Grindstone establishes R500m fund for African startups
Grindstone Ventures has launched a R500 million venture capital fund aimed at technology-enabled African businesses from seed to Series A, seeking to bridge the financing gap between early commercial traction and the larger institutional rounds needed for expansion. The fund, led by Grindstone Ventures chief executive Thandiwe Maqetuka and established with Knife Capital and Thinkroom, is…
Grindstone Ventures has launched a R500 million venture capital fund to support technology-enabled African businesses, seeking to address the financing gap between early commercial success and larger institutional funding rounds. Led by CEO Thandiwe Maqetuka, the fund targets South African startups, with the potential to invest in 15 to 20 companies.
The fund's strategy focuses on businesses that have demonstrated commercial demand but lack the maturity to attract major institutional investors, addressing a critical gap in Africa's venture-capital pipeline. Maqetuka emphasizes the importance of backing companies after proving market demand yet before reaching the size typically required by larger investors.
The fund will provide follow-on financing to successful portfolio companies, offering strategy, governance, commercial growth, market access, and exit readiness support. Grindstone's ecosystem screens over 1,000 businesses annually, with 50 joining accelerator programs each year, providing a pipeline of pre-assessed and developed companies.
Despite South African technology startups raising more than $335.9 million in 2025, the funding remains uneven across stages and sectors, highlighting the need for this new fund to invest between seed and Series A stages.
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