Village Capital has officially announced the selection of five Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) as venture partners for its Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility (AECF), a groundbreaking US$4 million initiative aimed at supporting startups that are building context-specific solutions to enhance economic mobility and climate resilience in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Launched in collaboration with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the AECF is designed to close critical funding gaps by deploying appropriately structured capital to early-stage ventures. What sets this initiative apart is its ecosystem-embedded investment model, which places local ESOs at the heart of the investment process.
Rather than relying solely on external investors, the AECF leverages the deep market knowledge and community trust of locally-led ESOs to identify, evaluate, and support high-potential startups. This approach ensures that capital is not only deployed more effectively but also aligned with the unique needs and realities of each local ecosystem.
The facility targets startups that are working to:
- Improve livelihoods and economic inclusion
- Drive financial access and entrepreneurial opportunity
- Build resilience to climate change through innovative, scalable solutions
By empowering ESOs to act as co-investment partners and evaluators, the AECF aims to strengthen the broader entrepreneurial ecosystems in each country. This collaborative model enhances the quality of investment decisions and accelerates the flow of early-stage capital to where it’s needed most.
The five ESOs selected as venture partners for the AECF are:
- Ghana: Reach for Change
- Nigeria: Africa Fintech Foundry and Fate Foundation
- Tanzania: Anza Entrepreneurs and Ennovate Ventures
These organisations bring years of experience supporting local entrepreneurs and will play a pivotal role in sourcing, mentoring, and co-evaluating startups for investment.
No single investor can be an expert in every context – and that’s why this partnership matters. This model allows us to invest across markets while staying grounded in local realities. For us, this isn’t just about sourcing deals, it’s about making smarter, more informed investments by working alongside those already building and strengthening their entrepreneurial communities.
