Early-Stage Tech Investment Grant
In context
This call is open to startups, small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises, at idea and R&D stage, prototype and pilot stage and pre-seed. Funding is an equity investment. Coverage is read from the notice itself: Africa.
EPF Tech Fund invests in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses led by youth across Africa, targeting solutions in water, housing, energy, agriculture, safety, education, transport, healthcare, and employment. The fund supports tech-driven approaches to sector-specific challenges in developing African markets.
About this grant
The EPF Tech Fund is a pan-African venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses solving key socio-economic challenges across the African continent. The fund focuses on youth-led technology solutions that address 10 priority sectors: water, housing, energy, agriculture, safety, rural education, transport, healthcare, unemployment, and related challenges. The fund bridges the gap between raw innovation and sustainable industrial growth, transforming local African ideas into globally scalable enterprises. EPF Tech Fund operates as a privately managed venture capital company aligned with the Empire Partner Foundation's strategy, with a focus on growing South African and African businesses by identifying scalable technology solutions that can be deployed across multiple countries and industries while delivering exceptional financial returns.
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Eligibility
The fund invests in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses operating across Africa, with particular focus on youth-led companies. While specific eligibility criteria are not explicitly detailed on this page, the fund targets companies addressing the 10 key socio-economic sectors identified (water, housing, energy, agriculture, safety, rural education, transport, healthcare, unemployment) and demonstrates a preference for businesses scalable across the African continent. The fund is a level 1 B-BBEE Black-Owned Fund manager based in South Africa.
Key requirements
- ✓Early-stage, high-growth technology business
- ✓Youth-led team
- ✓Operating or solving challenges across Africa
- ✓Focus on one or more of: water, housing, energy, agriculture, safety, education, transport, healthcare, or employment
Recent past awardees
Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.
- Paypoint · 2019
- Visiosoft · 2017
- Smartview Technologies · 2018
Funder contact
The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.
Frequently asked questions
- Who can apply for Early-Stage Tech Investment?
- Eligibility covers organisations in AFRICA; startup, sme, social-enterprise. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
Relevant sectors
About this sector
Water funding covers supply, sanitation, wastewater treatment, water efficiency, catchment management and flood risk. A large share is public procurement for infrastructure and services, alongside grants for innovation and access in underserved areas. Bidders and applicants are typically assessed on technical capacity, operating experience and community impact.
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