There are many reasons to invest, however investors should be aware that Africa can test their patience. The African markets can be unstable and time horizons may not always be a good idea. Even the most sophisticated firms might have to review their business plans, just as Nestle did last year in 21 African countries. Many countries also face deficits. It will take the courage and determination of investors to bridge these gaps and investors looking for entrepreneurs bring greater prosperity to Africans.
TLcom Capital’s $71 million TIDE Africa Fund
TLcom Capital’s latest venture closed at $71 million. The fund’s predecessor shut down in January of last year. TLcom, Bio, CDC Group, and Sango Capital contributed five million dollars. The fund’s first investment was in 12 tech companies in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. TIDE Africa II will focus on fintech companies 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 between $500,000 and $10 million.
TLcom is a Nairobi-based VC firm with more than $200 million in under management. The company’s managing partner, Omobola Johnson, has been instrumental in launching more than dozen tech companies across the continent including Twiga Foods and a trucking logistics company funding options – www.5mfunding.com -. Omobola Johnson (a former minister of technology and communication in Nigeria) is part of the team of the investment firm.
TIDE Africa is an equity investment fund that invests in growth-stage tech companies in SSA. It will invest between $500,000 and $10 million in companies that are at the beginning of their development with a particular focus on Series A and B rounds. Although the fund will be focusing on Anglophone Africa, it plans to invest in Eastern and Southern African countries, too. In Kenya, for example, TIDE has invested in five high-growth digital companies.
Omidyar’s $71 Million TEEP Fund
The Omidyar Network is a US-based charitable investment firm that hopes to invest between $100 and $200 million in India over the next five years. Pierre Omidyar, co-founder of eBay, founded the fund and has invested $113 million in 35 Indian companies. The firm invests in the Indian consumer internet, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion. It also invests in property rights, transparency in government, transparency of the government, and companies with social impact.
The Omidyar Network’s TEEP Fund invests in projects that improve access to government information. Its mission is to identify nonprofits that utilize technology to develop public information portals and tools for citizens. The network believes that having open access to government information increases public awareness of government processes, which creates a more involved society that holds government officials accountable. Imaginable Futures will use the funds to invest in non-profit and for-profit companies that focus on education and healthcare.
Raise
If you’re planning to raise funds for your African startup, how to get investors you should look for a business with an emphasis on Africa. TLcom Capital, a fund manager located in London is one of these companies. Angel investors have been attracted to its African investments, and the team has raised funds in Nigeria and Kenya. TLcom recently announced the launch of a brand new $71 million fund that aims to invest in 12 startups prior to them reaching revenue.
The appeal of Africa venture capital is increasingly being recognized by the capital market. More private investors are realizing the potential of Africa to grow and don’t have the restrictions of institutional investors. This means that raising funds is much easier than it was in the past. Raise allows businesses to conclude deals in a fraction of the time and is completely without institutional limitations. However, there isn’t a single right method to raise funds for African investors.
The first step is to comprehend the way investors view African investments. Although many investors are attracted to YC hype, it’s important to be aware of the broader implications of this Silicon Valley giant and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union. African companies are now searching for the YC signal to approach US investors. Kyane Kassiri is a Tunisian venture capitalist, has recently talked about the importance the YC signal when it comes to raising funds for African investors.
GetEquity
It was founded in July 2021. GetEquity is an investment platform that is based in Nigeria and aimed at democratizing startup funding in Africa. Its goal is to make funding for African startups more accessible to everyone by providing capital raising tools and world-class capital to all startups. It has already helped numerous startups raise more than $150,000 from diverse investors. In addition, company funding options it also offers a secondary market for investors to purchase other people’s tokens.
Contrary to equity crowdfunding, investing in early-stage companies is an extremely exclusive business. It’s typically only accessible to the most well-known individual angel investors, capital institutions and syndicates. It is rarely available to friends and family. However, new startups are trying to challenge this exclusive arrangement by opening up access to startup capital in Africa. It is accessible for both Android and iOS devices. It is free to use.
With the launch of its blockchain-based wallet, GetEquity is making startup investing in Africa an option for common investors. With the assistance of crypto funds, investors can invest in African startups starting at just $10. Although this is a small amount, it’s still significant amount of money when compared with traditional equity financing. In the wake of the recent demise of Paystack by Spark Capital, GetEquity has become a formidable platform for investors who are willing to invest in Africa.
Bamboo
Bamboo’s first obstacle is convincing young Africans to invest on the platform. In the past, investors in Africa were limited to a limited number of options: foreign direct investment (FDI) and crowdfunding and traditional finance companies. In fact, less than a third of the population had invested on any platform. The company has announced that it is expanding into other African countries, and plans to launch in Ghana by April 2021. More than 50,000 Ghanaians are waiting to be added to the waitlist as of this writing.
Africans don’t have many options for saving money. The value of the currency is decreasing against the dollar due inflation of more than 16%. It is possible to invest dollars to help safeguard against inflation as well as falling dollar. Bamboo, which has seen rapid growth over the past two years, is a platform that allows Africans to invest in U.S. stock options. Bamboo will begin operations in Ghana in April 2021. It has already surpassed 500 thousand users who are waiting to access.
Investors can fund their wallets beginning 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. Bamboo’s platform is bank-level secured and therefore anyone in Africa is able to use it if they have an active Nigerian Bank Verification number. Professional investment advisors may also benefit from Bamboo’s services.
Chaka
Nigeria is a hub for legitimate investment and business. The entertainment and film industry is among the largest in the world and its growing fintech ecosystem has resulted in a boom in startup formation and VC activity. TechCrunch interviewed Iyinoluwa Abodeji, one Chaka’s top backers. She stated that the progress of the country will eventually lead to investors of a new class. Chaka also received seed-funds from Microtraction which is run 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. Rising anti-China sentiments and the trade war have made it more attractive to investors to invest in African companies that are not part of the US. Although the continent of Africa is home to many emerging economies, the majority of these are not big enough for venture-sized enterprises. The founders of companies in Africa should be prepared to adopt an expansion mindset and lock into a coherent expansion narrative.
The Central Securities Clearing System oversees the Nigerian Stock Exchange, making it a safe and secure platform to invest in African stocks. Chaka is free to join and gives a 0.5 percent commission on each trade. Cash withdrawals of cash available can take up to 12 hours. On the other hand, withdrawals for sold shares can take up to three days. In both cases the cash payment for sold shares is settled locally.
Rise
The increase in investors willing to invest in Africa is a good thing for Africa. The economy is stable and its governance is sound, which draws international investors. This has led to an increase in living standards in Africa. However, Africa is still a risky place to invest, so investors must exercise caution and due diligence. There are plenty of opportunities to invest in Africa. However Africa must improve its offerings to attract foreign capital. African governments must work together to create a more conducive business environment and enhance the business climate in the near future.
The United States is more willing to invest in the economies of Africa via foreign direct investment. In 2013, U.S. governments helped to develop a major healthcare financing facility in Senegal. The U.S. government also helped to secure investments in new technologies in Africa, and helped pharmacies in Kenya and Nigeria have access to high-quality medicines. These investments can create jobs and create long-term partnerships between the U.S. and Africa.
While there are several opportunities available in the African market for stocks It is essential to understand the market and perform due diligence to make sure that you do not lose money. If you’re a small investor it is a good idea to invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETFs) that track various Sub-Saharan African businesses. For U.S. investors, American depositary receipts (ADRs) are a simple method to trade African stocks in the U.S. stock market.