How to apply to Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures as an African founder

TL;DR

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures invests in Climate and Agritech companies at Pre-Seed and Seed, writes cheques of $100K -- $600K, and takes applications through direct outreach to the team.

Who Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures is

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures is a Pan-African investor headquartered in Nairobi + Fort Collins, Colorado. Its stated focus is Climate and Agritech. The thesis, in the fund's own words: Supporting early-stage entrepreneurs through risk capital and world-class technical resources to solve energy, agriculture, and mobility challenges across Africa.

On the ground, Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures operates as a Pre-Seed and Seed investor with an Africa focus described as "sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and Nigeria primary hubs)". The fund's co-founder & managing partner, delta40 is Lyndsay Holley Handler, alongside Morgan DeFoort (Managing Principal, Factor[e] Ventures).

What they invest in

Stages: Pre-Seed and Seed
Sectors: Climate and Agritech
Cheque size: $100K -- $600K
Geography focus: Pan-African / Yes -- sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and Nigeria primary hubs)

How to apply

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's application path is: "Via the Delta40 website or direct outreach to the team". This reads as direct outreach rather than a public form, which means the fund is more reachable through a warm introduction or a well-targeted cold message than through a portal. Lyndsay Holley Handler (Co-founder & Managing Partner, Delta40) is the name most associated with the fund publicly, and a specific, well-prepared message referencing why you fit their stated thesis is a better opener than a generic pitch blast. Check https://www.delta40.com/ first in case a form or dedicated email address has since gone live.

Portfolio pattern

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

Apollo Agriculture (Kenya): Agri-fintech for smallholder farmers
ROAM (Kenya): Electric motorcycle manufacturer
Ampersand (Rwanda): Electric motorcycle fleet and battery swapping
Zola Electric (Tanzania/Nigeria): Off-grid solar energy systems

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures 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
A short, specific note explaining why you fit their stated thesis, ready to send cold or through a warm intro

FAQ

Does Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures invest in Climate?

Yes. Climate is listed among Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's stated sector focus areas.

What stage does Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures typically write cheques at?

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures invests at Pre-Seed and Seed, with cheque sizes of $100K -- $600K.

Do you need a warm intro to apply to Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures?

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's application path is direct outreach rather than a public form, so a warm introduction generally carries more weight than a cold message, though it is not stated as a hard requirement.

Does Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures invest outside Pan-African?

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's Africa focus is described as "sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and Nigeria primary hubs)". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures a remote or in-person fund?

Delta40 / Factor[e] Ventures's format is listed as Venture Studio + VC Fund.