The Oxford University Saïd Business School is this week hosting the fourth edition of the Africa Venture Finance Programme (AVFP), aimed at supporting the growth of technology and tech-enabled enterprises.

The event taking place from 1-5 September 2025, brings together more than 40 of Africa’s leading venture capital fund managers — nearly half of them women.

Delivered by Boost Africa, a joint initiative of EIB Global and the African Development Bank and supported by AfricaGrow, the AVFP is tailored for fund managers investing across the African continent.

The programme combines peer learning, strategic dialogue, and capacity building to foster a more connected and capable VC landscape.

“Boost Africa is about more than just finance – it’s about building resilient economies, fostering innovation and creating inclusive growth through smart, targeted investment,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “Enterprises supported under the initiative are attracting more funding, closing more deals, and helping build thriving innovation ecosystems. Sharing investment best practices with our partners, for sustainable impact across Africa through avenues like AVFP, is essential.”

Following this edition, over 150 of Africa’s most relevant venture capital fund managers will have participated in the programme, representing the lion’s share of active VC funds on the continent.

As part of the programme, investors, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)— including the EBRD, Proparco, the Arab Fund, FCDO, and British International Investment (BII)- will take part.

These sessions are designed to foster dialogue with African General Partners (GPs) and explore opportunities to strengthen the continent’s venture capital infrastructure.

Senior partners from three established VC firms — TLcom, Partech, and AfricInvest — will engage with the DFI community on current challenges and opportunities in the African VC landscape, including access to capital, fund performance, and capacity-building to support portfolio growth.

Africa receives only 1-2 percent of global venture capital while representing 18 percent of the world’s population. In addition, relatively few African-led startups receive significant funding.

“Africa’s innovation potential is immense, and venture capital is the bridge to unlocking it,” said Peter Ellersiek, AfricaGrow’s Investment Director. “By equipping fund managers with equity capital, the right tools, and networks, we’re not just strengthening the investment ecosystem—we’re opening doors to transformative business opportunities that can drive inclusive growth across the continent.”

The programme is designed and led by Oxford academics, featuring discussions on a wide range of topics such as the need for investment models that reflect local realities.

“At a time when Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is rapidly evolving, the African Venture Finance Programme equips fund managers with the tools, networks, and critical thinking needed to shape the future of capital on the continent,” said Aunnie Patton Power, Programme Director for AVPF, University of Oxford. “This isn’t just about growing funds—it’s about reimagining what finance can do when it’s grounded in context, community, and long-term value creation.”

“By offering early-stage funding and hands-on support to venture capital fund managers, Boost Africa can be a catalyst for transforming Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape,” said Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. “This partnership, supported via the Global Gateway strategy, shows the European Union’s strong commitment to helping African startups grow, scale up their innovations, and attract sustainable investment, thus promoting inclusive growth, creating jobs, and advancing gender equality.”

Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem secured 487 deals in 2024, according to the African Private Capital Association. This included 427 venture capital deals with a value of $2.6 billion and 60 venture debt deals worth $1 billion.

Boost Africa was created to unlock Africa’s entrepreneurial potential by providing technical support to fund managers and addressing an early-stage financing gap.

The initiative has supported six private equity funds as well as more than 70 companies and mobilised over €380 million in capital for startups across the continent.

Moreover, 94 percent of Boost Africa-supported founders were able to raise $1 million or more in funding – nearly double the rate of comparable entrepreneurs.