Scaling Impact: Private Market Investing in Africa
16:00 – 17:00
Africa’s private markets are at an inflection point. With a young, rapidly growing population, accelerating technology adoption, and pressing needs across infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and climate resilience, the continent offers investors unique opportunities to achieve both competitive returns and meaningful impact. Yet, scaling private capital in Africa requires navigating diverse regulatory frameworks, building trusted partnerships, and designing investment models that can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.
This webinar brings together leading voices from across the African private capital ecosystem to explore how private equity, venture capital, and blended finance strategies are being deployed to unlock long-term value. Speakers will discuss the evolution of the fundraising landscape, how local fund managers are shaping impact outcomes, and the ways in which global investors can participate in Africa’s next phase of growth.
Beyond the headline opportunities, the session will also address practical considerations around portfolio construction, exit pathways, and risk management—drawing on real-world examples from across sectors. Participants will gain insights into how private capital is not only financing Africa’s growth but also enabling solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges, from climate change to job creation.
Key Takeaways
- Africa’s investment ecosystem is evolving and diversifying. Speakers agreed there is a clear diversification in strategies — from traditional private equity to venture, private credit, and blended finance. This signals growing sophistication and experimentation. Shruti (IFC) noted that whilst overall volumes haven’t surged, the types of vehicles and investors have diversified showing progress in depth and approach.
- Collaboration across capital types is creating new momentum. Speakers identified that real progress is happening where DFIs, philanthropies, and private investors work together. Catherine (Soros Economic Development Fund) highlighted that philanthropic and catalytic funding can play a vital role in unlocking private capital, provided that investors with different risk appetites are engaged early.
- Local capital and currency innovation are big opportunities on the horizon. Local institutional investors and domestic pools of capital are beginning to step forward, offering a path to reduce foreign exchange risk and build resilience. Anne (AfricanVest) emphasised the need for local capital participation to manage FX exposure, suggesting blended structures that tap domestic pools.
- Smarter exits and flexible fund models will unlock growth. The panel agreed that exits are the weakest link in Africa’s private markets — too few, too slow, and often mismatched with investor expectations. Shruti (IFC) stressed that predictable exit pathways are essential for recycling capital and attracting new LPs. Catherine (Soros Economic Development Fund) added that Africa’s growth story requires more patient and flexible models, such as platform structures or longer-dated vehicles, that reflect the continent’s different liquidity cycles.
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