Early-stage VC firm Launch Africa Ventures has launched its Mezzanine Impact Fund, invests mezzanine growth capital into leading technology companies that demonstrate strong ESG principles.
Launched in July 2020 by Zachariah George and Janade du Plessis, with chairperson Margaret O’Connor also on the board, Launch Africa Ventures closed its its inaugural fund, Launch Africa Ventures Fund 1, in March 2022 at US$36.3 million, with investments from 238 retail and institutional investors in 40 countries. It made 133 investments via that fund.
Disrupt Africa reported in June the company had invested a total of US$4.3 million in 16 startups from across the continent so far as part of its second fund, Fund II, through which Launch Africa Ventures said it continues to “invest, grow and scale the continent’s top technology-driven ventures to become market leaders in their respective industries”.
It has now announced the Launch Africa Mezzanine Impact Fund, which aims to provide growth capital to African and GCC technology companies with the objective to unlock M&A and market expansion opportunities, MBOs and other growth strategies.
The Launch Africa Mezzanine Impact Fund will invest mezzanine growth capital into leading technology companies that demonstrate strong ESG principles, across multiple sectors and deliver tangible returns, with the objective to unlock scale for Africa’s most impactful businesses.
“The mission of the Mezzanine Impact Fund is to ensure that we continue to build a generation of innovators who own their businesses commercially, so that equity remains in the hands of the founders, driving job creation and developing products that improve the quality of life of all Africans,” the company said.
“We aim to support founders by pioneering a more tailored financial solution suitable to the African entrepreneurial ecosystem enabling growth and market opportunities for technology companies in Africa.”
To run the fund, Launch Africa Ventures has appointed Anthony Moore, once managing director and head of investment banking at Goldman Sachs International (UK and Asia) as executive chairman. Moore, together with a brand-new debt solutions team, aims to fund a portfolio of highly impactful high-growth technology companies across Africa, with a particular focus on the Africa-GCC corridor.
