Flint Capital’s Post

News: more than 220 venture capital firms have signed a public statement in support of Israel and its tech ecosystem. I spoke to Harrison Valner, the U.S.-based startup investor who led the effort since Monday night. Firms like Bain Capital Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, GGV Capital and 8VC have joined a number of funds in signing. The number of firms supporting more than doubled overnight. We've talked to a number of Israel-based investors and founders this week for Forbes. (More to come there.) A statement, they say, is less important than continuing to fund them, and conduct business as usual. But "I think it helps," Yuval Ariav told me. There's also the question of whether VC firms will now pile on for marketing, or shame those who don't. Andrew Gluck, a key contributor, insisted the focus of the statement is to show support, not pressure firms to do something inauthentic to them. "I think we are inviting whoever feels comfortable to sign this," he said. #venturecapital #VC #Israel #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #Israeltech #privateequity #financing #finance

Over a series of two funds, Enza Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in founders and teams using technology to solve large and meaningful problems across Africa closed $58 million in VC fund Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Enza Capital - Mike Mompi affirms that the firm made 48 investments in 31 companies from both funds. These investments span 8 African markets, including #Kenya, #Uganda, #Nigeria, #Ghana, #IvoryCoast, #Senegal, #Egypt and #SouthAfrica. Their portfolio companies include Autochek Africa, Jumba, Craydel, Cloudline, SeamlessHR, Affinity, Peach Payments, etc. In a move aimed at ensuring each founder they back also benefits from the bigger pie, Enza Capital is introducing a Founder Partner Program, a unique initiative where founders and leadership teams of its portfolio companies become co-owners of the firm. This program, aimed at fostering trust and building long-term partnerships, allocates a fair percentage of its carry pool back to the founders. The approach, though unconventional, emphasizes better alignment with founders and empathetic support for their entrepreneurial journey. The founders, drawing from their own startup experiences, aim to create a collaborative and mutually beneficial venture capital structure, focusing on shared ownership and understanding the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the startup ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/daqEcqJC #startups #investment #business #funding #venturecapital #ghana #fundraising 

As some may know, startups are a love of mine. It’s super interesting to see a new gov-VC fund set up here in Malta among an array of other incentives for indigenous innovative startups. This fund will co-invest. Malta looks like the latest in a line of great countries to start your digital or alternative energy startup. But it’s more than that, it’s a leader in eGovernment, a leader in digitisation of healthcare, and it’s tackling 21st Century problems head on. https://lnkd.in/eg4sefMw

In a continent where fintech and cleantech dominate the attention of numerous venture capitalists and startups, Savant distinguishes itself by supporting deep-tech and hardware companies. Yet as Shane Parrish wisely noted, "To be successful, it's not enough to do something different; you also need to be right." Savant's unique approach seems validated, with the South Africa-based VC managing approximately R155 million (about $8 million) in assets and a second fund in the pipeline. In a recent conversation with Thaheer Mullins, a partner at Savant Venture Fund 1, we discussed the specifics of hardware tech venture capital, shedding light on its pros and cons. Our dialogue also touched on common pitching errors made by entrepreneurs and potential solutions for addressing the technical talent gap in Africa. Read here:

New Post: South African VC Knife Capital Secures $50M Series B Fund for High-Potential Startups - https://lnkd.in/dDQP85pG African venture capital powerhouse, Knife Capital, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully closing its eagerly anticipated $50 million fund, aptly named Knife Capital III. This strategic move holds paramount importance in addressing a pronounced funding void that has persistently hindered the growth prospects of local startups, particularly in the critical Series B stage. The distinctive focus of Knife Capital III centers around catering to South African entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated their way to the Series B phase, a stage where sustained financial backing and strategic guidance are often imperative for substantial growth and potential high-value exits. In... #Venturecapital #VC #investment #LP #Limited Partner

In the crucible of war, the Israeli venture capital community showcases its indomitable spirit. Dan Primack's recent piece for Axios underscores how the startup nation continues to thrive amidst adversity. Key Takeaways: Battling Beyond the Battlefield: Israel's venture capital world grapples with a real and metaphorical war. With many called to military service, some even making the ultimate sacrifice, it's a stark reminder of the tumultuous region. Israel, Unyielding: This nation, no stranger to adversity, persists. Remarkably, street traffic and startup activity are returning, even amid a harrowing situation. The entrepreneurial fire still burns. VC Resilience: Despite this turbulence, Israeli startups have secured around $3.3 billion in VC funding in 2023, albeit tracking below last year's levels. Business continuity is paramount, highlighting Israel's enduring economic vitality. In Their Own Words: Adam Fisher from Bessemer Venture Partners paints a vivid picture of the situation. His poignant words on loss and resilience emphasize the nation's capacity to persevere. It's truly remarkable to witness the Israeli venture ecosystem's tenacity. Amidst profound challenges, their commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship remains undiminished. Read more about this extraordinary resilience here: [ https://lnkd.in/d5J9vD6B ] #VentureCapital #Startups #Resilience #Innovation #VCCommunity

