Redesigning Capital for African Women.
Boldly. Ethically. Proximally.
(Yes, we said it.)
TELEP Capital is not just a fund.
it’s a philosophy.
We invest in Africa’s future by centering the women who are already building it.
HI THERE. WE’RE TELEP CAPITAL
A world where African women are not the last stop of capital but the starting point of transformation.
Where their knowledge is valued, their labor is dignified, and their enterprises are trusted to shape the future.
We envision a funding ecosystem where power, proximity, and purpose align, where investing becomes an act of liberation, not control.
Rewriting the Rules of Funding.
TELEP CAPITAL mission:
To catalyze and grow enterprises led by African women across sectors, from grassroots to growth-stage
To de-risk bold bets through blended capital structures grounded in local trust, not foreign templates
To redefine exit through proximity-led accountability and shared legacy strategies
To challenge the capital status quo by shifting who decides, who benefits, and who is centered
Our Values
Proximity as Intelligence
We trust those closest to the problem — and the possibility. Our decisions are shaped by lived experience, not distant assumptions.
Equity over extraction
We reject models that profit from imbalance. Our approach redistributes opportunity and centers those historically excluded from capital flows.
Relationship over transaction
We build trust-based partnerships. We invest with, not just in—honoring context, history, and long-term impact.
Emergence over urgency
We give space for organic growth and context-driven timing. No rush to exit if the roots aren’t deep.
Accountability over optics
We’re not here for performative inclusion. We back ventures that walk their talk, and we hold ourselves to the same standard.
Our Investment Criteria
We invest in ventures that align with our mission, and we ask five key questions:
Is leadership local and proximate?
Founders must be African, with lived experience tied to the communities or issues they’re addressing.Is the business solving a real, locally relevant problem?
We look for solutions with strong product–market fit and tangible community impact.Is there traction or a pathway to scale?
While our Catalytic Fund accepts early risk, we still assess growth potential, team readiness, and vision clarity.Does the venture center equity?
This includes gender equity, fair labor, sustainability, and ownership structures that reflect long-term justice.Is the business fundable and fund-worthy?
We assess not only financial viability, but also whether our capital will catalyze meaningful progress, not just short-term wins.
WHY NOW ?
The world is finally talking about inclusion. But inclusion without proximity is performance.
While billions in capital circulate through so-called “emerging markets,” Francophone Africa remains one of the most underfunded regions on the continent—not because of lack of talent, but because of linguistic, colonial, and networked biases baked into global capital systems.
In 2022, less than 5% of venture capital deployed in Africa went to Francophone countries, despite being home to over one-third of the continent's population.
Only 0.7% of total funding went to Francophone women-led startups.
Countries like Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, and Cameroon remain severely under-capitalized despite high entrepreneurial activity and growing tech ecosystems.
Most global LPs and VCs operate in English, with due diligence processes and networks that exclude local founders and fund managers in Francophone markets.
(Sources: Partech Africa Report 2023, Briter Bridges, GSMA, VC4A)
This is not just a gap. It’s a design flaw in the current investment landscape.
TELEP Capital was built to correct it.
We invest in African ventures not as charity, but because proximity is a growth strategy—especially in undercapitalized ecosystems where resilience is already proven, and all that’s missing is the right kind of capital.
This is the moment to bet on Francophone Africa—not later, not once others validate it. Now.
