How to apply to The Baobab Network as an African founder

TL;DR

The Baobab Network invests in sector-agnostic companies at Pre-Seed and Seed, writes cheques of $100K for 12.5% equity, and takes applications through a direct online application.

Who The Baobab Network is

The Baobab Network is a Pan-African investor headquartered in Nairobi. The fund describes its mandate as sector-agnostic. The thesis, in the fund's own words: Investing early in Africa's best startups, providing funding, hands-on venture support, and global network access to help African founders become industry leaders.

On the ground, The Baobab Network operates as a Pre-Seed and Seed investor with an Africa focus described as "Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, 10+ countries". The fund's managing partner is Niama El Bassunie, alongside Art Chupeau (Managing Partner) and Tom Fairburn (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 Logistics.
Cheque size: $100K for 12.5% equity
Geography focus: Pan-African / Yes -- Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, 10+ countries

How to apply

Apply directly at https://thebaobabnetwork.com/apply-now/. That link is the fund's own application channel, listed in their Trampoline entry as of 2026-07-29. Fill out whatever the form asks for completely: skipped fields read as a rushed application, and a rushed application is an easy first-pass reject at any fund fielding more submissions than it can meaningfully review.

Portfolio pattern

The Baobab Network's portfolio, as listed in their Trampoline fund page, includes:

Terminal (Nigeria): Logistics and trade infrastructure
RentScore (Kenya): Converts rent payments into home ownership equity
Lemonade (Kenya): Blockchain-powered digital payments
Buyam (Cameroon): E-commerce platform connecting merchants, resellers, and consumers
Swyft (Cameroon): Door-to-door delivery and e-commerce fulfilment

That spread gives you a sense of what a real check from The Baobab Network 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 The Baobab Network have a sector focus?

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

What stage does The Baobab Network typically write cheques at?

The Baobab Network invests at Pre-Seed and Seed, with cheque sizes of $100K for 12.5% equity.

Do you need a warm intro to apply to The Baobab Network?

No. The Baobab Network 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 The Baobab Network invest outside Pan-African?

The Baobab Network's Africa focus is described as "Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire, 10+ countries". Check the full fund profile for the exact geographic boundaries before you apply.

Is The Baobab Network a remote or in-person fund?

The Baobab Network's format is listed as 12-week remote-first accelerator.