Village Capital

Village Capital is a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm founded in 2009 that focuses on early-stage and seed investments in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and healthcare. The firm aims to empower entrepreneurs by employing a unique peer-support model, allowing entrepreneurs to select the ventures that receive pre-committed seed funding at the conclusion of its programs. Village Capital connects high-potential entrepreneurs with essential resources, fostering innovation and growth. It operates both a nonprofit that provides training for founders and a for-profit investment fund that invests in top program graduates, having supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs and more than 550 enterprises across various global regions. The firm has achieved notable success, with its alumni generating significant revenue and creating thousands of jobs, while maintaining a high recommendation rate among participants.

Adedana Ashebir

Regional Manager

Allie Burns

Chief Executive Officer

Allyson Burns

CEO

Daniel Cossío

Manager, Programs and Partnerships

Apoorv Karmakar

Senior Director

Rachel Schwartz

Senior Associate FP&A

Ben Wrobel

Director of Communications

Past deals in West Africa

DriversNg

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
DriversNG Recruitment Services Ltd. operates an online platform to recruit verified and trained professional drivers. The drivers can be recruited on full term, short term, on-demand, and ride-sharing basis. The company operates its services online and through mobile application. The company serves in Lagos, Abeokuta, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Benin, Ibadan, Benue, Kaduna, and Delta city. DriversNG Recruitment Services Ltd. Recruitment Services Ltd. was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria with additional office at Abuja, Nigeria.

Gradely.ng

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Gradely.ng Limited operates a personalized learning platform designed for secondary school students in Nigeria. Founded in 2019 and based in Yaba, the platform utilizes artificial intelligence to provide tailored learning materials, including online tutorials and video lessons, along with exam preparation resources. Gradely employs analytics to identify learning gaps, enabling real-time intervention for students through adaptive homework tests accessible via web and mobile devices. The platform assists teachers by offering pre-set questions, currently focused on mathematics, which align with WASCCE and Cambridge curriculum topics. Teachers can easily assign homework and deadlines, while progress reports are generated for teachers, parents, and schools. Gradely's system continuously adapts by integrating previously unmastered topics with new ones, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

ReelFruit

Seed Round in 2020
ReelFruit’s had its humble beginnings in a small apartment in Surulere, Lagos. In 2012, their founder birthed the idea of a new snack company; A first-of-its-kind that would offer dried fruit snacks, made in Nigeria but sold to the world. With this dream in mind, we launched their first range of dried mango and pineapple in March 2013, their first lucky break came from Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki, who stocked their products – and the rest is history.

Piggybank

Seed Round in 2018
Piggyvest enables Nigerian debit card holders save little amounts of money frequently with minimal effort. They automate the process of saving tiny amounts daily, weekly, or monthly; and then allowing you to withdraw for free on only set withdrawal dates thereby practically making saving more possible for you by eliminating the temptation to withdraw. Piggyvest is a platform that helps individuals and businesses manage their finances effectively - save and invest with ease. As Piggybank.ng, Piggyvest operated in partnership with 2 Microfinance banks and used their licenses. However, in early 2018, Piggyvest acquired Gold Microfinance bank and its license. Piggyvest is also a registered cooperative- Piggytech Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited (Registration number, 16555). All saved funds are now warehoused with and managed by AIICO Capital, the leading asset management company in Nigeria, registered and licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Riby

Seed Round in 2018
Riby, a finance technology company, provides a finance management platform for cooperatives, company groups, employees, individuals, associations, and financial development institutions. The company is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Piggybank

Seed Round in 2017
Piggyvest enables Nigerian debit card holders save little amounts of money frequently with minimal effort. They automate the process of saving tiny amounts daily, weekly, or monthly; and then allowing you to withdraw for free on only set withdrawal dates thereby practically making saving more possible for you by eliminating the temptation to withdraw. Piggyvest is a platform that helps individuals and businesses manage their finances effectively - save and invest with ease. As Piggybank.ng, Piggyvest operated in partnership with 2 Microfinance banks and used their licenses. However, in early 2018, Piggyvest acquired Gold Microfinance bank and its license. Piggyvest is also a registered cooperative- Piggytech Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited (Registration number, 16555). All saved funds are now warehoused with and managed by AIICO Capital, the leading asset management company in Nigeria, registered and licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).