have attracted the attention of angel investors looking for projects to fund in namibia, business funding and the company has raised funds in Nigeria and Kenya. TLcom recently announced the launch of a new $71 million fund that intends to invest in 12 startups before they achieve revenue.
The capital market is increasingly aware of the potential appeal of Africa venture capital. More private investor looking for projects to fund investors are realizing the potential of Africa to grow, and don’t have the constraints of institutional investors. This means that raising funds is much simpler than in the past. Raise allows companies to close deals in a fraction of the time and is completely free from institutional constraints. There isn’t a single way to raise money for African investors.
Understanding how to get investors investors perceive African investments is the first step. Although many investors are attracted to YC hype, it’s vital to consider the bigger picture of this Silicon Valley giant and the African Union’s agenda 2063. African companies are now searching for the YC signal to make contact with US investors. A Tunisian venture capitalist Kyane Kassiri recently spoke about the importance of the YC sign when raising funds for African investors.
GetEquity
Established in July 2021, GetEquity is an investment platform based in Nigeria that aims at democratizing startup funding in Africa. It aims to make financing African startups easier for everyone by providing capital raising tools and world-class capital for where to find investors in south africa all startups. The platform has already helped startups raise over $150,000 from a diverse range of investors. In addition, it also offers a secondary market for investors to buy other people’s tokens.
In contrast to equity crowdfunding investing in early-stage companies is a highly privileged activity that is typically available to elite individual capital institutions and angel investors and syndicates. It is not generally accessible to family members and friends. New companies are trying to change this exclusive arrangement by making it easier to obtain financing for startups in Africa. The platform is available on iOS and Android devices and is free to use.
With the launch of its wallet based on blockchain, GetEquity is making startup investing in Africa feasible for all investors. With the help of crypto funds, investors can invest in African startups starting at just $10. While this may seem like a small amount compared to traditional equity funding however, it’s an enormous amount of money. And with the recent exit of Paystack by Spark Capital, GetEquity has transformed into a robust ecosystem for investors who are willing to invest in Africa.
Bamboo
The first obstacle for Bamboo is convincing young Africans to invest in the platform. Up until now, investors in Africa were limited to a few options that included foreign direct investment (FDI) and crowdfunding and legacy finance companies. In actuality, only a third of the population has invested in any platform. However the company is expanding into other parts of Africa, with plans to launch in Ghana in April 2021. More than 50,000 Ghanaians are on the waitlist at the time of writing.
Africans have few alternatives for saving money. With inflation at around 16 percent, the currency is depreciating against the dollar. Investing dollars can help you hedge against inflation and falling dollar. One platform that allows Africans to invest in U.S. stocks is Bamboo, which has experienced rapid growth in the last two years. Bamboo will go live in Ghana in April 2021. Bamboo already has more than 100,000 users who are waiting to be granted access.
Investors can fund their wallets as early at just $20 once they’re registered. Funding can be made through credit cards, bank transfers and credit cards. They can then trade ETFs and stocks, and receive market updates. As Bamboo’s platform is bank-level secure it is accessible by anyone within Africa that has an authentic Nigerian Bank Verification Number. Professional investment advisors may also utilize Bamboo’s services.
Chaka
There are many reasons to consider why Nigeria is a hotbed for legitimate investment and business funding (pop over here). Its film and entertainment industry is among the largest in the world and the country’s expanding fintech industry has resulted in an explosion in startup formation and VC activity. One of the most prominent supporters of Chaka, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, said to TechCrunch that the country’s modern trends will ultimately open doors to a new category of investors. Chaka also received seed-funds from Microtraction, which is managed by Michael Seibel, CEO of Y Combinator.
Beijing has been more interested in African investments due to the weakening relationship between the US and China. Increasing anti-China sentiment and the trade war have increased the appeal of investors to invest in African companies that are not part of the US. The African continent is home to huge, developing economies, however, the majority of markets are too small to support venture-sized companies. African entrepreneurs should be prepared to adopt an expansion perspective and build a coherent expansion story.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange is overseen by the Central Securities Clearing System, which makes it a secure and secure platform to invest in African stocks. Chaka is free to join, and you will receive a 0.5 percent commission on every trade. Cash withdrawals are able to take as long as 12 hours. On the other hand, withdrawals for sold shares can take up to three working days. In both cases the cash payment for sold shares is settled locally.
Rise
Africa is seeing positive news due to the rise in investors looking to invest. The country’s economy is stable and its governance is solid, which attracts international investors. This growth has increased the standard of living in Africa. However, Africa is still a very risky investment, so investors must be cautious and exercise due diligence. There are numerous opportunities to invest in Africa. However Africa must improve its infrastructure to attract foreign capital. African governments must collaborate to create a more business investors in south africa-friendly environment and enhance the business climate in the near future.
The United States is more willing to invest in Africa’s economies through foreign direct investment. In 2013, U.S. governments helped in the development of a major healthcare financing facility in Senegal. The U.S. government also supported investment in new technologies in Africa and also helped pharmacies in Nigeria and Kenya have access to high-quality medicines. This investment can help create jobs and foster long-term partnerships between the U.S.A and Africa.
While there are numerous opportunities to invest in the African market for stocks it is important to know the market and do due diligence to ensure you don’t make a loss. If you’re a modest investor, it’s a great idea to invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETFs) that track an array of Sub-Saharan African businesses. American depositary receipts (ADRs) are issued by the United States, allow investors to trade African stocks on the U.S. stock exchange.