Seedcamp to jump-start African entrepreneurs

Seedcamp, a European micro-seed fund that invests in early stage startup companies, will be jetting into Johannesburg later this year to identify African startups for potential investment.

Seedcamp will form part of technology conference, Tech4Africa, which will be held in August this year. Startups, selected by the fund, will further have an opportunity to attend the Seedcamp Week programme held in September in London, UK. It marks the first time that a Mini-Seedcamp programme will be hosted in Africa.

A few selected African entrepreneurs will have a rare opportunity to pitch their businesses at a group of people connected to powerful investors, mentors and startups throughout EMEA, with one team being chosen to take part in Seedcamp Week, where its founders will gain exposure to investors and world-class mentors. 


Seedcamp is a programme created to jumpstart the entrepreneurial community in Europe, Middle East and Africa by connecting next generation developers and entrepreneurs from a network of over 400 top-tier industry mentors.

It acts as a micro seed fund to invest in startup companies, offering standard investments of €30,000-50,000 to selected companies. The initiative’s flagship event, Seedcamp Week, takes place in London in September every year, and it is here where beneficiaries for the three-month programme are chosen. 


Following Seedcamp Week, the companies who receive investment stay in London for three months to grow and develop their company, building key and lasting business relationships along the way to help them sustain a viable business.

“In addition to a direct route to seed and venture capital, companies that participate in Seedcamp get enormous validation and access to a world-class network of advisors that help them with every aspect of their businesses,” says Gareth Knight, managing director at Technovated, the company that is organising Tech4Africa.

Says Reshma Sohoni, CEO at Seedcamp: “We want to provide a catalyst for the next generation of African entrepreneurs and help them take risks, think big, and succeed. Our programme provides entrepreneurs with access to seed funding but also more importantly, gives them exposure to the collective experience of people who can help them to build successful businesses.”


African entrepreneurs that want to apply for the Mini Seedcamp Africa programme can apply through the Tech4Africa event Web site. It is anticipated that 10 teams will be selected to take part in the Mini Seedcamp event at Tech4Africa.

The successful applicants will have opportunities to interact with Seedcamp mentors and to present their businesses to Seedcamp. A committee may choose one startup to attend Seedcamp Week in London.

Tech4Africa runs from 12-13 August 2010 at The Forum in Bryanston. The event includes international speakers from Twitter, Mozilla and Yahoo! Clay Shirky — one of the world’s leading thinkers and writers on the social and economic effects of Internet technologies — will be a keynote speaker.