Botswana Tech Fund Targets $135k Checks for 1,000 Startups

In Short

Botswana Tech Fund is a new venture capital fund targeting overlooked Southern African markets, with $13.5 million committed and a plan to invest at least $135,000 in 1,000 startups across Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and nearby hubs.

What Happened

Botswana Tech Fund is launching with a focus on countries that rarely attract African venture capital.

The fund is anchored out of Guernsey, and it is operationally based in Botswana. It is backed by Stephen Lansdown, the British billionaire who co-founded Hargreaves Lansdown.

According to reporting by Techcabal, the fund has £10 million, about $13.5 million, in committed capital. It has also reached a first close of £5 million, about $6.7 million.

Botswana Tech Fund says it wants to write many small early checks. The target is at least $135,000 per startup across 1,000 startups in Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and other underfunded Southern African markets.

The fund is run in partnership with Launch Africa, a pan-African seed investor. Seed investing means backing companies at an early stage, often before they have large revenues.

Why It Matters

Venture funding in Africa is still concentrated in a few markets. Techcabal cited data showing the “Big Four” of Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa took over 80% of venture capital deployed on the continent in 2025.

Southern Africa outside South Africa gets a much smaller share. Cities like Gaborone, Lusaka, and Windhoek often struggle to attract institutional VC, which is funding from professional investors like funds and family offices.

Exits are also concentrated, especially in South Africa. An exit is when investors get paid back, usually through an acquisition or a stock market listing.

If Botswana Tech Fund can consistently finance startups locally, it could reduce the pressure for founders to relocate to South Africa to raise capital or plan an exit. The bigger test will be whether later-stage investors follow, and whether local markets can support deals beyond seed rounds.