Sabou Capital plans to invest between $350,000 and $1.5 million in 25 companies at the late pre-seed to Series A stages.

The target sectors include agriculture, agroprocessing, renewable energy, climate solutions, logistics, mobility, and supply chain industries.

Unlike many funds that prioritize high-growth tech startups, Sabou Capital positions itself as a “micro-private equity” firm.

It supports businesses that may not be tech companies in the traditional sense, but instead use technology to improve their operations and service delivery.

The name “Sabou” comes from the Hausa word Sabo, meaning rebirth or renewal, with a French-language twist that reflects the fund’s bilingual regional focus. This symbolic name reflects the fund’s mission to breathe new life into promising but underfunded SMEs.

Ahmad said the fund emerged after diverging visions within Aduna Capital, which she co-founded.

“While we agreed on the purpose and goals, we overlooked how to execute them. That difference in approach made me realize how varied visions of impact can be,” she explained.

Sabou Capital is setting more modest return expectations than the typical venture capital model—aiming for returns in the 2x to 3x range, in contrast to the 10x returns many VC firms pursue.  

The fund will provide not just capital but also hands-on support to investee companies. This includes strengthening internal systems, governance structures, and financial management to ensure companies are prepared to scale.

“Before we release any funding, we work closely with companies to make sure they’re investment-ready,” Ahmad said.

Sabou Capital is also committed to supporting women-led businesses through a gender-lens investment strategy.

Ahmad noted that while investing in women often yields strong returns, female entrepreneurs face structural challenges in accessing capital, including limited networks and fewer fundraising opportunities.

Drawing from her own experience as a founder in Northern Nigeria, Ahmad said she had difficulty raising funds due to geographic and social barriers. “Back then, I couldn’t just fly to Lagos to pitch. That limitation shaped how I think about access today,” she said.

Sabou Capital is also expanding its leadership with Christian Amouo joining as a general partner. Amouo, a private equity expert, brings valuable experience from Francophone markets, having previously launched a fund in Cameroon and invested in multiple businesses, most of which are still active.