Village Capital

Village Capital is an accelerator firm founded in 2009 and based in Washington, D.C. It focuses on early-stage investments in sectors such as agriculture, education, energy, financial services, and health. The firm employs a unique peer-selection model, allowing entrepreneurs to award pre-committed seed funding to the top ventures identified during its programs. This approach aims to democratize access to entrepreneurship by connecting high-potential founders with essential resources, including funding and mentorship. Village Capital has supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs through its programs across nine countries, fostering a community that has generated significant revenue and job creation. The firm also operates a nonprofit that provides training programs for entrepreneurs and investors, enhancing the ecosystem for early-stage ventures. Its innovative model has been recognized for its effectiveness in changing traditional investor-entrepreneur dynamics, positioning Village Capital as a leader in supporting inclusive and impactful business development globally.

Allie Burns

CEO

Daniel Cossío

Regional Director, Latin America

Matranga, Heather Strachan

Vice President

Past deals in North Africa

Duma Toys

Seed Round in 2021
Duma Toys is an Egyptian brand specializing in handmade children’s toys and products. It also offers job training and employment making high-quality, hand-knitted toys from sustainable materials. The company was founded in 2018 and is based in Giza, Egypt.

Chari

Seed Round in 2021
Chari is an e-commerce and fintech application designed for traditional retailers in French-speaking Africa. It enables these retailers to order consumer goods and guarantees free delivery within 24 hours. In addition to streamlining the procurement process, Chari also offers financial services, including microloans, to support the entrepreneurial needs of its clients. The platform facilitates the consistent supply of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), helping retailers digitize their fulfillment processes efficiently. Through its integrated approach, Chari aims to empower local businesses by providing essential products and financial resources.

Cupmena

Seed Round in 2021
Cupmena operates in the agri-tech and waste management sectors, focusing on maximizing value through the reuse of spent coffee grounds. The company has developed an efficient waste collection system that collects these grounds to serve as the primary soil for mushroom cultivation. In addition to its current operations, Cupmena is actively engaged in research and development, working on new mushroom strains and exploring additional agricultural solutions derived from spent coffee grounds. This initiative aims to enhance the agri-sector in Egypt and the broader MENA region by providing sustainable and innovative solutions.

Natrify

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Natrify provides sustainable solutions for the bioplastic industry through biotechnology. It utilizes microorganisms to assist plastic using businesses diminish their negative environmental impact by providing them with packaging that is naturally biodegradable

Green Fashion

Seed Round in 2021
Green Fashion specializes in creating stylish clothing from remnants of fabrics sourced from factories, workshops, and used garments. The company focuses on minimizing waste by transforming these materials into new, fashionable apparel, which is designed by professional fashion designers. This approach not only extends the life of textile components but also reduces the need for additional resources. Furthermore, Green Fashion employs women from marginalized communities, providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment while promoting sustainable practices in the fashion industry. Through its efforts, the company aims to deliver environmentally friendly clothing that aligns with social responsibility.

Plug'n'Grow

Seed Round in 2021
Plug'n'Grow is an agricultural technology company that provides innovative solutions to address global challenges such as food security and water scarcity. The company specializes in operational planning services, crop production, and shift planning, alongside maintenance, farm design, and construction consulting. Plug'n'Grow also develops pre-designed production systems for vegetables, fruits, and fish, utilizing water-efficient hydroponics and aquaculture methods. These offerings are designed to help farms achieve optimal output while providing economical alternatives in agriculture, thereby enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of food production.

Khazna

Seed Round in 2020
Khazna operates a mobile application platform designed to enhance financial services for Egyptians, particularly targeting the 50% of smartphone users who lack access to formal financial systems. The super app provides a range of services including General Purpose Credit, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), bill payments, savings, and insurance. It also facilitates cash advances for employees to address unforeseen emergencies and allows users to transfer and receive funds without incurring transaction fees. By focusing on digitizing cash transactions, Khazna aims to offer convenient, effective, and secure financial solutions, thereby improving financial inclusion in Egypt and potentially beyond.

We-Settle

Venture Round in 2020
WeSettle is a Fintech platform that helps small and medium enterprises better manage their invoices digitally and allows them to quickly get paid electronically.

Localized

Seed Round in 2019
Localized, Inc. operates a platform that connects aspiring professionals with industry experts for knowledge sharing and mentorship. Founded in 2017 and based in Washington, D.C., the company focuses on early-stage talent recruitment in growth markets, catering to universities and talent hubs across the Middle East, North Africa, India, China, and the United States. Through its services, companies can access virtual career fairs and year-round recruitment opportunities, while students and alumni benefit from guidance and insights from industry professionals. The platform emphasizes personalized mentorship and group learning, allowing diaspora professionals to mentor and teach in their native languages. Localized aims to bridge the gap between emerging talent and industry opportunities in a global and online context.

Ennota

Grant in 2018
Ennota is a financial management startup based in Egypt, specializing in cash flow management, budgeting, and financial projections for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the MENA region. Its primary offering, ennota.com, is a cloud-based cash flow management tool designed for business owners with limited technical or accounting expertise. The platform allows users to securely record transactions and visualize their financial data in an intuitive manner. Ennota.com is customizable, enabling businesses to tailor their spending and expenditure categories while tracking trends that are vital for informed decision-making. With robust visual reporting capabilities, the platform provides detailed or summary views of financials, helping SMEs gain insights from historical data and anticipate potential issues for better financial management.
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