Village Capital has launched a $4 million investment fund focused on startups in agritech, clean energy, circular economy, and digital finance.
The new initiative, called the Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF) is being rolled out in partnership with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
What sets the AECF apart is its community-led approach. Rather than taking a top-down view, Village Capital is embedding local Entrepreneur Support Organisations (ESOs) directly into the investment decision-making process.
The participating ESOs —
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Reach for Change (Ghana)
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Africa Fintech Foundry and FATE Foundation (Nigeria)
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Anza Entrepreneurs and Ennovate Ventures (Tanzania) —
are not just collaborators, but official venture partners with the power to evaluate, co-invest, and support local startups.
“This isn’t just about sourcing deals,” said Nathaly Botero, Innovations Manager at Village Capital.
“It’s about making smarter, more informed investments by working alongside those already strengthening entrepreneurial communities.”
The AECF is targeting early-stage startups working on:
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Agritech: innovations in food security, supply chains, and smart farming
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Clean Energy: renewable power solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels
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Circular Economy: waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable product design
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Digital Finance: fintech platforms boosting access to credit and banking
The fund pays special attention to youth- and women-led enterprises, which are often overlooked by global investors.
Currently, less than 3% of global VC funding reaches Africa. AECF seeks to reverse that trend by using local knowledge and networks to discover and support high-potential startups.
Village Capital is no stranger to Africa’s startup ecosystem. In 2024, it invested $850,000 in Kenyan aquaculture startup Aquarech and Nigerian supply chain platform Coamana, both working to fix food system inefficiencies.
Since its inception in 2009, Village Capital has supported 1,800+ startups, helping them raise over $7 billion in follow-on funding.
Backing from FMO and RVO lends strategic depth to the AECF.
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FMO brings its experience in impact investing and market development,
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RVO offers a track record in youth empowerment and startup ecosystem building.
The fund also builds on the legacy of the Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF), another Dutch-funded initiative that has supported African innovators since 2020.
The AECF’s decentralised funding model gives real power to local actors who understand their ecosystems. By treating ESOs as co-creators, not just recipients, the initiative aims to drive inclusive, scalable, and sustainable innovation.
If successful, it could redefine how early-stage capital flows to African startups, making it smarter, faster, and more equitable.