What Anza Capital does

Anza Capital Holdings is a South African early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2015 by CEO Audrey Verhaeghe and headquartered in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The firm operates an IP-driven venture-building model that combines capital deployment with active commercialization support across three sectors — FoodTech, CleanTech, and DigitalTech — targeting seed to Series A startups based in Africa, with a primary focus on South Africa and the SADC region. Anza targets 10x returns for investors and prioritizes portfolio companies with 2+ founders, validated technology, and clear exit pathways, with 40% of portfolio companies led by diverse founders.

Anza's core product is its investment fund, currently Seed Fund II at $15M targeting 20+ companies in Southern and Eastern Africa. The fund is operated through Anza Fund Manager, an FSCA-registered Financial Services Provider (FSP license 53884) and SAVCA member. Capital deployment is augmented by three wholly-owned operating platforms: TechTribe Accelerator (an online accelerator and virtual mentorship program that prepares startups for investment), SA Innovation Summit (Africa's largest startup event, engaging 1,500+ startups annually as originator, showcaser, connector, and supporter), and RIIS (an internal strategy and management consulting group building innovation clusters in mining, aerospace, mobility, and oil & gas since 2008). Together these create a circular ecosystem that sources, de-risks, and supports portfolio companies.

Anza generates revenue through fund management fees and equity returns from portfolio investments. Portfolio companies include Qwili (FinTech), Impulse Biomedical (BioMedical/HealthTech), AgriLogiQ (Agritech), Welo (Telemedicine), Koa Academy (EdTech), Mia (HealthTech), Newform Foods (Alternative Food), Zimi (CleanTech/EV charging), TAILORBLEND (FoodTech), Locstat (AI and Data), Adbot (Digital advertising), Gwork (HR Tech), and Abiri Innovations (Agritech). The firm's stated vision is to impact 500 million African livelihoods through early-stage tech ventures. Strategic distribution includes the recent addition of US-based Non-Executive Director Robert E. Williams for diaspora capital and US market access, and partnerships with the SA SME Fund, Department of Science and Innovation, Grindstone Ventures, and the Maryland Global Gateway Program.

Name

Anza Capital

Legal name

Anza Capital Holdings

Website

https://anza.holdings

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Anza Capital is a South African early-stage venture capital firm that provides IP-driven commercialization, capital, and venture-building support to seed-to-Series-A tech startups in FoodTech, CleanTech, and DigitalTech across Africa, operating through a circular ecosystem spanning TechTribe Accelerator, SA Innovation Summit, and RIIS consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / Early-Stage Tech Investment

NAICS

All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Venture capital services
• Seed to Series A
• Tech startup investing
• Venture building
• Africa deep tech

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Returns: Anza Capital generates returns through equity investments in early-stage startups. The firm takes equity stakes in portfolio companies and designs exit-readiness into every investment, targeting 10x returns for investors through a network of corporates, PEs, and global acquers.
2. Fund Management Fees: As a registered FSP (license 53884) and FSCA-regulated fund manager, Anza Capital earns management fees from fund operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Anza Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests seed to Series A capital into tech-driven startups across FoodTech, CleanTech, and DigitalTech in Southern and Eastern Africa. Through its TechTribe Accelerator, SA Innovation Summit, and RIIS consulting arm, the firm provides IP-driven commercialization support, mentorship, and market access alongside capital. It is registered as an FSCA Financial Services Provider (license 53884) and manages Seed Fund II ($15M) backing 20+ portfolio companies.

Product overview

Anza Capital is Africa's early-stage venture capital fund that combines IP-driven commercialization, venture-building, and strategic capital deployment to transform deep tech into scalable, high-impact businesses. The firm's core offering is its investment fund (Seed Fund II, $15M targeting 20+ companies), which operates alongside the TechTribe Accelerator (an online mentorship and startup support platform), the SA Innovation Summit (Africa's largest startup event), and RIIS (internal strategy consulting for ecosystem building). Anza Fund Manager is the registered FSP entity. Together, these components form a circular venture-building ecosystem that de-risks investments and provides portfolio companies with mentorship, market access, and exit pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seed Fund II: $15M early-stage fund backing 20+ tech-driven companies in FoodTech, CleanTech, and Inclusive Digital Solutions across Southern and Eastern Africa.

