How to apply to Renew Capital as an African founder

TL;DR

Renew Capital invests in sector-agnostic companies at Pre-Seed and Seed, writes cheques of Not publicly disclosed (small early-stage cheques), and takes applications through direct outreach to the team.

Who Renew Capital is

Renew Capital is a Pan-African investor headquartered in Denver / Nairobi. The fund describes its mandate as sector-agnostic. The thesis, in the fund's own words: Backing exceptional founders who will shape Africa's economic future through technology.

On the ground, Renew Capital operates as a Pre-Seed and Seed investor with an Africa focus described as "Pan-African (14 countries, strong East Africa presence)". The fund's co-ceo & co-founder is Matt Davis, alongside Laura Davis (Co-CEO & Co-founder).

What they invest in

Stages: Pre-Seed and Seed
Sectors: Sector-agnostic. The fund calls itself sector-agnostic, but its actual portfolio tells a more concentrated story: 31% of classified portfolio companies are in Fintech, and 19% are in Climate.
Cheque size: Not publicly disclosed (small early-stage cheques)
Geography focus: Pan-African / Yes -- Pan-African (14 countries, strong East Africa presence)

How to apply

Renew Capital's application path is: "Via website or through the Renew Venture Lab programme". 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. Matt Davis (Co-CEO & Co-founder) 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.renewcapital.com/ first in case a form or dedicated email address has since gone live.

Portfolio pattern

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

Opareta (Uganda): Mobile money and payments platform
Mpost (Kenya): Postal technology and digital mailbox
Octavia Carbon (Kenya): Carbon capture technology
Scale (Kenya): Last-mile logistics platform
Sawa Energy (Kenya): Renewable energy solutions

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from Renew Capital 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 Renew Capital have a sector focus?

Renew Capital describes its mandate as sector-agnostic, meaning it does not restrict itself to a fixed list of sectors.

What stage does Renew Capital typically write cheques at?

Renew Capital invests at Pre-Seed and Seed, with cheque sizes of Not publicly disclosed (small early-stage cheques).

Do you need a warm intro to apply to Renew Capital?

Renew Capital'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 Renew Capital invest outside Pan-African?

Renew Capital's Africa focus is described as "Pan-African (14 countries, strong East Africa presence)". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is Renew Capital a remote or in-person fund?

Renew Capital's format is listed as Hybrid.