This $2.5 million fund will focus on identifying and investing in the most promising early-stage startups with innovative solutions for climate, energy, and agriculture.

EchoVC, driven by the vision to become the Sequoia Capital for underestimated founders and markets, has established its presence with offices in Lagos, Nairobi, New York, and London.

The firm currently has a portfolio of nearly seventy companies, spanning a diverse range of sectors, including smart planet, healthcare, education, agriculture, climate, energy, AI, financial services, mobility, commerce, media, and connectivity.

The EchoVC Eco Pilot Fund I is designed to serve as a catalyst for very-early-stage enterprise development and innovation in climate, energy, and agriculture.

By targeting these critical sectors, the fund aims to foster sustainable solutions that not only address environmental challenges but also empower communities and contribute to an income uplift for all.

Through this pre-seed fund, EchoVC intends to identify and support the most promising startups with the potential to revolutionize climate, energy, and agriculture.

The firm’s investment strategy will focus on early-stage ventures that are poised to disrupt traditional industries and propel sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

The program aims to identify ten high-potential ventures and provide them with the necessary resources and network to accelerate their growth trajectory.

Over the course of 28 months, selected entrepreneurs will gain access to the Endeavor ScaleUp methodology, which encompasses expert mentorship, immersive business development training, fundraising support, and a strong peer network of seasoned entrepreneurs.

This comprehensive approach is designed to empower founders to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that come with scaling their businesses.

“Scaling high-growth companies is crucial for fostering a vibrant and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in East Africa,” stated Maryanne Ochola, Managing Director of Endeavor Kenya.

“The Endeavor ScaleUp Program is a catalyst for ambitious local founders to leverage our global expertise and curated services to propel their businesses to new heights.”

To be eligible for the first cohort, early-stage businesses must be headquartered in East Africa, operate with a tech or tech-enabled business model, and have a demonstrable track record of success.

Applicants must also have achieved a minimum of $500,000 in annual recurring revenue, demonstrate year-on-year growth of at least 50%, and be actively contributing to job creation or providing responsible financial services at scale.

The Endeavor ScaleUp Program is a testament to Endeavor Kenya’s unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial landscape in East Africa.

The fund, backed by private investors and family offices, will continue to support innovative early-stage ventures driving growth and transformation in the region.

Established in 2018 under the leadership of Benoit Delestre, Samuel Touboul, and Cynthia Mandjek, Saviu Ventures has emerged as a pioneer in the Francophone African VC landscape.

With a team of seven experienced investors and operators strategically positioned across Abidjan, Dakar, and Paris, Saviu Ventures has established a deep understanding of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and investment opportunities.

To date, Saviu Ventures has invested in 12 promising startups, primarily from Francophone Africa, including Anka, Julaya, Zanifu, Lapaire, and Paps.

With the first close of Saviu II, reaching EUR12 million (US$13 million), the firm is poised to continue its mission of nurturing and empowering the next generation of Francophone African entrepreneurs.

Aligned with its predecessor, Saviu II will focus on seed to Series A investments in early-stage African startups, with a strong emphasis on Francophone Africa.

The fund’s sector-agnostic approach allows it to identify and support innovative tech or tech-enabled ventures across diverse industries such as fintech, e-health, edtech, climate-tech, and e-commerce.

This substantial investment will fuel GoMetro’s ambitious plans to digitize heavy-duty commercial transport operations and refine its advanced fleet management platform across its key markets in the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, and South Africa.

The funding round was spearheaded by Zenobē, a renowned strategic investor specializing in financing and operating electric buses.

FutureGrowth Asset Managers also played a significant role in the round, demonstrating their confidence in GoMetro’s innovative approach to fleet management.

Joining the investment were existing investors 4 Decades Capital, Hlayisani Capital, Tritech Global, Kalon Venture Partners, ESquared Ventures, and Greg Fury, who have consistently backed GoMetro’s transformative vision.

This infusion of capital will serve as a catalyst for GoMetro’s mission to empower fleet operators with data-driven decision-making capabilities, enabling them to optimize resource utilization, reduce operational risks, and enhance customer satisfaction.

In the highly competitive transportation industry, where fleet owners face constant pressure to stay ahead of the curve, GoMetro’s solutions provide a decisive edge, propelling companies towards growth and sustainable success.

GoMetro’s Bridge, a cloud-based platform, plays a pivotal role in the electrification of buses and trucks, a sector poised for significant growth in the coming years.

