Renew Capital
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-Series A tech-enabled startups across 13 African countries. It deploys capital through its Renew Capital Angels investor network and supports founders via the Renew Venture Lab accelerator.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Renew Capital does
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Denver, Colorado (Renew Capital LLC), founded in 2013. The firm invests in pre-Series A tech and tech-enabled startups across Africa, with a stated portfolio of more than 50 active and exited companies and an average investment size of approximately $224k. Operations span 13 African countries across East, West, North, and Southern Africa, supported by wholly-owned local entities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, and a regional North and West Africa headquarters established in Casablanca in partnership with Technopark in December 2025.
The firm's core products center on three platforms: the Renew Capital Angels network (a curated community of 200+ accredited individual investors, family offices, and institutional investors accessing deal flow via a dedicated investor portal), the Renew Venture Lab accelerator (combining self-paced learning with live expert sessions for African founders, including the April 2026 EmFi Series for embedded finance), and a Training Portal for investment readiness. Underlying technology includes a proprietary data analytics platform covering 1,704 analyzed deals, 1,339 companies, and 39 African countries, used for deal sourcing and ecosystem intelligence.
Revenue is generated through three streams: investment management fees on pooled vehicles (subscription/recurring), carried interest from portfolio exits, and consulting/advisory services for governments, multinational corporations, and development partners (Global Affairs Canada, NORAD, FMO, World Bank Group). Customer segments include early-stage African startup founders, global accredited investors, and government/institutional ecosystem partners. Headcount is reported at 50+ staff distributed across North America and African hubs, with co-leadership by Laura Davis (Co-CEO) and Matthew Davis, CFA (Co-CEO).
Renew Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Renew Capital
- Legal name
- Renew Capital LLC
- Website
- https://renewcapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-Series A tech-enabled startups across 13 African countries. It deploys capital through its Renew Capital Angels investor network and supports founders via the Renew Venture Lab accelerator.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Renew Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early-Stage Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching) (FSAEALAI)
Keywords
Where Renew Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Addis Ababa
- HQ country
- Ethiopia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices6 records
Markets served
Renew Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Management Fees: Renew Capital earns fees from managing investment vehicles and pooled funds for investors in the Renew Capital Angels network. Investors must be accredited per the U.S. SEC definition.
- Carried Interest / Profit Participation: Returns from portfolio companies through exits (acquisitions or public offerings) generate carried interest for the fund managers.
- Consulting Services: Market advisory, government advisory, corporate sponsorships, and analytics support services for partners seeking to navigate Africa's private markets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Renew Capital Angels Investor Network |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Renew Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-Series A tech and tech-enabled startups across 13 African countries. The firm deploys capital through its Renew Capital Angels investor network, provides accelerator programming via Venture Lab, and offers management training and market access support to portfolio companies. Average investment size is $224k, with 50+ active and exited portfolio companies supported by a 200+ investor network.
Product overview
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm offering a multi-product investment ecosystem. The core offering consists of investment capital deployment through the Renew Capital Angels network for pre-Series A startups, supplemented by the Venture Lab accelerator program for investment readiness and growth support, and a Training Portal for founder development. The firm operates across 13 African countries through its Exchange network, connecting investors to deal flow while providing portfolio companies with management training, mentoring, and market access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Renew Venture Lab: An accelerator program designed to identify and support African tech founders, with focus areas including embedded finance (The EmFi Series)
- Renew Capital Angels
- The Africa Brief
Products and services
- Venture Lab Accelerator An accelerator program combining self-paced learning modules with live expert sessions, designed to help African tech founders build and scale startups. The program engages Renew Capital's investment team and offers potential investment for top companies.
- Renew Capital Angels Investor Network A network of accredited individual investors who pool capital to invest in early-stage African startups, providing deal flow access and co-investment opportunities through an investor portal.
- Renew Capital Training Portal
- Renew Capital Exchange
- Market Advisory and Consulting Services
- Renew Venture Lab: The EmFi Series A Renew Venture Lab program specifically focused on African fintech founders building embedded finance, credit scoring, fraud detection, and lending automation solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50+ portfolio companies (active and exited)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Renew Capital
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Renew Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Renew Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TechnoparkcoreRenew Capital signed a strategic partnership with Morocco's Technopark to support Moroccan startups and integrate them into the African entrepreneurial ecosystem. The partnership marks the launch of Renew Capital's North and West Africa Headquarters in Casablanca. The goal is to help Moroccan and North African entrepreneurs expand into sub-Saharan and East African markets, while connecting Moroccan institutions to opportunities across Africa.
