Venture Capital has the power to address SA challenges – but more Investors are needed
There is a strong business case for venture capital (VC) investing in South Africa, not least because of the opportunity it presents for positive social and economic impact. This was discussed extensively by a number of key industry players at the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) VC Conference 2021 held in…
Read MoreInstitutional Capital needed to grow SA Venture Capital sector
Innovation to drive economic rebound The 2021 SAVCA Venture Capital (VC) Conference was held on 15 November 2021. In a continuation from the March private equity conference, the overarching theme for the venture capital conference was “re:imagine” as we work towards re:imagining the role VC can play in rebuilding our economy. The topics covered ranged…
Read MoreSAVCA appoints two new Board Members at 2021 AGM
The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) hosted its virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 6 October and welcomed two new directors to its board: Thiru Pather and Vuyo Ntoi. SAVCA CEO, Tanya van Lill commented, “it’s a privilege to welcome two such highly esteemed industry professionals to our board. They each…
Read MoreA ‘Turbulent but Encouraging’ Year Ahead for South Africa’s Private Equity Industry
SAVCA Private Equity Industry Survey highlights the need for more African investment and increased exit volumes With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst a turbulent macroeconomic landscape, Sub-Saharan Africa was expected to go deep into contractionary territory in 2020. Highlights from the SAVCA 2021 Private Equity Industry Survey showed this prediction to be accurate,…
Read MoreVenture Capital industry Insights: “South African venture capital continues to grow”
SAVCA releases 2021 Venture Capital Industry survey highlights and tackles pivotal issues Survey Highlights: 74 Fund managers invested R1.39 billion into 122 entities through 167 investment rounds in 2020 (up from 69 fund managers investing R1.23 billion in 2019) At the end of 2020, the SA VC industry had R6.87 billion invested into 841 active…
Read MoreBUSINESS RESCUE AND DISTRESSED ASSET INVESTING
Considerations for creditors, shareholders, and private equity firms. According to Statistics South Africa, 216 businesses were liquidated in March 2021, 50% higher than the number recorded just a year ago. It is against this backdrop that the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA) recently hosted a panel of experts to discuss the…
Read MoreGrindstone Ventures launches $6.5m venture capital fund for SA tech SME development
Female-led African venture capital fund Fills need for post-seed, pre-Series A funding for the African continent Aligned to President’s vision of a startup nation in South Africa Cape Town, 9 November, 2021— Grindstone Ventures today launched a US $6.5m (R100 million) fund dedicated to seed funding predominantly South African innovative technology startups who have completed,…
Read MoreAfrica REN launches the construction of the largest solar plant in Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, October 20, 2021 – Africa REN, a pioneer in clean infrastructures in Africa, announces it has launched the construction of the Kodeni Solar power plant, near Bobo-Dioulasso, in Burkina Faso. With an installed capacity of 38MW, Kodeni Solar will be the largest solar power plant in the country as well as the…
Read MoreSA’s school management and communication EdTech company d6 targets global growth with investment from Knife Capital and Hlayisani Growth Fund
Stellenbosch, South Africa – Tuesday, 12 October 2021. Willem Kitshoff, CEO of the EdTech company d6 Group, today announced that the cloud-based management platform for schools has received a capital injection from Knife Capital, Hlayisani Capital and NuState Ventures. d6 is currently the most widely used cloud-based school communication and management platform in South Africa…
Read MoreSummit Africa achieves final close on its first private equity fund
The alternative asset management firm’s private equity fund secured R1.6 billion in commitments for long-term investment. The fund has been approved for the 2X Challenge qualification— a commitment by the development finance institutions (DFIs) of the G7 to mobilise USD15 billion by the end of 2022 toward investments that support women’s economic empowerment in emerging…
Read MoreIndustry 4.0 solution business Stone Three raises expansion funding from Knife Capital
PRESS RELEASE: 4 October 2021 Stone Three / Knife Capital Stone Three is a leading industry 4.0 solution business that combines expert services with the power of machine learning to solve problems that increase operational productivity and keep people safer, healthier and happier. These end-to-end solutions for AI-augmented digital productivity, health and workplace safety include…
Read MoreDPI raises one of the largest Africa funds at US$900m to invest in innovation-led companies
London, 04 October 2021 – Development Partners International (DPI), a premier investment firm focused on Africa, today announced that African Development Partners III Fund (ADP III), has exceeded its US$800 million target, and is set to hold a final close at US$900 million, with an additional US$250m of dedicated co-investment capital. This brings a total…
Read MorePress Release: Zeepay raises US$8m in Series A.0 round to drive growth
Zeepay, Africa’s leading challenger fintech, has announced the completion of its Series A.0 fund raise in a round led by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P). The leading Ghanaian fintech announced that it has completed a fundraise of US$7.9million in its Series A.0 – which was a hybrid of both equity and balance sheet funds to support its…
Read MorePress Release: Tana Africa Capital acquires a minority investment into Kensington Distillers & Vintners
ana Africa Capital acquires a minority investment into Kensington Distillers & Vintners, a fast-growing alcoholic beverage manufacturing and distribution business with operations in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
Read MorePress Release: Metier is happy to announce the sale of 360MW of Mainstream wind assets to Revego Africa Energy Limited
Revego Africa Energy Limited (Revego), South Africa’s only yieldco geared towards the renewable energy sector through its investment in the Revego Africa Energy Fund, has acquired stakes in a number of leading wind assets, all of which are helping to build South Africa’s clean energy future. The acquisitions include the Mainstream wind assets, Loeriesfontein 2…
Read MorePress Release: Legacy Africa Capital Partners concludes deal with Penflex and its parent company
South African company Penflex has been transformed into a plastics conversion business specialising in the local manufacture of writing instruments, window blind components and houseware products for the domestic and international market. This is after Legacy Africa Capital Partners (LACP) took a majority share in Penflex, which had previously focused only on stationery, as well…
Read MorePress Release: Convergence Partners’ latest fund to drive digital inclusion in Africa
Convergence Partners, a private equity investor focused on the technology sector across sub-Saharan Africa, announced the successful first close of its third fund, the Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF) at US$120 million. The fund is targeting a final size of US$250 million. Now with more than US$400m of capital under management, Convergence Partners remains the largest private equity investor dedicated to digital infrastructure in Africa. Investors in CPDIF are leading…
Read MoreVenture Capital industry Insights: “South African venture capital continues to grow”
Venture Capital industry Insights: “South African venture capital continues to grow” SAVCA releases 2021 Venture Capital Industry survey highlights and tackles pivotal issues Survey Highlights: • 74 Fund managers invested R1.39 billion into 122 entities through 167 investment rounds in 2020 (up from 69 fund managers investing R1.23 billion in 2019)• At the end of…
Read MorePress Release: Metier-led consortium invests US$36 million into AMN to expand coverage in remote rural Africa
A consortium led by Metier, an independent African private equity fund manager, has invested US$36 million into Africa Mobile Networks Ltd (“AMN”). The consortium includes CDC Group (the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor), DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Germany’s development finance institution), Proparco (the private sector arm of the French Development…
Read MoreFM:Systems Acquires WizzPass,Gaining Best-in-Class Visitor Management Technology
FM:Systems Solutions and Provides Unprecedented Digital Workplace Experience for Employees, Contractors, Suppliers and Visitors RALEIGH, N.C., June 23, 2021 — FM:Systems, a dominant provider of digital workplace solutions globally, announced today that it has acquired WizzPass, a rapidly growing leader in the visitor management system and workplace management market. Used and trusted by leading companies…
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