Why We Exist

Obuntu Foundation was born out of our collective belief that entrepreneurs have a major role to play in solving some of the continent’s problems and accelerating African economic growth. They are the ones closest to the problems they’re working to solve and have the grit to make it work no matter what. Often, however, these entrepreneurs lack the capital they need to take their businesses from 1 to 100, so we’re leaving on the table the chance to invest in transformational businesses that can have outsized positive impact on the continent.

What would it take to change that?

A new generation of Emerging Fund Managers razor-focused on Africa. These Fund Managers are operators, founders, and investors building VC, private credit, working capital, and blended finance vehicles to back the next generation of transformative African entrepreneurs. We're bullish on them because we believe they are best positioned to drive superior and inclusive returns — and to get capital to the people and opportunities that need it most.

But starting a fund isn’t a walk in the park. Very few organisations exist to support Emerging Fund Managers razor-focused on Africa. So we decided to do something about it: we're building Obuntu Foundation to be the support ecosystem for Africa-focused Emerging Fund Managers.

As a Foundation we have 3 goals:

1. Catalysing Investment: Provide fundraising and LP engagement opportunities to promising Fund Managers, accelerating their efforts to raise capital for their funds.

2. Accelerating Growth: Through our Obuntu Launchpad Fellowship led by industry experts, we accelerate the growth of first-time Fund Managers; by diving into contextual case studies on topics ranging from thesis formation, fund structuring, building a tech stack for their fund, and more. The larger focus is on enhancing first-time Fund Managers’ operational capabilities and expanding their networks..

3. Supporting Knowledge Exchange: We facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among first-time Fund Managers, promoting best practices and fostering a culture of learning within the African VC community.