Village Capital

Village Capital, established in 2009 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage and seed investments. It focuses on sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and health, with a global investment scope spanning North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, Europe, East & Southeast Asia, and the Middle East & North Africa. The firm uniquely employs a peer-selection model, where entrepreneurs evaluate and award pre-committed seed funding to their peers, fostering a collaborative investment approach. Since its inception, Village Capital has supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs through its programs, with graduates generating $61.5M in revenue, reaching 8.5 million customers, and creating over 11,500 jobs.

Ross Baird

Co-Founder and Board Member

Allie Burns

CEO

Daniel Cossío

Regional Director, Latin America

Heather Matranga

Vice President

Past deals in East Africa

Octavia Carbon

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Octavia Carbon is the Global South's pioneering Direct Air Capture (DAC) company, focused on developing innovative technology to filter carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. By utilizing Kenya's abundant geothermal energy and geological resources, Octavia Carbon aims to significantly reduce the costs associated with DAC technology. The captured CO2 can be transformed into stable rock formations underground or repurposed as an industrial gas, providing a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. This approach not only addresses climate change but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

BeSingularity

Seed Round in 2021
BeSingularity, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a technology company that provides a sales outsourcing platform. This platform aims to help businesses grow their sales, acquire and retain customers, and achieve overall business growth objectives. It enables clients to optimize their sales strategies, expand market reach, and ultimately sell their products and services more effectively.

ICT for Development

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
ICT for Development Kenya reaches out to undeserved communities in East Africa offering Technology literacy.

Angaza Elimu

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Angaza Elimu is an ed-tech company dedicated to transforming education in Kenya and across Africa by addressing classroom inefficiencies and the lack of adequate educational resources. The company offers a comprehensive e-Learning platform that simplifies classroom management, allowing teachers to focus more on delivering quality education. Angaza Elimu enhances student engagement through a Student Portal that promotes critical thinking and technological interaction. Additionally, the company provides supplemental training in STEM subjects, fostering innovation and creativity among young learners. With a commitment to empowering African youth, Angaza Elimu also features an Internet of Things school that offers hands-on training in hardware engineering, enabling students to learn at their own pace both inside and outside the classroom.

Tustawi

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Tustawi is a Kenyan company specializing in e-learning solutions for professional development. It leverages technology to create customized, job-specific, and market-relevant training programs, helping professionals enhance their skills and stay competitive in the job market.

Ensibuuko

Seed Round in 2018
Ensibuuko is a Ugandan technology company established in 2014, specializing in developing cloud-based micro-finance software tailored for community-level financial institutions across Africa. The company's core business involves providing affordable banking solutions, enabling users to access their accounts via mobile phones, check balances, make deposits, and withdrawals, even in areas with limited telecom infrastructure.

Ared

Pre Seed Round in 2016
ARED Group is a technology company focused on bridging the digital divide through innovative solutions. Founded in 2013 and based in Kigali, Rwanda, ARED develops a solar-powered kiosk platform that provides essential services such as internet access, phone charging, airtime, mobile money, prepaid electricity, and tax payments. The company specifically aims to serve underserved populations, including women and individuals with disabilities. Its mini-server platform enhances the accessibility of digital applications by storing content closer to users, thereby reducing internet costs and improving performance. By leveraging renewable energy, ARED addresses the critical issue of energy access, enabling users to charge their devices and utilize digital services effectively. ARED began piloting its technology in 2020 across several African countries, working with local partners to facilitate a more inclusive digital landscape.

EDOM Nutritional Solutions

Seed Round in 2013
EDOM is a Kenya-based fortified flour and enriched porridge producer mitigating malnutrition in Sub-Sarahan Africa through a BoP-targeted sales strategy. The business has achieved a 68% revenue CAGR since inception, 4-fold net margin increase in 2013, and has a 4,000+ smallholder farmer network in Uganda and Kenya. With I-DEV support, EDOM has engaged a leading global impact investor to secure the first tranche of a multi-stage investment which will be used to provide WC and M&E financing to double production and extend BoP outreach.

Access Afya

Seed Round in 2012
Access Afya Limited is a healthcare provider based in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on delivering essential medical services to low-income neighborhoods through a network of micro-clinics. Founded in 2012, the company operates standardized digital clinics that offer a range of services including consultations, pharmacy services, rapid diagnostic tests, family planning, and immunizations. Access Afya also engages with local schools by providing health check-ups, health report cards, deworming services, hand-washing education, and nutrition counseling. Utilizing modern health technologies, Access Afya aims to improve access to quality healthcare in underserved communities.
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