TLDR:
- Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) concludes its pan-African venture fund with a final close of US$60 million.
- The fund focuses on scalable, tech-enabled startups addressing challenges across the continent.
Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) concluded its pan-African venture fund with a final close of US$60 million, targeting scalable, tech-enabled startups tackling challenges across the continent. The fund, formed in 2021 as a joint venture between Kepple Africa Ventures (KAV) and Verod Holdings, is led by partners Satoshi Shinada, Ryosuke Yamawaki, and Ory Okolloh. Notable institutions like SBI Holdings, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank have invested in this fund.
The VKAV Fund prioritizes growth-stage companies, particularly at Series A and B stages, and targets three main themes: digital infrastructure builders, friction solvers between businesses or consumers, and market creators capitalizing on Africa’s evolving economy and demographics. The fund has already invested in 12 companies, including Moove Africa, KOKO Networks, and Ceviant.
This initiative aims to bridge the funding gap within the African startup ecosystem and support early-stage startups addressing social issues in Africa. With investments from prominent institutions and a focus on key themes, VKAV is set to make a significant impact on the African startup landscape.
