Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or leading a funded startup preparing for new funding rounds, knowing where to find the right investor is critical to long-term growth and innovation in emerging markets.
Here are the main platforms founders use to find investors for funding rounds in Africa and how to use them effectively.
Angel Investor Networks & Syndicates
These platforms play a key role in supporting early-stage startups across Sub-Saharan Africa. Angel investment networks connect founders with accredited investors who are often former entrepreneurs themselves and are willing to back early innovation before traditional venture capital firms step in. For many African founders, angel investment networks are the first entry point into the broader investment landscape.
Popular platforms include:
- VC4A – One of Africa’s largest startup-investor communities, connecting founders with angels, funds, and accelerators.
- ABAN – A pan-African network of angel groups active across multiple countries.
- Kepple Africa Ventures – Combines capital with ecosystem support, particularly for early-stage startups.
Venture Capital & Startup Databases
Venture capital platforms are especially useful for startups seeking seed funding or preparing for Series A funding rounds, as they help founders identify venture capital firms, review portfolio companies, and understand where active venture capitalists are deploying capital across the African market.
Commonly used platforms include:
- Crunchbase – Useful for researching active funds, recent deals, and investor focus areas.
- PitchBook – Offers deeper insights into fund strategies, cheque sizes, and portfolio activity.
- AngelList – Popular for connecting with angels and syndicates, especially for tech-enabled businesses.
Equity Crowdfunding Platforms in Africa
For fintech startups and businesses operating in financial services, equity crowdfunding platforms offer structured access to investment opportunities, provided the startup meets disclosure and regulatory requirements in the relevant African country.
Notable platforms include:
- Thundafund – Supports equity and reward-based crowdfunding in Africa.
- Republic – Increasingly open to African startups with international structures.
- Seedrs – Used by African founders with UK or EU holding structures.
How to Reach Out to Investors
1. Match the Platform to Your Funding Round
Before you start reaching out to investors, you need to be clear about the kind of funding round you are running.
Funding rounds generally progress from pre-seed through to Series A and beyond, and each stage attracts a different type of investor.
Pre-seed funding is usually the earliest stage of external capital. At this point, you may still be validating your idea, building a minimum viable product, or testing early demand. Investors at this stage tend to be angel investors, founders, or early-stage funds who are backing the team and the problem being solved.
Seed funding typically comes once you have some traction. This could mean early users, pilot customers, initial revenue, or clear signs that your solution is working. Seed investors expect more structure, including a clearer business model and growth plan. Here, you need to be keen on venture capital platforms, startup databases, and accelerator-linked investor networks.
As you move toward Series A and Series B, expectations increase further. At this stage, investors are less focused on potential and more focused on proof. They look closely at scalability, governance, financial controls, and market size.
2. Join Incubators and Accelerator Programs
If you are struggling to get investors to respond, incubators and accelerators can help you refine your business, strengthen your story, and place your startup in front of firms that are actively seeking investment opportunities.
For many African entrepreneurs, investor conversations start at demo days or through program-led introductions rather than cold outreach.
Beyond access, these programs help you raise capital at the right time. They guide you on when to approach investors, how to position your round, and what to prepare in advance.
3. Work With Advisory Firms That Support Fundraising
As you move closer to raising capital, the challenge often shifts from finding investors to being fully prepared for diligence. This is where working with an advisory firm can make a meaningful difference.
Advisory firms help you prepare your business before investor conversations begin. They look at your company through an investor’s lens and help you address common issues early, such as corporate structure, shareholder arrangements, governance, and regulatory exposure. Handling these elements upfront reduces the risk of delays or complications once investors start asking detailed questions.
Advisors also help you align your funding strategy with your stage of growth. This includes choosing the right funding instrument, setting realistic expectations, and ensuring your business is positioned in a way investors can easily understand and evaluate. When this groundwork is done, investor discussions tend to move faster and with more confidence on both sides.
Velex Advisory is one great example of an investment advisory firm that supports tech and fintech startups and scaleups in emerging markets in navigating funding rounds. By supporting capital structuring, governance, and regulatory alignment, Velex helps founders position their startups more effectively for investment and engagement with venture capital firms and other institutional investors.
If you are planning a startup funding round, advisory support can help ensure investor interest turns into actual commitments
