How to apply to 212 Founders (CDG Invest) as an African founder

TL;DR

212 Founders (CDG Invest) invests in sector-agnostic companies at Seed and Series A, writes cheques of Up to ~$1.3M (13 MDH) per company, and takes applications through a cohort-based application cycle.

Who 212 Founders (CDG Invest) is

212 Founders (CDG Invest) is a Morocco / Pan-African / International investor headquartered in Casablanca & Paris. The fund describes its mandate as sector-agnostic. The thesis, in the fund's own words: The first Moroccan investment and support programme aimed at bringing out world-class startups in connection with Morocco.

On the ground, 212 Founders (CDG Invest) operates as a Seed and Series A investor with an Africa focus described as "Morocco (primary), with pan-African and international reach". The fund's programme operator is CDG Invest.

What they invest in

Stages: Seed and Series A
Sectors: Sector-agnostic. The fund calls itself sector-agnostic, but its actual portfolio tells a more concentrated story: 23% of classified portfolio companies are in SaaS, and 22% are in Logistics.
Cheque size: Up to ~$1.3M (13 MDH) per company
Geography focus: Morocco / Pan-African / International / Yes -- Morocco (primary), with pan-African and international reach

How to apply

212 Founders (CDG Invest)'s application field reads: "Via the website (cohort-based applications)". A cohort-based process means the fund runs applications in defined batches or program cycles rather than accepting pitches on a rolling basis year-round. You apply within an open window, get evaluated alongside everyone else in that cohort, and hear back on a timeline tied to when that cohort's selection process closes rather than immediately after you submit. Check https://www.212founders.co/ for the current cohort's open dates before you prepare your submission, since applying outside a window usually means waiting for the next one.

Portfolio pattern

212 Founders (CDG Invest)'s portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

Inyad (Morocco): Merchant platform scaled across MENA
Freterium (Morocco): Digital freight logistics (MENA/Indonesia)
PayTic (Morocco): Payment technology
Paylik (Morocco): Fintech platform
Joro (Morocco): Financial services

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from 212 Founders (CDG Invest) has funded, not just what the thesis claims it funds.

Before you apply

Have these ready before you reach out:

Deck: Check your readiness first so you know where the gaps are
Metrics dashboard: Set up your metrics dashboard so you can show real traction, not slides
Cap table
A one-line description of what your company does
The current cohort's open application window (check the fund's site before you start)

FAQ

Does 212 Founders (CDG Invest) have a sector focus?

212 Founders (CDG Invest) describes its mandate as sector-agnostic, meaning it does not restrict itself to a fixed list of sectors.

What stage does 212 Founders (CDG Invest) typically write cheques at?

212 Founders (CDG Invest) invests at Seed and Series A, with cheque sizes of Up to ~$1.3M (13 MDH) per company.

Do you need a warm intro to apply to 212 Founders (CDG Invest)?

No. 212 Founders (CDG Invest) takes applications through a cohort-based process, so a warm intro is not required to apply, though it can still help your submission stand out.

Does 212 Founders (CDG Invest) invest outside Morocco / Pan-African / International?

212 Founders (CDG Invest)'s Africa focus is described as "Morocco (primary), with pan-African and international reach". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is 212 Founders (CDG Invest) a remote or in-person fund?

212 Founders (CDG Invest)'s format is listed as Hybrid (workspaces in Casablanca, Marrakech, and Station F Paris).