More and more startups are calling Cape Town home, and local venture capital is helping to fuel that growth. The right investor offers much more than just money, providing guidance for early-stage companies.
You can see the activity in the portfolios of firms like 4Di Capital, with more than 30 investments, and Grindstone, which has guided 7 startups to an exit. It’s a good time for founders to be seeking capital in the city.
Below is our list of the best 5 VC firms in Cape Town.
Failory's Top 5 Picks
Tool
Fundraising OS
Everything you need to raise funding for your startup, including 3,500+ investors, 7 tools, 18 templates and 3 learning resources.
Buy It For $97 $297 →Backing early-stage technology startups across Africa, 4Di Capital provides what it calls "Nurture capital" by combining funding with crucial mentorship and network access. The firm targets founders in sectors like mobile, enterprise software, and fintech, helping companies like Wasoko and InvestSure tackle major market problems.
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | Justin Stanford |
| Total Funding | $27M |
| Industries | InsurTech, Fintech, Healthcare |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 36 (13 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
| Top Portfolio Startups | Talk360, InvestSure, Wasoko |
Norrsken22 backs entrepreneurs building Africa's next tech giants, operating as a multi-stage growth fund for the continent. They invest from Series A to C in sectors like fintech and edtech, connecting portfolio companies with strategic advice from an advisory board of unicorn founders.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Late Stage, Private Equity |
| Nº of Investments | 16 (6 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | — |
| Contact | info@norrsken22.com |
Grindstone supports high-growth, innovation-driven companies through a structured development program designed for early-stage and seed startups. The program helps these businesses establish the fundamental building blocks needed to scale quickly, become sustainable, and attract further funding.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | Early Stage, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 22 (3 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 7 |
| Contact | info@grindstonexl.com |
Venture Capital Studio builds and invests in a portfolio of high-growth companies, providing equity to support ventures from seed funding through the public markets. As a venture studio, they work directly with their portfolio companies to expand operations, launch into new markets, and create new technology.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Phillip Sebole Masango, Shaquil Mohammed |
| Investment Stage | Debt, Early Stage, Late Stage, Post-Ipo, Private Equity, Secondary Market, Seed |
| Nº of Investments | 8 (7 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
CoVentures works alongside founders of tech startups, providing hands-on expertise to build their companies from an early idea. This model emphasizes a deep partnership, offering founders the guidance and support required to turn their vision into a business.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Stage | — |
| Nº of Investments | 8 (2 as Lead Investor) |
| Nº of Exits | — |
| Contact | hello@co.ventures |