Nigeria’s fast-growing tech ecosystem now features venture capitalist firms that are continuously in search of innovative and scalable startups to back and support.
This was not the case in the past when the turf was dominated by foreign investors interested in Nigeria. The biggest economy in Africa now has a list of viable venture capitalist companies that can hold their own.
Investopedia defines Venture Capital as a form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential.
Here Are Top Venture Capitalist Firms in Nigeria:
Ventures Platform
Ventures Platform is an early-stage VC that supports startups with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Ventures Platform was founded by Kola Aina in 2016. its portfolio includes MobileForms, GeroCare, Accounteer, Jalo, and PiggyVest among others. It is located at #29 Mambilla St, Maitama 900271, Abuja.
GreenHouse Capital
Founded in 2014 as the Venture Capital arm of Nigerian tech scale-up Venture Garden Group, GreenHouse Capital has become Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest fintech investment fund by portfolio size, with 23 investments operational in 6 countries. The firm is building a Venture Capital-as-a-Service platform connecting world-class entrepreneurs, corporations, and regulators to support African start-ups and create a wide-reaching pan-Africa ecosystem. It has so far invested in Flutterwave, Max.NG, Rensource, Riby, and TalentBase.
Growth Capital Fund
Growth Capital Fund powered by Co-creation Hub was established as a local vehicle to catalyze #venturecapital flows toward local teams looking to build global businesses out of Nigeria. The fund supports high potential, early-stage businesses leveraging technology to connect public services to more citizens whilst making them smarter. The Fund’s portfolio includes-Lifebank, Riby, Delivery Science, Taeillo, and EDVES.
Microtraction
Microtraction is one of the most active Venture Capitalist firms in Nigeria. It is an investment platform that provides seed capital to technology entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of their venture. Its mission is to accelerate Africa’s economic growth by enabling innovation and supporting technology entrepreneurs. Microtraction was founded in 2017 by Yele Bademosi. It has invested in Nigeria startups like Cowrywise, BuyCoins, Wallet.ng, Allpro, and ThankUCash.
EchoVC Partners
EchoVC Partners is a seed and early-stage Venture Capital firm focused on financing and cross-pollinating leading technologies, teams, business models, and knowledge across North America, Africa and SE Asia. The average investment size ranges from $25,000 to several million dollars depending on the stage of opportunity and capital needs of the business. Its focus areas include Consumer Internet and Services, SmartGraph and SmartData, Mobile, Digital Media, Content and Advertising, E/M-commerce, Software, Tech-enabled Services, and Enterprise Infrastructure. It was founded in 2011 by Eghosa Omoigui. EchoVC Partners Portfolio Companies includes Migo, Hotels NG, Cars45, Lifebank, MyPadi, LORI, and Printivo.
TLcom Capital LLP
TLcom Capital LLP is a Lagos, Nairobi, and London-based Venture Capital firm focused on tech-enabled companies across Sub-Saharan Africa. TLcom has been investing across Europe, Israel, and the US investing since 1999, with more the $300m under management. In July of 2017, TLcom held the first close of its new TLcom TIDE Africa fund, targeting $100m to invest into tech start-up across Africa, focused on acceptability, fintech, commerce, consumer services (from health and education to energy and media) and services for corporates and SMEs. Autochek, Twiga Foods, Andela, Kobo360, Ilara Health, Okra and uLesson have all received investment from TLcom Capital.
Ingressive Capital
Ingressive Capital is a $10M VC targeting tech-enabled startups in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt. The fund is Delaware-incorporated and headquartered in Nigeria. It targets 10% ownership in pre-Seed to Seed tech-enabled companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa with typical check sizes of up to $400k. Ingressive looks for post-launch founders with great products, solving big problems and we work with them on ways to grow and scale through business development, partnerships and financial support. It was founded in 2017 by Nigerian-American entrepreneur Maya Horgan Famodu. Portfolio: Vesicash, Bamboo, OgaVenue, Tizetti, 54Gene, Mono, OnePipe, Swipe and Carry1st among others.
Future Africa
Future Africa is a fund that connects investors to mission-driven startups turning Africa’s most difficult challenges into global business opportunities. Future Africa was founded in 2019 by Iyin Aboyeji. Bamboo, Releaf and Evolve Credit have gotten funding from the private equity firm.
SPARK Capital
SPARK Capital’s main focus is Lagos, Nigeria. The venture capital firm invests in well-defined and scalable revenue models. It has already invested in HotelsNG, OgaVenue, Paystack, PropertyPro, Drinks.ng, and MedSaf among others.
