African Venture Capital Fund Managers Recognized for Supporting Promising Entrepreneurs and Startups
Three African venture capital fund managers, First Circle Capital, SpeedInvest, and Knife Capital, have been awarded for their success in supporting promising entrepreneurs and startups across Africa, receiving prizes at the Africa Venture Finance program, a one-week in-person course held for the third time last week at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford.
The program, hosted by Boost Africa and AfricaGrow, aims to support venture capital fund managers who invest in technology startups and growth-stage companies in Africa, bringing together 41 top fund managers from 31 African venture capital funds. The "Most Promising Fund Manager" award was given to the all-female team of First Circle Capital, which focuses on investing in and supporting fintech startup founders.
The "Best Deal" award was given to SpeedInvest for its investment in Nigerian company Moove, a fast-growing business offering financing and vehicle supply solutions. The "Lifetime Achievement Award" was given to Keet van Zyl, co-founder of Knife Capital, based in South Africa, in recognition of his contributions to the venture capital ecosystem and his leadership.
The one-week program brought together investors from funds such as Partech, AfricInvest, TLcom Capital, and Norssken22 to discuss innovative solutions to address Africa's unique challenges. It provided a platform for participants to share their expertise and facilitate discussions aimed at accelerating the growth of the technology venture capital sector in Africa. Participants from across the continent attended, with over half being women, highlighting the increasing inclusion of women in venture capital leadership.
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