Rising Tide Africa

What Rising Tide Africa does

Rising Tide Africa is an all-female angel investor network founded in 2016 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, operating as the African chapter of the global Rising Tide Program movement. The organization pools capital from its female members to co-invest in early-stage African startups, with an explicit focus on female-founded, female-led, or gender-diverse leadership teams, and targets the structural funding gap in which less than 1% of African startup capital reaches teams without a male founder. Its activities are organized under four pillars — Mentoring, Investment, Networking, and Education — and delivered through bi-annual Deal Day pitch events, masterclasses, mentorship clinics, and a 6-week Cohort 6 Accelerator Program that opened applications in January 2025.

The business model is membership-based: members are admitted by introduction or endorsement from existing members, join committees aligned to the four pillars, and deploy personal capital into co-investments rather than paying disclosed membership fees. Rising Tide generates returns through portfolio exits, dividends, and follow-on funding rounds, with notable portfolio investments including Shuttlers ($4M round, 2023), Koolboks ($2.5M, 2022), Bankly ($2M, 2021), Figorr ($1.5M, 2023), OZE ($700k, 2021), and undisclosed investments in Afrikrea, Amayi Foods, Aruwa Capital, Big Cabal Media, Chekkit, and 20+ other companies spanning fintech, healthtech, media, logistics, e-commerce, and cleantech. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure consists of event programming, member curation, and group due diligence, supported by a 1–10 person operating team and event sponsors including Providus Bank, UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, and The African Angel Academy.

Commercially, Rising Tide is a community-led GTM motion rather than a productized business: deal flow originates from inbound Deal Day applications and accelerator cohorts, while investor relations are managed through membership committees and recurring touchpoints. The organization holds strategic partnerships with ABAN, EBAN, and AEDIB/NET for thematic cleantech angel investing and counts a board including Chairman Evelyn Oputu, Co-Founder Yemi Keri (ForbesWomen, 2020), Directors Bolaji Akinboro and Eghosa Omoigui, Secretary-General Ivana Osagie, and Board Member Ndidi Nnoli Edozien. Operating geographies span Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, with 2024 expansion signals including a South Africa Open House and a Cohort 6 accelerator launch in early 2025.

Name

Rising Tide Africa

Legal name

Rising Tide Africa

Website

https://risingtideafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rising Tide Africa is an all-female angel investor network founded in 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria, pooling capital from women members to co-invest in early-stage, female-led African startups across fintech, healthtech, cleantech, and other verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angel Investment Network

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Angel investor network
• Women investment group
• Early-stage venture investing
• Startup accelerator programs
• Gender-lens investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Angel Investment Returns: Rising Tide Africa generates returns through co-investment in early-stage startups. Members pool capital to invest in portfolio companies with high growth potential in Africa. Returns come from exits, dividends, or follow-on funding rounds from other investors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rising Tide Africa is a women-led angel investor network that pools capital from its female members to co-invest in early-stage African startups, female-founded or female-led businesses, and gender-diverse leadership teams. The organization runs Deal Day pitching events, masterclasses, mentorship clinics, and accelerator programs to connect investors with entrepreneurs, while providing education and networking across its four pillars: Mentoring, Investment, Networking, and Education.

