How to apply to Equator as an African founder

TL;DR

Equator invests in Climate companies at Seed and Series A, writes cheques of $750K -- $2M ($750K-$1M seed, ~$2M Series A), and takes applications through a form on their website.

Who Equator is

Equator is a Sub-Saharan Africa investor headquartered in Nairobi, with team in London and Fort Collins, Colorado. Its stated focus is Climate. The thesis, in the fund's own words: We back scalable ventures that solve problems at the intersection of climate and commerce in Africa.

On the ground, Equator operates as a Seed and Series A investor with an Africa focus described as "Sub-Saharan Africa". The fund's partner is Nijhad Jamal, alongside Lyndsay Handler (Partner) and Morgan DeFoort (Partner).

What they invest in

Stages: Seed and Series A
Sectors: Climate
Cheque size: $750K -- $2M ($750K-$1M seed, ~$2M Series A)
Geography focus: Sub-Saharan Africa / Yes -- Sub-Saharan Africa

How to apply

Equator takes applications through a form on https://equator.vc/. The apply field in their Trampoline entry describes it as "Warm intros preferred. Contact via the website or reach out to partners on LinkedIn.". 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

Equator's portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

Roam Electric (Kenya): Electric motorcycles and buses for African markets, Seed/Series A
SunCulture (Kenya): Solar-powered irrigation systems for smallholder farmers, Growth
Apollo Agriculture (Kenya): Data-driven inputs and financing for smallholder farmers, Growth
Odyssey Energy Solutions (Kenya): Software for off-grid energy project developers, Seed
Ibisa (Multi-market): Parametric climate insurance using satellite data, Seed

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from Equator 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 Equator invest in Climate?

Yes. Climate is listed among Equator's stated sector focus areas.

What stage does Equator typically write cheques at?

Equator invests at Seed and Series A, with cheque sizes of $750K -- $2M ($750K-$1M seed, ~$2M Series A).

Do you need a warm intro to apply to Equator?

No. Equator 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 Equator invest outside Sub-Saharan Africa?

Equator's Africa focus is described as "Sub-Saharan Africa". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is Equator a remote or in-person fund?

Equator's format is listed as Hybrid.