Ventures Platform

Ventures Platform is one of Nigeria's most consequential early-stage funds, founded in 2016 by Kola Aina in Abuja. The firm has evolved from an angel syndicate running six pre-institutional vintages into a fully institutional operation with $46M in Fund I (closed December 2022, oversubscribed from a $40M target) and $64M in Fund II (first close 2025, targeting $75M final close). Fund I ranks among the top global performers by TVPI and IRR for its vintage year, which is a remarkable outcome for a Nigerian-headquartered firm.

The track record speaks loudly. Ventures Platform was an early backer of Paystack (acquired by Stripe for approximately $200M in 2020) and Moniepoint (now a unicorn valued at over $1B), and the broader portfolio of 90+ startups has collectively raised over $1B in follow-on capital. The firm's investment thesis is rooted in Clayton Christensen's "market-creating innovation" framework from The Prosperity Paradox, which means they look for companies that serve people who previously had no access to a product or service, creating entirely new markets rather than competing for existing ones.

What separates Ventures Platform from other early-stage funds is the combination of local depth and institutional credibility. Their LP base includes the IFC, British International Investment, Proparco, Standard Bank, and notably the Nigerian government via iDICE, making Fund II the first-ever Nigerian government-backed VC investment. Michael Seibel (former Y Combinator CEO) is also an LP, and 70% of Fund II LPs are returning investors from Fund I.