How to apply to AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) as an African founder

TL;DR

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) invests in sector-agnostic companies at Seed, Series A, and Series B+, writes cheques of $1M -- $10M, and takes applications through a form on their website.

Who AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) is

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) is a Pan-African investor headquartered in Tunis, with offices in Casablanca, Cairo, Abidjan, Lagos, Nairobi, Paris, and Dubai. The fund describes its mandate as sector-agnostic. The thesis, in the fund's own words: Backing entrepreneurs bringing innovative and inclusive technologies to Africa.

On the ground, AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) operates as a Seed, Series A, and Series B+ investor with an Africa focus described as "Pan-African (35+ countries, North and Sub-Saharan Africa)". The fund's founding partner is Ziad Oueslati, alongside Skander Oueslati (Co-Founder, CIO and Deputy MD).

What they invest in

Stages: Seed, Series A, and Series B+
Sectors: Sector-agnostic. The fund calls itself sector-agnostic, but its actual portfolio tells a more concentrated story: 50% of classified portfolio companies are in Fintech, and 13% are in AI-ML.
Cheque size: $1M -- $10M
Geography focus: Pan-African / Yes -- Pan-African (35+ countries, North and Sub-Saharan Africa)

How to apply

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) takes applications through a form on https://www.africinvest.com/. The apply field in their Trampoline entry describes it as "Contact via the website or warm introductions through portfolio companies and LP networks.". Go to the site, find the apply or contact path, and submit through that channel rather than emailing partners cold, since a fund that has built a form generally routes everything through it first.

Portfolio pattern

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund)'s portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

InstaDeep (Tunisia): AI and decision-making systems (acquired by BioNTech for $682M), Growth
PalmPay (Nigeria): Mobile payments and digital financial services, Growth
Boomplay (Nigeria): Music streaming platform for Africa, Growth
Heetch (Morocco/Algeria): Ride-sharing and mobility platform, Series B
GoMyCode (Tunisia): Coding education and tech training, Series A

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) 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

FAQ

Does AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) have a sector focus?

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) describes its mandate as sector-agnostic, meaning it does not restrict itself to a fixed list of sectors.

What stage does AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) typically write cheques at?

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) invests at Seed, Series A, and Series B+, with cheque sizes of $1M -- $10M.

Do you need a warm intro to apply to AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund)?

No. AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) takes applications through a form on their website, so a warm intro is not required to apply, though it can still help your submission stand out.

Does AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) invest outside Pan-African?

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund)'s Africa focus is described as "Pan-African (35+ countries, North and Sub-Saharan Africa)". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund) a remote or in-person fund?

AfricInvest (Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund)'s format is listed as Hybrid.