Product overview

Rising Tide Africa is an all-female angel investor network operating as part of a global Rising Tide movement for Africa. The organization offers a platform of investment-related programs and services organized under four pillars: Mentoring, Investment, Networking, and Education. Key offerings include Deal Day Events (bi-annual pitching events connecting entrepreneurs with investors), RTA Masterclasses (educational training for business owners), Mentorship Clinics (one-on-one mentoring sessions), and the Cohort 6 Accelerator Program (6-week remote program with mentorship, workshops, and pitch opportunities). Membership tiers provide access to early-stage investment opportunities, mentoring roles, entrepreneurial support, and strategic partnership networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deal Day Events Bi-annual event where investment-ready entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to Rising Tide Africa's angel investors, with the possibility of securing investments and/or mentoring opportunities. A 2024 Deal Day was held March 21, 2024 with 5 promising female-led/owned startups pitching.
• RTA Masterclasses Training initiative providing quality training to new and existing business owners to help navigate the complexities of running a successful business and attracting capital. Covers angel investing, business operations, and capital attraction.
• Mentorship Clinics One-on-one mentoring sessions connecting young, innovative entrepreneurs with experienced female leaders and mentors, addressing challenges in Fintech, Healthtech, and other sectors.
• Cohort 6 Accelerator Program Comprehensive support program for women entrepreneurs providing access to expert mentorship, tailored workshops, and networking opportunities. 6-week remote program for early-stage startups with validated idea or MVP.
• Entrepreneurship 101 Accelerator Program Educational accelerator program for women entrepreneurs under the Education pillar of Rising Tide Africa.
• Member/Investor Membership Membership tier providing access to high potential early-stage co-investment opportunities with shared expertise in angel investing for informed investment decisions.
• Mentor Program Membership tier providing the opportunity to help build the characters of young, innovative, and investment-ready entrepreneurs through structured mentorship.
• Mentee/Entrepreneur Program Membership tier offering premium mentorship classes helping entrepreneurs navigate business challenges.
• Partner/Co-Investor Program Membership tier providing access to strategic networks for growth, available through partnership inquiries for co-investment opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bankly became RTA's 14th investment and 3rd in African fintech space
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• The African Angel AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Rising Tide Africa's Deal Day 2024 events, providing educational support and accreditation for angel investing activities.
• UK-Nigeria Tech HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Rising Tide Africa's 2024 Deal Day events, supporting the female entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Providus BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Rising Tide Africa's Deal Day 2024, supporting financial inclusion and female entrepreneurship.
• Signal Alliance Technology HoldingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Rising Tide Africa for International Women's Day commemoration event, supporting women in investment roles.
• Capital Club LagossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Rising Tide Africa's International Women's Day event, providing venue and networking opportunities.
• ABAN (African Business Angels Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the thematic angel networks collaboration with EBAN and AEDIB/NET supporting cleantech startups in Africa.
• EBAN (European Business Angels Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in thematic angel networks collaboration supporting cross-border investment in African startups.
• AEDIB/NETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in thematic angel networks collaboration with ABAN and EBAN supporting cleantech industry startups.
• Access BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.
• StearssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.
• Ventures DialsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.
• Sterling BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.
• GreenhousesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.
• CCHubsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo partner shown on Rising Tide Africa website as part of ecosystem support.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lagos Angel Network: Nigeria-based angel investor network pooling capital from individual investors to back early-stage startups. Directly comparable in business model, target geography, and Deal Day event cadence; RTA has even syndicated a deal (Betty/Blackbet) with Lagos Angel Network.
• Alitheia Capital: Female-founded and led private equity firm focused on gender-lens investing across Africa, with uMunthu II fund and AVCA DEI Champion Award 2024. Direct peer operating in the same gender-lens mandate and African geography, though typically writing larger PE-size tickets.
• Aruwa Capital Management: Female-founded and led growth equity impact fund targeting women as capital allocators, entrepreneurs, and consumers in Africa. Direct peer in gender-lens mandate; Aruwa is also a Rising Tide portfolio company and recently won AVCA Newcomer Award 2024, demonstrating competitive overlap.
• African Business Angels Network (ABAN): Pan-African umbrella body for angel investor networks across the continent. Direct peer in angel-investing infrastructure, and an active RTA partner in thematic cleantech networks with EBAN and AEDIB/NET.
• Pipeline Angels: US-based angel investment network focused on women and non-binary investors backing women-led and social-impact companies. Closely comparable in mission, member onboarding model, and community-led structure; serves as a North American archetype for the Rising Tide model.
• Golden Seeds: One of the largest and most established US angel networks investing in women-led and women-founded companies. Comparable in angel-pooling structure, education pillar, and gender-lens focus; a more mature template for RTA's long-term scaling path.

Broad incumbents

• European Business Angels Network (EBAN): Largest pan-European early-stage investor representative body. Comparable to RTA's network-of-angel-investors model and an international partner on cross-border thematic networks, but at materially larger institutional scale.
• Ingressive Capital: Pan-African venture capital firm providing capital and resources to tech-enabled startups. Comparable in pan-African venture mandate and named RTA co-investor in OZE; operates at a larger fund scale but overlaps on female-founder and early-stage deal flow.
• 100 Women in Finance: Global membership organization of women in the finance industry, providing education, peer networks, and capital-allocation pathways. Comparable in building female-investor community and education; not a deal-deploying network but a credible adjacent peer.
• Rising Tide (Global Movement): Global movement that Rising Tide Africa is part of, originally founded in the US. Comparable in mission, brand, and network structure, but materially larger and more established—serves as both a parent brand and a US archetype for the African chapter model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RisinTideAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rising-tide-africa
• Instagraminstagram.com/risingtideafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments26 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rising Tide Africa