2XI GP SPRINT
First Africa Cohort
The 2XI GP Sprint is a 6-month acceleration programme for 6 female-led or gender-balanced fund managers with gender-smart investing strategies across Africa. The Sprint’s ambitious goal is to accelerate these fund managers’ timeline to a first or subsequent close in 2023.
Throughout November 2022 - May 2023, GPs worked closely with the 2X Ignite team and an extended team of investment experts and mentors to receive tailored and constructive feedback from an LP perspective as well as hands-on support on their sprint to a first/next close.
Meet the Fund Managers
SANDRINE HENTON
Managing Director
Focus: East Africa & Zambia
Sector: Health, food, education and climate resilience
EG Capital Economic Empowerment Fund provides private equity investments in high growth mid-sized businesses in the Health, Food, Education and Climate Resilience sectors, in East Africa and Zambia
Cross-sector approach to drive private capital into high-growth industries which directly impact women and young people.
About the Team:
Track record with +100 years private equity experience in Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe
Managing over US$2bn in assets, including over 30 exits in relevant sectors and countries of the EG-EEF fund mandate with realized returns between 15% and 25%
HEMA VALLABH
General Partner
JANADE DU PLESSIS
General Partner
Focus: Pan Africa
Sector: B2B or B2B2C tech start-ups
Five35 Ventures is a seed-stage Venture Capital fund investing in female-focused B2B or B2B2C tech start-ups across Africa. Since it was launched in April 2022, the fund has invested in 18 start-ups across 8 African countries. The founders developed the first proprietary top-to-tail ecosystem to harness the talent of African women entrepreneurs. Through this, their portfolio companies are made ready for their next round of investments within 6-18 months while also establishing a strong pipeline of 100+ prospective companies.
About the Team
Accelerated over 175+ companies supporting 250+ female entrepreneurs, and made over 70+ investments across the continent through their proprietary ecosystem
Actively investing since April 1, 2022, with 18 deals completed
LISA G. THOMAS
Co-Founder & Partner
LELEMBA PHIRI
Co-Founder & Partner
Focus: East and West Africa
Sector: Sector agnostic
ATG Samata invests into early stage, scalable businesses in emerging markets that advance opportunities for women and promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Focuses on dynamic, high growth entrepreneurial ecosystems in East and West Africa: agribusiness, climate, consumer products, financial services, healthcare and tech.
About the Team
Robust investment and operating team with a mix of geographic and industry expertise in East and West Africa
Applying a smart funding approach, investing risk capital balanced with value added technical assistance, coaching and peer mentoring to ensure efficient growth
Deploying a proprietary DEI screening and due diligence tool to maximize return while mitigating risk
MOUSHIMI PATEL
PARTNER
Focus: Regional / global plays emanating from Africa, mainly South Africa
Sector: Sector-agnostic
Private equity firm focused on investments in growth companies in Africa (mainly from South Africa) with regional and global scalability and exposure.
They specialise in investing in founder-run, owner-managed and family-owned businesses. They unlock business potential through digital and human enablement. The fund recently reached their second close at US$65 Mn.
About the Team
4 senior investment executives with 55+ years’ experience investing in target market, average 4.5 years together
Top-tier corporate experience (formerly Ethos, RMB, Convergence, Investec) with extensive technology and human capital experience
Sanari “3S” approach and value-add framework for building businesses that are Sustainable. Scalable and Saleable
Raised $28 million to date for its new fund from leading local institutional investors
NOMBUSO NKAMBULE
Founding Partner
BRENDAN MULLEN
Managing Director
Focus: Southern Africa
Sector: Sector-agnostic
Patient capital private equity firm backed by Blue-chip investors in Africa. They provide the missing middle investment to established, but often overlooked, African SMEs complemented by an Operator-Investor model where Secha seconds a team member into the portfolio company for a year.
This fund reached its first close of US$16Mn with RMB Ventures, 27four Investment Managers, The SA SME Fund and Caleo Capital.
About the Team
30 years combined VC/PE/impact experience, 7 years together
Successful launch of first fund proving the thesis, advantage, replicability and scalability of their model
EVELYNE DIOH SIMPA
Executive Director
Focus: Senegal & West Africa
Sector: Sector agnostic
Invests in women-led SMEs in Francophone West Africa through equity and quasi-equity instruments. WIC Capital’s current portfolio consists of 7 companies across consumer staples, discretionary and recycling sectors.
The WIC Académie strengthens each investment with access to a shared service center, advisory services, coaching and networking.
About the Team
30+ years combined experience in investing from Société Générale, FONSIS, AFIG Funds, ADIWALE, ACCESS BANK, etc.
Backed by 99+ investors from the Women’s Investment Club in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire and financed by institutional investors
Do you have questions about the 2XI GP Sprint?
VERY IMPORTANT!
The 2XI GP Sprint is a standalone program and is NOT linked to a future 2X Ignite investment facility or any expectations of funding. Selection for a future 2X Ignite facility will be a separate process. The aim of the 2XI GP Sprint is to accelerate 6 fund managers to a first close based on hands-on capacity building and networking through this 6-month program.