A new R300 million ($17 million) Seed Fund of Funds has been launched to support promising technology startups in South Africa, marking a significant step in addressing the gap in early-stage funding within the country. The fund, officially unveiled this week, is backed by a coalition of key public and private stakeholders, including the South African SME Fund, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), its agency the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and E Squared Investments, an impact investment firm.

This initiative is designed to inject critical seed capital into local technology-driven start-ups at a time when early-stage funding remains one of the most significant hurdles for entrepreneurs in South Africa. While the country’s venture capital ecosystem has matured in recent years, the majority of investments have been concentrated in later-stage ventures, leaving a significant gap in funding for fledgling start-ups. The Seed Fund of Funds seeks to address this challenge by providing early-stage financing that will enable innovative start-ups to transform ideas into viable businesses.

The fund aims to deploy capital to at least 50 early-stage start-ups over its investment period, with a specific focus on technology and innovation. According to the founding stakeholders, the fund will operate through experienced fund managers who are well-versed in identifying high-potential businesses in South Africa’s emerging tech ecosystem. The goal is not only to provide financial backing but also to foster innovation, drive transformation, and support start-ups in scaling to both local and global markets.

“South Africa has no shortage of brilliant minds,” said Ketso Gordhan, CEO of the SA SME Fund, in a statement. “This fund will ensure that more of them have the resources they need to succeed. Seed funding is the cornerstone of entrepreneurial success and the lifeblood of innovation, without which many great ideas would never see the light of day. Our goal is to make sure these companies have a fair chance at success and scale.”

Filling a Critical Gap

The initiative comes at a time when governments globally are stepping up efforts to support start-ups as drivers of innovation and economic growth. The South African government, through the DSI and TIA, has long recognised the importance of fostering a robust innovation ecosystem, particularly in sectors where technology can drive transformation.

TIA’s acting CEO, Patrick Krappie, emphasised the strategic importance of early-stage funding in enabling young ventures to flourish. “Governments across the globe play a crucial role in fostering innovation ecosystems, and South Africa is no different. The partnership with the SA SME Fund aims to bolster funds towards start-ups and SMMEs through a fund of funds approach,” he said.

Krappie highlighted that many promising start-ups struggle to move from the idea phase to becoming fully operational businesses due to a lack of accessible seed capital. “The Seed Fund of Funds will catalyse a wave of new start-ups by enabling them to transition from ideas to viable enterprises. This presents an opportunity for the fund to play a catalytic role in developing the country’s seed-stage funding ecosystem,” Krappie added.

While venture capital activity in South Africa has grown in recent years, it has primarily focused on established businesses with proven traction. The Seed Fund of Funds seeks to change this narrative by targeting the earliest stages of the entrepreneurial journey, where risks are higher, but the potential for breakthrough innovation is greatest.

Through this initiative, the founding partners hope to build a more sustainable venture capital industry in South Africa. By supporting start-ups from the ground up, the fund aims to lay the foundation for an innovation-driven economy, one that can compete on the global stage. The success of the Seed Fund of Funds could also serve as a model for similar initiatives across the African continent, where access to early-stage funding remains a persistent challenge.

As South Africa positions itself to become a regional hub for technology and innovation, the Seed Fund of Funds is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the country’s start-up ecosystem. Its success will depend not only on the amount of capital deployed but also on the ability of the selected fund managers to nurture high-potential start-ups through the critical early phases of development.

With the backing of both public institutions and private investors, the Seed Fund of Funds represents a bold new effort to ensure that South Africa’s entrepreneurial talent is fully harnessed. By bridging the funding gap for early-stage start-ups, this initiative could unlock a new wave of innovation, driving economic growth and creating jobs in a country that is eager for new solutions to its economic challenges.