Products and services

• Anza Capital Fund (Seed Fund II) Early-stage venture capital fund providing seed to Series A equity capital and IP-driven commercialization support to tech-driven startups in Africa.
• TechTribe Accelerator Africa's leading online accelerator and virtual mentorship platform that prepares early-stage tech startups for investment through programs built on tangible outcomes, addressing the gap between investors and entrepreneurs.
• SA Innovation Summit (SAIS) Africa's largest startup event providing origination, showcasing, connecting, and capacitating for over 1,500 startups annually through panel discussions, pitching showdowns, masterclasses, and plenaries.
• RIIS (Research, Innovation and Impact Solutions) Strategy and management consulting practice building innovation clusters and ecosystems for major sectors across Southern Africa since 2008, focused on enhancing R&D and innovation to drive sector competitiveness.
• Anza Fund Manager (FSP) Registered Financial Services Provider (FSP license 53884) and member of SAVCA, providing FSCA-regulated early-stage investment management with a focus on food, health, digital inclusion, and climate technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Touch and impact 500 million livelihoods in Africa
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maryland Global Gateway Program / Maryland Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Portfolio company Impulse Biomedical accepted into Maryland's soft landing program for international companies to establish US presence. Provides access to facilities, capital, and partner advisors with industry knowledge to support growth and regulatory navigation.
• SA SME FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026SA SME Fund Investment Associate Retreat brought together investment associates from across South Africa building next generation of South African VC. Anza participated in retreat focused on ecosystem building and professionalizing local VC ecosystem alongside Department of Science and Innovation.
• The LaunchPortminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Medtech manufacturing accelerator in Baltimore, MD where Impulse Biomedical established US operations. Facility supports local operations, regulatory engagement, technology transfer, and manufacturing setup.
• B-Direct ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025US-based Africa-centric board preparation and placement program founded by Larry Yon. Designed to bridge Black American professionals with African company board opportunities, addressing scarcity of paid board roles while scaling African companies.
• CVC ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Consortium hosting webinars on CVC potential in Africa's innovation landscape, collaborating with JSE Private Placements to discuss strategic investments and ecosystem development.
• Grindstone VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2023Two prominent early-stage VC firms united to host 'An African showcase: Early-stage investment VC-LP Connect' - a week-long series of events including portfolio showcase featuring startups from both firms, LP-VC roundtable discussions, and SAIS attendance. Partnership aimed at bridging innovation and investment in Cape Town's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• RIIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal strategy and management consulting group building innovation clusters and ecosystems for major sectors including mining, aerospace, mobility, oil & gas since 2008. Creates well-functioning innovation ecosystems and builds deep market relationships and insights for Anza's portfolio.
• SA Innovation SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAIS is devoted to entrepreneurs in all tech industries and stages from incubation through entrepreneurial lifecycle. With global reach and local focus, SAIS holds Africa's largest startup event with four pillars: Originator, Showcaser, Connector, Supporter.
• TechTribe AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline accelerator and virtual mentorship platform addressing the gap between investors and entrepreneurs by getting businesses ready for investment, facilitating opportunities, and providing crucial support. Built into Anza's ecosystem for pre-investment preparation.
• JSE Private PlacementsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with JSE for Corporate Venture Capital webinar discussions and ecosystem development connecting corporates with startups capable of revolutionizing industries.
• Dream VCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner mentioned alongside RIIS, JSE Private Placements, and SA Innovation Summit for fostering collaborative ecosystem supporting innovation across Africa.
• African Diaspora Investment SummitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship event organized by non-profit arm of CyberAlliance where Robert Williams met Anza CEO Audrey Verhaeghe, leading to board appointment.
• Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing risk capital in ecosystem and innovation fund to support viability and sustainability. Focused on impact investing with economic returns and diversity imperatives for job creation and transformation.
• StartupAct MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African startup policy advocacy movement that Anza Capital lobbies government through for better incentives to keep African firms' IP on the continent.
• USAID Mobilizing InvestmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Anza's IP thesis development for regions where they invest, contributing to full IP commercialization framework for cleantech, foodtech and digital deep tech.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TLcom Capital: Pan-African early- and growth-stage VC firm investing in tech-enabled companies across Sub-Saharan Africa. Most directly comparable peer given stage focus, geographic mandate, and sector overlap with Anza.
• Partech Africa: Pan-African VC fund backing early- to growth-stage startups. Directly comparable as a seed/Series A investor in African tech, with larger fund size than Anza.
• Novastar Ventures: Africa-focused early-stage VC backing consumer-facing businesses across the continent. Comparable stage, region, and venture-building orientation.
• 4Di Capital: South African early-stage technology VC firm. Direct peer given shared South African base and similar seed/Series A technology mandate.
• Knife Capital: South African venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology-enabled businesses. Comparable regional stage focus and technology orientation.
• Grindstone Ventures: South African early-stage VC explicitly partnered with Anza on VC-LP Connect events and portfolio showcases. Directly comparable given shared South African base and seed-stage technology mandate.

Emerging players

• Founders Factory Africa: African accelerator and early-stage investor offering venture-building support alongside capital. Comparable model to Anza's TechTribe-plus-fund combination.
• Startupbootcamp AfriTech: Africa-focused accelerator program backing early-stage African fintech and tech startups. Comparable as a structured accelerator platform sourcing deal flow for institutional investors.

Broad incumbents

• Norrsken Foundation / East Africa Pavilion: Large-impact VC platform in Africa running accelerators and funds. Comparable as a broader African venture-building and impact-investing incumbent with overlapping sectors.
• Acumen: Global impact investor with significant Africa presence investing in early-stage ventures in agriculture, energy, and health. Comparable as a broader impact-VC incumbent operating at the intersection of social outcomes and commercial returns.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Anza Capital