Pan-African VC Verod-Kepple concludes its inaugural fund at $60M

Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) is certainly making waves in the African venture capital scene with its recent fund closure at $60 million. This injection of capital, especially from new investors like SCM Capital, Taiyo Holdings, and C2C Global Education Japan, underscores the growing interest in supporting African startups at the growth stage.

It’s noteworthy that VKAV has been able to attract significant backing from Japanese institutional investors since its inception, with players like SBI Holdings, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Japan International Corporation Agency, and the Japan ICT Fund contributing to its previous fund closures. This highlights the increasing collaboration between African and Japanese investors in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.

The emphasis on Series A and B investments by VKAV fills a crucial gap in the funding ecosystem, where early-stage funding is relatively more available compared to growth-stage capital. By focusing on companies at these stages, VKAV aims to provide the necessary resources for startups to scale, achieve profitability, and ultimately contribute to the sustainable development of the African tech ecosystem.

The partnership between Verod Capital and Kepple Africa brings together the expertise and networks of both private equity and venture capital, leveraging their respective strengths to identify and support high-potential startups in Africa. With Ory Okolloh, Ryosuke Yamawaki, and Satoshi Shinada at the helm, VKAV is well-positioned to drive positive impact and value creation across the continent’s startup landscape.