Oxford University’s Saïd Business School is hosting the Africa Venture Finance Programme from 1 to 5 September 2025. The in-person course convenes more than 40 African venture capital fund managers for peer learning, skills development, and strategic dialogue. Nearly half of the cohort are women, signaling the programme’s emphasis on inclusion alongside capability building.
Programme Overview
The Africa Venture Finance Programme is tailored for fund managers investing in early and growth stage technology and tech-enabled companies across Africa. Designed and delivered with Oxford academics, the curriculum emphasizes models that reflect local realities and market constraints. Sessions prioritize practical problem solving, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and approaches that help managers support portfolio growth at scale.
Organizers and Support
This fourth edition is delivered under Boost Africa, a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank’s development arm and the African Development Bank, with support from the European Commission and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The programme is additionally supported by the AfricaGrow Technical Assistance Facility funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW and DEG. Together, these institutions aim to sharpen managerial capabilities while crowding in capital for high potential firms.
Strategic Rationale
Africa receives only 1 to 2 percent of global venture capital despite representing 18 percent of the world’s population. Local founders also face structural challenges in securing significant follow-on capital, which can slow product development and regional expansion. The programme targets these gaps by equipping general partners with tools, networks, and strategies that increase fund performance and improve access to institutional capital.
DFI and GP Engagement
Development finance institutions including the EBRD, Proparco, the Arab Fund, the United Kingdom’s FCDO, and British International Investment are participating in dedicated sessions. These discussions are structured to align expectations on risk, impact, and return, while opening channels for co-investment and technical support. Senior partners from TLcom, Partech, and AfricInvest will share practical lessons on fundraising cycles, portfolio construction, and capacity building inside startups.
Track Record and Community
Following this edition, more than 150 of the continent’s most relevant venture managers will have completed the programme. Alumni form a collaborative community that exchanges diligence practices, co-invests across borders, and supports benchmarking on fund operations. Organizers credit this network effect with accelerating knowledge diffusion and raising the quality bar for emerging managers.
Market Context and Deal Flow
According to the African Private Capital Association, Africa recorded 487 transactions in 2024, including 427 venture capital deals valued at 2.6 billion dollars and 60 venture debt deals worth 1 billion dollars. The data illustrates a resilient pipeline despite macro headwinds, yet also underscores the need for more patient equity capital. The programme’s focus on strategy, governance, and capital formation is intended to help managers convert this pipeline into stronger outcomes.
Institutional Mandate and Outcomes
Boost Africa was set up to unlock early stage financing by pairing capital with technical assistance for fund managers and investees. To date, the initiative has supported six private equity funds and more than 70 companies, mobilizing over 380 million euros for startups across the continent. Organizers report that 94 percent of Boost Africa supported founders subsequently raised at least 1 million dollars, nearly double the rate of comparable peers.
Design and Academic Lens
Oxford’s faculty leads sessions on investment theses grounded in context, catalytic capital structures, and responsible governance. Case discussions explore how to adapt international best practices to local market realities, from currency risk and talent retention to procurement and public sector engagement. The course mechanics encourage critical thinking and repeatable processes that can withstand scale and macro volatility.
Perspective from Partners
Programme partners emphasize that smart, targeted investment is essential to building resilient economies and inclusive growth. They frame the AVFP as a platform that links equity capital with operating know-how, enabling managers to support founders beyond financing. The approach aims to raise performance standards while creating pathways for more women and locally led firms to win institutional backing.
By coupling academic rigor with practical engagement from development financiers and veteran managers, the Africa Venture Finance Programme seeks to strengthen the continent’s venture capital infrastructure. Its expanding alumni base, sector focus, and technical assistance model position it to convert promising deal flow into sustained value creation. As Africa’s innovation economy matures, initiatives that professionalize capital providers and broaden access to funding will be decisive for long term growth.