With GoMetro Bridge, fleet operators gain access to a comprehensive suite of telematics-driven features, tailored to support their transition to all-electric fleets. Utilizing their own telematics data, GoMetro Bridge provides fleet owners with a comprehensive assessment of their readiness for EV adoption.

GoMetro’s Series A funding marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey, solidifying its position as a leading innovator in the fleet management industry.

This funding will expand the organization’s anchor program, Osiris, which aims to foster and unlock advanced weather and climate data services across the continent.

In 2021, TomorrowNow received a $2 million grant from the Gates Foundation to assist one million African farmers in adapting to climate change.

This initiative demonstrated that enhanced access to localized weather information is crucial for applications within the food system, as much as the quality and precision of the data itself.

With this additional funding, TomorrowNow aims to impact 20 million smallholder farmers over the next three years.

The organization will deliver value-added weather intelligence services across Africa to research organizations, non-profit organizations (NGOs), multilateral organizations, private service providers, farmer cooperatives, and government agencies serving Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs).

The Osiris project utilizes improved historical datasets, observations, and short-term and seasonal weather forecasts from global technology companies such as Tomorrow.io, Salient Predictions, and Arable.

Additionally, it collaborates closely with local government entities and private or non-governmental partners to transform agricultural practices significantly within the region.

The initiative also aims to make next-generation weather and climate information accessible to frontline organizations that support farmers and scientists who are pioneering innovations for the food system.

This enhanced accessibility will improve crop simulation for climate-resilient seed breeding and contribute to the adoption of regenerative farming practices.

This funding comes at a time when the company is undergoing a significant restructuring, including a reduction of its workforce by nearly 40%.

Twiga CEO and Co-Founder Peter Njonjo stated that the funding round is the culmination of a strategic transformation that has enhanced the company’s cost efficiency and improved service delivery to its customers.

“We have made significant progress in streamlining our operations and optimizing our cost structure without compromising the quality of our services,” he said.

Njonjo acknowledged the impact of the workforce reduction, expressing gratitude to both current and departing employees for their contributions to Twiga’s success.

He explained that the restructuring was necessary to align the company’s staffing levels with its current business needs and ensure long-term sustainability.

The funding secured by Twiga will support the company’s ongoing operations and enable it to adapt to the dynamic market conditions.

Njonjo emphasized the company’s commitment to providing affordable goods and services to its customers despite the challenging economic environment.

Twiga’s recent moves reflect the resilience and adaptability of the agritech sector in the face of global economic shifts.

The company’s focus on cost optimization and service improvement highlights its determination to remain one of the leading players in the Kenyan agribusiness landscape.

Founded in 2021, WayUp Sports has emerged as a leading provider of diverse specialized and performance-based sportswear and equipment, catering to the growing demand among athletes and sports enthusiasts.

Since raising a pre-seed funding round last year, the company has experienced a remarkable nine-fold growth, securing strategic partnerships with over 70 local and international brands, offering products for more than 15 sports, and serving over 100,000 customers.

This undisclosed seed round was spearheaded by Beltone Venture Capital, Index Sports Fund, and a group of strategic angel investors.

The funding will be instrumental in supporting WayUp Sports’ ambitious goals of expanding its regional reach, launching its own private brand, and continuously improving the user experience across its digital platforms.

Commenting on this significant milestone, Mohamed Afifi, co-founder and co-CEO of WayUp Sports, expressed his gratitude to the investors for their confidence in the company’s vision and potential.

Ali Mokhtar, CEO of Beltone Venture Capital, echoed Afifi’s enthusiasm and highlighted WayUp Sports’ remarkable achievements.

This seed funding round underscores WayUp Sports’ strong position in the Egyptian sports retail market and its potential to expand its reach across the MENA region.

This strategic investment will significantly fuel Khula’s expansion plans and enhance its mission of connecting farmers with suppliers, buyers, and financing options.

The Kgodiso Development Fund, established by PepsiCo South Africa with an initial capital of R600 million ($32.7M), spearheaded this investment.

The fund aims to foster the growth of emerging farmers by supporting market-driven programs, co-creating innovative solutions, and expanding its impact through strategic investments.

Founded by Karidas Tshintsholo, Jackson Dyora, and Matthew Piper, Khula has developed a comprehensive digital ecosystem that addresses the key challenges faced by South African farmers, including limited access to markets and financing constraints.

The investment from PepsiCo will enable Khula to expand its reach beyond South Africa and leverage PepsiCo’s global presence and supply chain to create new opportunities for farmers.