Fuzé, an initiative by Digital Africa, is a financing facility designed to support African entrepreneurs at the pre-seed stage. It provides quick and flexible equity-based investments to startups preparing to launch or newly established, addressing a funding gap that remains underserved across the continent.
Programme Overview
- Target Audience: Early-stage African tech startups (idea stage, MVP, or early growth).
- Funding Mechanism: Equity investment through a simplified and rapid process.
- Focus: Supporting pre-seed entrepreneurs in francophone Africa while remaining open to a broader list of 18 priority African countries.
Investment Structure
- Ticket Sizes:
- $22,000 ideation ticket
- $33,000 follow-up ticket (subject to milestone achievement)
- Direct investment possible at $55,000 or $110,000
- Progression:
- A startup receiving an initial $22,000 ticket must demonstrate financial traction (via self-funding, angel investment, or positive results) to qualify for the $33,000 follow-up.
Application Process
The funding process is built on partnerships with local ecosystem actors and unfolds in four steps:
- Application Submission: Startups provide key details through an online form.
- Partner Review: Supporting organizations are contacted for reference and validation.
- Evaluation: Fuzé’s team assesses eligibility and invites selected startups to pitch.
- Decision: Investment committee finalizes the funding decision.
Eligibility Criteria
For Startups at the Idea or MVP Stage
- The company was established within the last 36 months.
- Founded or co-founded by at least one African national.
- Operates (costs or revenues) in a francophone African country.
- Must integrate a technological component into the product or business model.
For Startups with Growth or Previous Funding
- Demonstrated significant growth or successful fundraising.
- Founded or co-founded by at least one African national.
- Operates (costs or revenues) in an African country.
- Must integrate a technological component into the product or business model.
Geographic Scope
- Core Focus: 18 priority African countries with emerging ecosystems.
- Wider Reach: Open to francophone African countries for ideation-stage financing.
Key Features
- Designed to fill the early-stage funding gap for tech entrepreneurs.
- Focused on impact-driven startups with potential for scale.
- Operates with ecosystem partners to identify and support promising ventures.
Fuzé by Digital Africa represents a unique model for early-stage startup financing on the continent. By providing equity investments between $22,000 and $110,000, the programme helps founders transform ideas and MVPs into scalable tech businesses. Its emphasis on francophone Africa and priority countries addresses a critical gap in pre-seed funding, empowering the next generation of African innovators.