VC4A, a platform that connects startups to opportunities, has announced the 16 companies selected for its Venture Showcase – Seed & Series A tracks. The finalists have been selected from nearly 1000 applicants by a 72-member strong investment committee representing the continent’s leading VC funds.
The 2021 portfolio companies have been vetted by VC investors through a rigorous referral and selection process and represent the best Seed and Series A investment opportunities on the continent.
They demonstrate strong revenues and competitive edge, are well-positioned for regional and international expansion and are working on important innovations in the healthcare, finance, transport, commerce and education sectors.
All companies provide technology-intensive or innovation-based products or services that are currently available in one or more African markets.
The founders will showcase their businesses to investors during the Africa Early Stage Investor Summit on 4-5 November 2021, a signature industry event organized by VC4A and its partner the African Business Angels Network (ABAN).
The rounds range between $400K and $20M and interested investors can get their seat at the table through the dedicated AESIS DealRooms organized in the week following the Summit. Since 2017, the Showcase portfolio companies have jointly raised over $160M in venture capital.
Series A track portfolio:
- Alpha Direct Insurtech – (Insurtech/SaaS, Botswana)
- Arifu – (Edtech, Kenya)
- Chari Co – (Retail & Wholesale, Morocco)
- Cinetpay– (Fintech, Côte d’Ivoire)
- CloudFret – (Transport & Logistics, Morocco)
- Fatura – (Fintech/Retail & Wholesale, Egypt)
- Rology – (Healthtech, Egypt)
- Youverify Inc. (Youcheck Online Services Limited) – (SaaS, Nigeria)
Seed track portfolio:
- Appload – (Logistics, Mozambique)
- CashBackApp – (Shopping & Retail, Kenya)
- FlexPay– (Fintech, Kenya)
- Moja Ride – (Fintech/Transport, Côte d’Ivoire)
- Oneport INC – (Logistics/Fintech, Nigeria)
- SAYNA – (Edtech, Madagascar)
- ShipBlu– (Logistics/AI, Egypt)
- Waya Limited– (Fintech, Ghana)
Venture Residency Program
Over the next six weeks, the selected startups will participate in a virtual investor readiness program aimed to get them in top fundraising shape for #AESIS2021.
The workshops will be led by renowned African investors: Aaron Fu of Catalytic Fund, Aniko Szigetvari of Atlantica Ventures, Gregoire de Padirac of Orange Ventures, and Andrea Bohmert of Knife Capital, and will be complemented by office hours with domain experts and high profile guest speaker sessions. The entrepreneurs will also be linked to top VC and angel investors for one-on-one mentorship.
