💰 Africa50 secures $118M green fund first-close

Today’s Menu ☕️

💰Africa50 secures $118M first close for Green Infrastructure Development Fund in Africa
🍟 How Chicken Republic Changed My Mind About Nigerian Brands
💵 IFC plans $10 million co-investment in Safari Holdings to boost East African tourism
📱Vodacom-Maziv deal approved following prolonged regulatory process
💵 Sahel Capital invests $1.5M in Cameroon’s Nulla Group

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💰FUNDING

Africa50 secures $118M first close for Green Infrastructure Development Fund in Africa

Africa50 has announced the first close of the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa Project Development Fund (AGIA-PD) at $118 million, a key step in financing climate-resilient infrastructure across the continent. Managed by Africa50, the fund blends public, private, and philanthropic capital to provide early-stage financing for transformative green projects in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and digital infrastructure.

Founding investors include the African Development Bank (AfDB), KfW, West African Development Bank, UK FCDO, Soros Economic Development Fund, and African Climate Foundation. The AfDB alone has committed $40 million in grants, junior equity, and commercial equity.

Launched at COP27, AGIA aims to expand Africa’s pipeline of bankable green projects, catalyze private sector investment, and promote sustainable growth. Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé said the first close marks the shift from ambition to execution, enabling local capacity building and unlocking capital to help Africa transition toward net-zero emissions....……continue reading

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 🍟 BRANDING

How Chicken Republic Changed My Mind About Nigerian Brands

After hospital visits to TopTee Medical Centre in Surulere, Lagos, my family always stops at Chicken Republic—a tradition born from our first taste of their fresh, crunchy chicken. For years, I assumed it was an American chain, until I learned it was proudly Nigerian, expanding across West Africa. That revelation challenged my bias that “foreign” means “better.”

Chicken Republic’s success isn’t just marketing—it’s the full experience: consistent taste, clear branding, operational discipline, cleanliness, timely service, and polite staff. These qualities build trust and position the brand alongside global competitors.

African companies in food, fashion, tech, and finance are increasingly matching, even surpassing, international standards, yet outdated perceptions lag behind. Brands like Chicken Republic prove “Made in Africa” can mean quality, innovation, and scalability...........…continue reading

💵 INVESTMENTS

IFC plans $10 million co-investment in Safari Holdings to boost East African tourism

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to make an equity co-investment of up to $10 million in Safari Holdings, a major player in East Africa’s tourism sector. The investment, via a Mauritius-based vehicle, will be made alongside the Alterra Africa Accelerator Fund to support sustainable tourism growth.

Safari Holdings owns three leading operators: ARP Africa Travel, serving international and domestic markets; Pollman’s Tours & Safaris, one of Kenya’s largest safari providers; and Ranger Safaris, a top Tanzanian safari company. Together, they offer luxury lodge stays, wildlife excursions, and cultural tourism in Kenya and Tanzania—two of Africa’s premier safari destinations.

Managed by Alterra Capital Partners, the co-investment builds on Alterra’s earlier investment in Safari Holdings. IFC’s participation underscores confidence in the company’s strategy to expand its reach, improve service quality, and strengthen eco-friendly tourism practices, positioning it to benefit from East Africa’s post-pandemic tourism rebound.....…continue reading

 📱TELECOMS

Vodacom-Maziv deal approved following prolonged regulatory process

Vodacom South Africa has secured final regulatory approval to acquire a co-controlling stake in Maziv, owner of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, concluding a three-and-a-half-year process. The Competition Appeal Court granted the approval on August 14, 2025, after a complex legal journey.

The deal initially faced opposition from the Competition Commission, which feared reduced fibre market competition. Vodacom and Maziv addressed these concerns with proposed remedies, prompting the commission to reverse its stance. However, the Competition Tribunal later rejected the merger, leading to an appeal. Unusually, the commission did not oppose the case at the appeal stage, leaving the court to assess only the merging parties’ arguments.

With approval granted, Maziv will receive significant capital to accelerate fibre rollout, focusing on townships and underserved communities. The transaction strengthens both companies’ role in expanding inclusive digital infrastructure and sets a precedent for resolving complex telecom mergers through compromise and regulatory collaboration.........…continue reading

💵 INVESTMENTS

Sahel Capital invests $1.5M in Cameroon’s Nulla Group

Sahel Capital, via its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), has provided a $1.5 million working capital loan to Nulla Group, a women-led agribusiness in Cameroon. Nulla operates as a maize aggregator and processor in the West Region, linking 1,700 smallholder farmers—many of them women—to reliable markets. Its model offers fair pricing, improved logistics, and access to modern agricultural technologies, strengthening quality and traceability in the maize value chain.

The investment addresses the financing gap faced by agribusiness SMEs in Cameroon, despite the country’s strong agricultural potential. Sahel Capital Vice President Aïcha Haidara praised Nulla’s role in building resilient supply chains, while Founder and CEO Liza Kina Idum said the partnership will help scale operations, boost sourcing volumes, and improve services for farmers and clients. The funding is expected to deepen Nulla’s impact, promote inclusive growth, and support sustainable agricultural development in Cameroon....…continue reading

 OTHER STORIES

• TLcom Capital, a leading venture capital firm with a strong footprint across Africa, has announced that it has deployed 50% of its $5 million pre-seed fund, marking a significant milestone in its strategy to support the continent’s earliest-stage tech entrepreneurs……continue reading

• Igor Babuschkin, a co-founder of Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI, has officially stepped down from his role to establish a new venture capital firm, Babuschkin Ventures……continue reading

• Ajua, Africa’s leading customer experience (CX) platform, has announced the acquisition of Rate My Service (RMS), a Kenyan-based platform specializing in customer and employee experience solutions…..continue reading

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