- Global Affairs Canada (GAC)coreRenew Capital works at the intersection of private investment and development, mobilizing capital to scale African startups while unlocking new trade and investment opportunities for Canadian firms. Through a blended finance model supported by Global Affairs Canada, the firm reduces early-stage risk, strengthens Africa's private sector, and helps build long-term economic partnerships between Canada and the continent.
- World Bank GroupcorePartner listed on Renew Capital's ecosystem partners page, indicating collaboration on startup ecosystem development across Africa.
- International Strategy ForumminorListed as ecosystem partner on Renew Capital's partners page, indicating collaboration on strategic initiatives.
- UI Charitable AdvisorsminorListed as ecosystem partner on Renew Capital's partners page.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Renew Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Acumen: Impact investor with decades of Africa presence backing early-stage companies addressing poverty. Comparable as a mission-driven, blended-finance investor, though typically writes larger checks and operates more broadly than Renew Capital's pre-Series A focus.
- Partech: Global venture firm with dedicated Africa fund (Partech Africa) backing early- and growth-stage tech companies. Comparable as a larger, more established pan-African VC writing bigger checks than Renew Capital's $224k average.
Direct peers
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with a strong Africa presence and co-investor with Renew Capital (e.g., co-led Beemi's $1M seed). Directly comparable as an Africa-active pre-seed/seed investor backing tech founders.
- Savannah Fund: Early-stage seed fund focused on tech startups across Africa, with accelerator programming. Comparable stage and sector focus, though with a smaller geographic footprint than Renew Capital.
- Catalyst Fund: Early-stage investor backing inclusive fintech and climate startups in emerging markets, particularly Africa. Led Enakl's pre-seed with Renew Capital participation, making it a directly comparable early-stage backer with a development-finance underpinning.
- 4DX Ventures: Pan-African early-stage venture firm investing in pre-seed and seed tech-enabled startups across multiple African countries. Directly comparable geographic and stage focus.
- Norrsken Foundation: Sweden-rooted impact-focused investor and ecosystem builder with significant Africa operations, including Norrsken House Kigali (where Renew Capital has an office). Co-investor in Chpter alongside Renew Capital, making it a directly comparable Africa-focused early-stage backer with ecosystem ambitions.
- Novastar Ventures: Africa-focused early- and growth-stage venture firm backing tech-enabled businesses. Comparable as a pan-African VC investing across multiple countries and sectors at pre-Series A stages.
- Techstars: Global accelerator and early-stage investor with active Africa-facing programs; co-invested in Chpter alongside Renew Capital. Directly comparable as a pre-seed/seed investor running accelerator programs for tech founders.
- Pani: Africa-focused pre-seed/seed investor that led Chpter's pre-seed round with Renew Capital participation. Directly comparable as a pre-Series A Africa tech investor targeting similar founder profiles.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Renew Capital social profiles
Digital presenceRenew Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Renew Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Renew Capital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Renew Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Renew Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments50 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Renew Capital
What does Renew Capital do?
Renew Capital is a pan-Africa early-stage venture capital firm that invests in pre-Series A tech and tech-enabled startups across 13 African countries. The firm deploys capital through its Renew Capital Angels investor network, provides accelerator programming via Venture Lab, and offers management training and market access support to portfolio companies. Average investment size is $224k, with 50+ active and exited portfolio companies supported by a 200+ investor network.
Is Renew Capital a public or private company?
Renew Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Renew Capital founded?
Renew Capital was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Renew Capital based?
Renew Capital is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the Africa region.
How does Renew Capital make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Investment Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest / Profit Participation and consulting Services.
Who are Renew Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Acumen and Partech. Direct peers are Antler, Savannah Fund, Catalyst Fund, 4DX Ventures, Norrsken Foundation, Novastar Ventures, Techstars and Pani.
Does Renew Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Renew Capital.
What industry is Renew Capital in?
Renew Capital's product category is Early-Stage Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEALAI, Institutional Capital Introduction (LP/Family Office/Endowment Matching). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.