The awards were presented at the Africa Venture Finance Programme, a week-long event hosted at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.

This was the third edition of the programme, which is designed to support VC fund managers who focus on early and growth-stage technology companies in Africa.

Hosted by Boost Africa and AfricaGrow, the event brought together 41 leading fund managers representing 31 African VC funds.

First Circle Capital’s all-female team won the “Most Promising Fund Manager” award for their work investing in early-stage fintech founders.

SpeedInvest was recognized with the “Best Deal” award for their investment in Nigeria-based Moove, a fast-growing company offering vehicle financing and supply chain solutions.

Lastly, Keet van Zyl, founding partner of South Africa’s Knife Capital, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of his contributions to the venture ecosystem and his leadership in the industry.

The award winners were selected from a shortlist by their peers, with a final decision made by a panel of judges that included limited partners.

The week-long event attracted participation from notable funds such as Partech, AfricInvest, TLcom Capital, and Norrsken22.

It provided a platform for investors to exchange ideas and discuss solutions tailored to Africa’s unique challenges, fostering growth in the continent’s tech venture capital sector.

Over half of the attendees were women, signaling progress in gender inclusivity within VC leadership.

Speaking about the event, European Investment Bank (EIB) vice-president Ambroise Fayolle stated, “We are proud of Boost Africa’s role in supporting a vibrant and resilient VC ecosystem in Africa and helping African entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful businesses. The EIB remains committed to financing new technology and ideas that will address global challenges.”