VC fund hunts for $75m in start-up opportunities

Local start-ups have perennially cited funding as one of their major challenges, a barrier that suppresses the innovation of Batswana entrepreneurs, as well as citizens’ ability to design solutions for local challenges.

Launch Africa fund manager, Janade du Plessis told BusinessWeek the pan-African venture capital firm was finalising a $75 million fund due by July, which would target investing in 80 to 100 companies across the continent. Launch Africa recently closed a $36.3 million fund that invested in 133 companies, in 22 African countries.