Backing East Africa's
Next Generation of Founders
The Ubuntu Capital Startup Fund writes early cheques of $20,000 to $100,000 into ambitious founders building for the African market — and rolls up its sleeves to help them grow.
Our Thesis
Capital, plus everything else a founder needs
East Africa has no shortage of talent or problems worth solving — what early founders lack is patient, hands-on capital that understands the market. We invest our own money, share our network of investors and operators, and stay close as companies scale toward their next round.
Cheque Size
We write first cheques of $20,000 to $100,000 — enough to give a founder real runway, small enough to move quickly.
Stage
Pre-seed and seed. We back founders early, often before traditional funds are willing to look, and help them get to their next round.
Geography
East Africa first — with Uganda at our core — and businesses built for the realities of African markets, payments, and infrastructure.
What We Look For
Obsessive founders solving real problems in technology, consumer, fintech, and mobility — with a clear path from traction to revenue.
Portfolio
Companies in the Fund
Carmie
Auto-tech
A super-app for car owners across East Africa — digital fuel cards, gas-price comparison, garage booking, genuine spare parts, and a permanent vehicle health record, all mobile-money native and built to work on patchy signal.
Lumasa Sports
Sports management
A FIFA-licensed football intermediary based in Kampala, with offices in London and Dubai. Lumasa represents 20+ professional and youth footballers and a growing roster of rugby talent, from academy level to elite careers.
Commodity Plus
Commodities
A technology platform modernising how East African commodities are traded, priced, and moved to market — bringing transparency and efficiency to a sector that underpins the regional economy.