New from me: Solo GP funds are on the rise in Europe. Already established and popular in the US, first time managers are setting out to back early stage founders on the continent despite a wider pullback by LPs into venture. It’s an exciting area of growth in Europe but solo partners face a number of challenges to raising vehicles from a less diverse LP base to minimum check sizes from institutional funds. I looked into the growth of the space and what it means for the maturity of Europe’s tech ecosystem for Insider. Thanks to Annelie Ajami of Anamcara , Ramzi Rafih of No Label Ventures, Masha Bucher at Day One Ventures, Carolina Huaranca Mendoza from First Close Partners, Joe Schorge of Isomer Capital and latterly Gloria Baeuerlein for pointers! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eYBe2YFS #vc #venturecapital #startups #tech #europe #funding #sologp

South Africa based Conducive Capital recently launched a venture fund aimed at supporting African tech startups. 💸 $50 Million Venture Fund target. The fund aims to raise its first close in July 2024 at $15 million (R300 million) with a target final close of $50 million (R1 billion) within 24 months. 💡 'Early and growth stage disruptive technologies that are post-revenue, capital efficient, good unit economics with product market fit, and have the ability to scale their businesses both locally and globally.' 🌍 #Africa 📈 ‘Collectively, Butkow and Adams have invested more than R300 million in early-stage funding with an internal rate of return (IRR) of more than 30% during the last seven years.’ 💭 “There is strong demand for quality capital to support emerging business in South Africa, with the deployment of early and growth-stage capital, and we are plugged into networks that can open doors to international ecosystem players and mentors, as well as local and global investors for follow-on funding.” - Clive Butkow, founder of Conducive. 🗞️By Techfinancials News https://lnkd.in/erJFGM3r 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 Clive Butkow I Mitchan Adams I Team Conducive Capital … #venturecapital #vc #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #funding #tech #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #venture #southafrica

Startup #Investing is on positive rise After 2 years of slowdown there are definitive positive signs regarding startup investments. There are several mixed reasons for this 1. Maturity among founders Entrepreneurs have realised not to change unreasonable valuations and present a more realistic business case when raising funds 2. Rise of tier 2/3/4 investors Not only on angel investing but business community from smaller towns are actively participating in taking bigger bets targeting bigger equity in proven startups. They are now actively setting up family offices and participating as LPs also. 3. Dry powder of VCs VCs have raised some big funds in last 2 years and now there is a pressure to deploy that money. Currently they have used hardly 10-15% of the newly setup funds What’s your views on this? Have shared by views along with industry colleagues here https://lnkd.in/gDxFSNDk #LetsBuildItTogether Avinya Ventures We Founder Circle Invstt EvolveX

Today’s VC Spotlight 💡 Greenhouse Capital , a leading fintech investment company in Africa, fuels the continent's economic future by deploying capital and specialized expertise into innovative companies. As the largest #fintech investment holding company in Africa, its robust portfolio includes groundbreaking startups like BoxCommerce, Helium Health, and Rensource Energy. Under the leadership of CEO Bunmi Akinyemiju, the firm has become a pivotal player in Africa's fintech landscape, investing between $150k and $250k in startups. GreenHouse Capital envisions a world where daring #founders tackle challenges that propel economies forward. With a mission to consistently deliver exceptional returns, the firm catalyzes audacious founders from MVP to Exit. Backed by a deeply entrepreneurial spirit, the team brings over a decade of hands-on experience from building successful #startups like Venture Garden Group (VGG) 🌱 Committed to making a lasting impact, GreenHouse Capital operates with a global perspective, leveraging an extensive network of partners and investors to support founders in frontier markets. The team's unwavering dedication ensures that their work and investments create significant positive change, leading to extraordinary success for founders and investors alike. https://lnkd.in/ggjbKCrN #AfricanStartups #AfricanBusiness #VentureFund #VCfunding #VentureCapital