Seedstars and Fondation Botnar Launch $20M Fund to Empower African Youth Wellbeing Startups

Seedstars Capital and Fondation Botnar have jointly launched Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures, a $20 million fund dedicated to supporting early-stage African startups focused on enhancing the wellbeing of individuals under 30 years old in low-and-middle-income countries. 

The fund will provide backing to pre-seed to Series A startups, specifically those driving advancements in health services, environmental sustainability, clean energy accessibility, food security, water and sanitation, waste management, affordable housing, employment opportunities, and sustainable transportation across Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, and Egypt. 

With an initial capital of $250,000 and follow-on investments up to $750,000, the mandate aims to invest in a minimum of seven startups annually over the next five years. 

By collaborating with like-minded investors, Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures seeks to attract additional capital flow into Africa and identify, invest in, and scale startups with the potential to positively transform the lives of young people in its target markets. 

This fund joins the array of initiatives within the Seedstars Group, which operates globally in over 30 emerging markets. It further contributes to the increasing trend of purpose-driven funds in Africa, including the Africa People + Planet Fund and Equator's climate tech fund, which are actively investing in startups addressing agriculture solutions and mitigating the impact of climate change.