Five35 Ventures, known for placing female-founded and women-focused startups at the heart of its investment strategy, currently manages a portfolio comprising 16 companies operating across sectors such as fintech, agriculture, health, logistics and climate innovation.

The MEDA-backed anchor capital is expected to bolster Five35’s capacity to deepen its reach across East, West and Southern Africa, support more female entrepreneurs, and bridge critical financing gaps between pre-seed and scale stages.

“From the outset, our goal has been to build an investment firm defined by integrity, rigour, and results,” said founding partner Hema Vallabh, explaining the firm’s commitment to backing ventures that show both progress and transparency.

Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, President and Chief Executive of MEDA, said the partnership underscores how capital can be deployed to rewrite the story for African women entrepreneurs, combining purpose and performance, strengthening governance, and turning belief into tangible outcomes: stronger businesses, more investment, and significant job creation across the continent.

This collaboration aligns with the broader mission of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, which was established in 2022 with a $200 million fund-of-funds model aimed at channeling resources into African-led investment vehicles supporting early-stage, high-potential SMEs.

The fund emphasizes gender-lens investing and seeks to foster dignified and sustainable work — especially for women and youth.

With Five35 now anchored by this new support, the stage is set for increased backing of women-led ventures across Africa, combining capital, governance, and ecosystem support to help early-stage startups grow, attract further investment, and create jobs at scale.