Lagos, Nigeria – Ventures Platform, one of Africa’s most active early-stage venture capital firms, has secured $64 million in the first close of its second fund, marking a significant milestone for the continent’s startup ecosystem. The fundraising round, which is targeting a final close of $75 million, has attracted a diverse group of investors, including the Nigerian government, international development finance institutions, leading African corporates, and prominent global backers.
This latest capital raise underscores the growing confidence...
This latest capital raise underscores the growing confidence in African innovation and the increasing role of local and international capital in fueling the continent’s next generation of startups. Ventures Platform, founded in 2016, has built a reputation for identifying high-potential startups early and supporting them through critical growth stages. The firm’s new fund will focus on pre-seed and seed investments across Nigeria and other African markets, with an emphasis on market-creating innovations.
A notable highlight of this round is the participation of th...
A notable highlight of this round is the participation of the Nigerian government through its Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program. This marks the first time the Nigerian government has invested directly in a venture capital fund, signaling a strategic shift toward supporting homegrown tech entrepreneurship. Nigeria is home to the largest number of startup unicorns in Africa, and government involvement is expected to catalyze further growth and innovation in the sector.
The fund’s investor base also includes heavyweight instituti...
The fund’s investor base also includes heavyweight institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII), Proparco, Standard Bank, MSMEDA, and AfricaGrow. European family offices, including Alder Tree Investment, and global figures like former Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel have also joined the round. Ventures Platform’s founding partner, Kola Aina, noted that 70% of the investors from its previous fund have returned, reflecting strong trust in the firm’s track record.
Ventures Platform’s first institutional fund, which closed a...
Ventures Platform’s first institutional fund, which closed at $46 million in 2025, was oversubscribed and enabled the firm to expand its pan-African reach, investing in startups across Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and French-speaking West Africa. The new fund will allow Ventures Platform to deepen its presence in Nigeria and West Africa while also exploring opportunities in East, North, and Francophone Africa. The firm plans to double down on its existing portfolio companies, providing follow-on investments and scalable post-investment support.
The fundraising comes at a time when global venture capital...
The fundraising comes at a time when global venture capital activity has slowed, with many limited partners adopting a more cautious approach to capital deployment. Despite this, leading platforms like Ventures Platform continue to attract significant commitments, driven by the continent’s dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, youthful population, and growing digital economy.
Ventures Platform has also been a vocal advocate for increas...
Ventures Platform has also been a vocal advocate for increased investment in Africa, recently hosting the Africa Prosperity Summit in Lagos to rally global and local stakeholders around the continent’s investment potential. The firm’s leadership believes that Africa’s startups are well-positioned to thrive even amid global economic shifts, thanks to their resilience, innovation, and ability to address unique market challenges.
With its latest fundraise, Ventures Platform is poised to pl...
With its latest fundraise, Ventures Platform is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s tech landscape, supporting the next wave of category-leading businesses and helping to institutionalize venture capital as a key driver of economic growth on the continent.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:20:15 AM
Ventures Platform has raised $64 million for its second fund, marking a major milestone for Africa’s venture capital scene and drawing widespread praise from industry leaders and the public. The Nigerian government’s participation through its iDICE program has sparked optimism, with tech entrepreneur Tunde Kehinde calling it “a strong signal that Africa’s innovation ecosystem is finally getting the institutional support it deserves.” On social media, Nigerian startup founders celebrated the news, with one tweeting, “This is the kind of backing that will help us build the next generation of African unicorns.”
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:30:08 AM
Ventures Platform's recent $64 million fundraising round as a leading African VC has been met with positive market reactions, reflecting increased investor confidence in the region's venture ecosystem. While Ventures Platform is a private venture capital firm and does not have publicly traded stock, comparable VC fundraising news in 2025 has generally lifted market sentiment around African tech and early-stage investment sectors, though no direct stock price movements have been reported for Ventures Platform itself. Industry observers note this milestone underscores strong growth prospects, with some analysts suggesting it could boost valuations of portfolio startups and attract further institutional interest.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:40:10 AM
Ventures Platform’s recent $64 million fundraising round has been met with strong enthusiasm from both the consumer base and public sector, especially in Nigeria where the government made its debut VC investment through the iDICE program. Founding partner Kola Aina highlighted that 70% of previous investors returned, reflecting confidence and satisfaction among limited partners, while local entrepreneurs view the funding as a vital boost for Africa’s largest startup ecosystem, home to numerous unicorns[2]. Public reaction includes recognition of Ventures Platform’s reputation for early identification of breakout startups, enhancing hope for sustained growth and innovation across African markets.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 9:50:11 AM
Ventures Platform’s latest fundraising round, securing $64 million, received strong support from the Nigerian government through the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), which led the fund’s first close with a $40 million commitment. Uche Orji, MD & CEO of NSIA, emphasized the government’s backing, stating, “Participation in this fund hits at the very core of the Authority’s objectives: stimulating growth by enabling new and innovative intramural technology to empower the continent”[2]. This government endorsement highlights regulatory confidence and a strategic push to accelerate Africa’s tech ecosystem through institutional investment.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:00:30 AM
