‘Africa is not an afterthought’ Why Speedinvest is doubling down on Africa with new fund

European venture capital firm Speedinvest has officially launched a new Middle East and Africa (MEA) fund to back early-growth-stage startups, marking a stronger and more structured expansion into both regions.

The firm, which has already invested in 13 African startups including Moove, FairMoney, and Anda, says the new fund will deepen its long-term commitment to Africa by deploying “patient, sector-focused capital” to support high-potential founders.

Speaking on the strategy, Managing Partner and CEO Oliver Holle emphasized that the goal is to back visionary entrepreneurs and connect them to Speedinvest’s global ecosystem, including its European portfolio and international investor network, to help build globally competitive companies.

The fund is targeting over €100 million in capital deployment, with individual investments expected to range between €2 million and €5 million per startup. It is backed by major institutional investors, including Qatar Investment Authority, Mubadala Investment Company, and the European Investment Bank, which has anchored up to €40 million.

According to Partner Deepali Nangia, Speedinvest will continue focusing on fintech and embedded finance, while also expanding into adjacent sectors such as health, logistics, and climate technology.

Despite having invested in Africa for over five years, the firm has largely operated from Europe. However, this is set to change as Speedinvest plans to establish a stronger on-the-ground presence, including hiring local talent and dedicating more partner time to the region.

The firm highlighted Africa’s youthful population and rapid technological adoption as key drivers of its strategy, describing the continent’s demographic structure as a major long-term growth opportunity. It also pointed to Africa’s tendency to “leapfrog” traditional infrastructure particularly in mobile and digital services as a key factor shaping its investment thesis.

On valuations, Speedinvest noted a more disciplined approach, stating that it has walked away from deals where pricing was misaligned, while also restructuring cap tables in certain cases to improve investment quality and long-term outcomes.

The firm further stressed its role beyond funding, highlighting support in fundraising, governance, cross-border expansion, and strategic acquisitions. It noted that most exits in Africa are expected to come through mergers and acquisitions, with occasional IPOs and cross-border consolidations.

Ultimately, Speedinvest positions its MEA fund as a bridge between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe aimed at strengthening startup ecosystems, accelerating scale, and enabling African founders to compete on a global stage.

TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya