South African-based VC firm Knife Capital has closed its anticipated $50 million African Series B Expansion Fund.
With the aim of fueling innovation and growth across the continent, Knife Capital’s Series B Expansion Fund has garnered substantial support from investors who are eager to tap into Africa’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.
This fund is designed to provide crucial financial backing to promising startups at a pivotal stage of their growth journey, helping them scale, expand their reach, and solidify their market presence.
A broad range of investors committed to Knife Fund III, including the team itself, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Mineworkers Investment Company (MIC), the SA SME Fund, and its new Venture Capital Fund of Funds.
Other investors include Standard Bank, AfricaGrow, Skybound Capital, Fireball Capital, and the Draper-Gain family office in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank.
Known for its proficiency in partnering with and nurturing startups, Knife Capital is poised to accelerate the growth of these ventures, thereby contributing to job creation, economic development, and technological advancement across Africa.
The fund is expected to cater to various sectors, including technology, healthcare, fintech, agri-tech, and more.
By doing so, Knife Capital is not only driving innovation but also contributing to addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by the continent.
The closing of Knife Capital’s $50 million African Series B Expansion Fund comes at a time when global interest in African innovation and entrepreneurship is on the rise.
“We are delighted to partner with ISA to support the development of solar energy in Africa,” said Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50. “This partnership will help to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in Africa and improve the lives of millions of Africans,” he added.
Swedfund, a Swedish development finance institution (DFI), has partnered with African credit fund BluePeak Private Capital Fund to invest $5 million in Bridge Bank Microfinance (BBM), a subsidiary of West Africa-based Teyliom Finance.
Amenli, an Egyptian insurtech startup, has raised $2.3 million in funding to accelerate its growth and enhance its service offerings.
Egypt-based logistics platform Nowlun has raised $1.7 million in a seed funding round led by Nama Ventures and A15, with additional contributions from Sanabil 500 Global and prominent angel investors.
© 2021 Empower Africa. All rights reserved.