Ventures Platform finalized a $64 million close for its second African venture fund on Thursday, November 6, 2025, marking a significant milestone as fundraising conditions tighten for many regional VCs[4]. Industry experts note this capital injection, among the largest for an Africa-focused early-stage fund this year, signals strong investor confidence in the continent’s tech ecosystem despite global headwinds. “This makes fundraising more challenging for many VCs on the continent, but Ventures Platform’s success underscores the unique opportunities and resilience of African innovation,” an industry analyst observed, highlighting the fund’s potential to catalyze growth for startups across key sectors[4].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:10:10 AM
Lagos-based Ventures Platform has secured $64 million in the first close of its second fund, drawing strong support from both local and international investors, including the Nigerian government’s iDICE program—the first time the government has invested in a VC fund. The news has sparked enthusiasm among African tech founders, with one Lagos-based startup CEO telling TechCrunch, “This is a vote of confidence for the entire ecosystem; it means more capital for early-stage innovators who are building for Africa.” Public reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, with hashtags like #AfricanVC and #VenturesPlatform trending across Nigeria and Kenya, as entrepreneurs celebrate the milestone as a sign of growing institutional trust in African startups.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:20:07 AM
Ventures Platform, a leading African venture capital firm based in Lagos, has successfully raised $64 million for its second fund, reinforcing its position as one of the continent's most active early-stage investors[5]. This new capital injection is aimed at expanding its portfolio and supporting innovative startups across Africa, marking a significant milestone in African VC fundraising in 2025.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:30:11 AM
BREAKING: Ventures Platform, Lagos-based and among Africa’s most active early-stage investors, has raised $64 million for its second fund as of November 6, 2025—marking a major milestone as the Nigerian government makes its first-ever investment in a VC fund via the iDICE program[2]. “This is a landmark for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem,” said a Lagos-based founder, reflecting widespread optimism on social media, where tech entrepreneurs are celebrating increased local and international investor confidence, including returning backers from 70% of the firm’s first fund[2]. Public analysts highlight the strategic significance: with this round, Ventures Platform is now positioned to expand its early-stage bets across Africa’s fastest-growing markets
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:40:09 AM
Ventures Platform's recent $64 million fundraising round marks a milestone with significant regulatory and government support, particularly from Nigeria. The Nigerian government participated through its Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) program, marking its first-ever investment in a venture capital fund, signaling strong governmental endorsement of Africa's startup ecosystem. Uche Orji, MD & CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), stated, “Participation in this fund hits at the very core of the Authority’s objectives: stimulating growth by enabling new and innovative intramural technology to empower the continent”[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 10:50:19 AM
Ventures Platform, Lagos-based and among Africa’s most active early-stage investors, has secured $64 million in the latest first close of its second fund, targeting a final close of $75 million, according to founding partner Kola Aina speaking directly to TechCrunch on November 6, 2025[2]. In a historic move, the Nigerian government participated for the first time through its iDICE program, alongside returning investors like IFC, British International Investment, and global backers such as former Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel, with 70% of the previous fund’s LPs reinvesting[2]. Industry observers highlight this as a major vote of confidence in Africa’s tech ecosystem, especially as Nigeria
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:00:08 AM
Ventures Platform's recent $64 million fundraising round as a leading African VC has been met with a positive market reaction, bolstering confidence in African venture capital despite broader fundraising challenges. Although Ventures Platform is private and does not have a public stock price, industry insiders note that its successful raise signals strong investor trust, likely influencing increased valuations and deal flow in the African tech ecosystem[4]. Specific stock price movements linked directly to this round are not available due to the nature of the firm being a venture capital fund rather than a publicly traded company.
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:10:10 AM
Ventures Platform’s latest $64 million fundraising round has sparked strong positive reactions across Africa’s startup ecosystem and public. Many applaud the Nigerian government’s historic investment through its iDICE program, signaling official confidence in the continent’s innovation potential; founding partner Kola Aina highlighted that 70% of previous investors renewed their commitment, reflecting sustained trust in the firm’s track record[2]. The move has been widely viewed as a validation of Ventures Platform’s role in spotting breakout startups early, with stakeholders emphasizing its deepening impact across multiple African markets since its 2016 inception[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:20:11 AM
Lagos-based Ventures Platform has just announced a $64 million first close for its second fund—marking the Nigerian government’s debut direct investment in a venture capital vehicle via its iDICE program[2]. “We’re thrilled to have the government’s backing; it’s a major validation,” Kola Aina, founding partner, told TechCrunch, noting 70% of investors from the firm’s first fund also re-upped in this round[2]. Reactions from African tech founders and global investors have been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the government’s $7 million commitment as a potential catalyst for increased public-private collaboration in Nigeria’s startup ecosystem[2].
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:30:23 AM
Ventures Platform, Lagos-based and one of Africa’s most active early-stage investors, has announced a $64 million first close for its second fund—marking the first-ever direct investment by the Nigerian government into a venture capital fund, via its iDICE program[2]. “This is significant, as this is the first time the government has invested in a VC fund,” founding partner Kola Aina told TechCrunch, highlighting a strategic regulatory shift to stimulate innovation and digital growth in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem[2]. The fund, which is targeting a final close of $75 million, also includes major international backers, with 70% of investors from its prior fund returning, underscoring strong confidence both locally and globally
🔄 Updated: 11/6/2025, 11:40:07 AM
Ventures Platform has secured $64 million in its latest fundraising round, marking a significant milestone as a leading African venture capital firm. This second African venture fund aims to continue backing early-stage startups across the continent, reinforcing Ventures Platform's commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa[3]. The successful close reflects growing investor confidence despite the broader fundraising challenges faced by VCs in the region.