Lagos · Pre-Seed–Seed · 3 people tracked
Find your way into FirstCheck Africa
2,612 people in our graph share verified history with the FirstCheck Africa team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
FirstCheck Africa believes Africa's most successful future companies will be technology-enabled and led by more diverse teams, including significantly more women. Noting that female-founded African startups receive a small fraction of venture capital yet deliver strong revenue per dollar invested, the fund sees backing female founders as a commercial opportunity rather than a risk. It is a mission-driven fund seeking solid financial returns from for-profit, high-growth ventures with at least one female founder, aiming to be the first institutional check and to shorten founders' time to market by providing meaningful launch capital.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from the firm's websiteFounder mafia
2 people who came through FirstCheck Africa went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 14 of 19 portfolio companiesFintech ×5SaaS ×4Consumer ×3Digital Health ×3Direct to Consumer ×3Media & Entertainment ×3E-commerce ×2FemTech ×2
HQs:Kenya×2Nigeria×2South Africa×2China×1Egypt×1France×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 7 portfolio companiesAccelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 19 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2024 · 12022 · 12 dated
Akiba Digital offers a suite of APIs with low-code integration that connects to over 100 datasets, providing identity verification (KYB/KYC), bank account verification, AML/PEP screening, risk scoring, financial insights, and open banking data.
CybersecurityData & InfrastructureFintechSaaS
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBasecamp FundExpert DOJOFlori VenturesFuture AfricaHustle Fund+3 more
Bizcommunity is a South African online business news and media platform publishing industry news, job listings, and press office content across sectors such as marketing, media, and technology.
AdTechHR TechMedia & Entertainment
Andre Rademan(Founder)in
No verifiable company matching this name and investor combination could be identified.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsAdvance Venture PartnersAltorBeyond CapitalCool Climate CollectiveDesignXFootPrint Coalition+2 more
Cleva provides USD accounts and virtual USD cards for receiving international payments, with features including ACH/wire transfers, currency conversion, rewards programs, and point redemptions.
Crypto & Web3FintechLagos, NG
Tolu Alabi(Founder/CEO)inPhilip Abel(Founder/CTO)in
Co-investorsNewfund CapitalThe Raba PartnershipWayfinder VenturesY Combinator1984 Ventures Management, LlcRainfall Ventures
Cleva offers a modular, AI-orchestrated software suite for the insurance industry, covering the full lifecycle from underwriting to claims across P&C (IARD), health, protection, and life insurance.
AI & Machine LearningInsurTechSaaS
Co-investorsAnaCap Financial Partners1984 Ventures Management, LlcByld VenturesThe Raba Partnership
HealthTracka offers at-home and walk-in lab testing in Lagos, with a catalog of 500+ tests and packages, sample collection by phlebotomists, results delivered digitally within 48 hours, and free doctor consultations.
ConsumerDigital HealthHealthtechWellness & FitnessLagos, US
Co-investorsHoaQIngressive CapitalStone Mountain VenturesTechstarsHustle Fund
Jumba provides a mobile app and operating system that enables hardware retailers to order cement directly, access credit, and manage orders securely.
B2B MarketplacesConstruction TechFintechSaaS
Kagure Wamunyu(Founder)in
Co-investorsEnza CapitalFoundamentalFuture AfricaSeedstarsLocalGlobeSpeedinvest
MoneyHash provides a payment orchestration platform that aggregates payment APIs, providers, and technical capabilities through a provider-agnostic cloud, letting businesses build and manage payment infrastructure.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Nader Abdelrazik(Founder)in
Co-investorsLoftyInc CapitalNuwa CapitalPreston-Werner VenturesTofino CapitalVentureSouqVision Ventures+7 more
Pivo provides bank accounts, debit cards, and digital invoicing tools to truck owners and drivers in Africa, with plans to expand into credit and expense management products.
FintechLagos, NG
Ijeoma Akwiwu(Founder)in
Co-investorsRising Tide Africa (RTA)Sprint VcVentures PlatformVestedWorldY Combinator
Tushop is an online grocery and essentials delivery service operating in Nairobi that offers express delivery within 90 minutes, standard next-day delivery, and features a marketplace for Kenyan artisanal brands and preloved goods.
ConsumerE-commerceMarketplacesNairobi, KE
Co-investors4DX VenturesBreyer CapitalChandaria CapitalDFS LabJam Fund
Uncover is a skincare brand offering barrier-first, dermatologist-tested products that combine K-Beauty ingredients with African botanicals, formulated for melanated skin.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceWellness & FitnessNairobi, KE
Jade Oyateru(Founder)inJade Oyateru, MBA(Founder)in
Co-investorsChui VenturesEQ2 VenturesFuture AfricaigniteXL VentureNairobi Business Angel NetworkRising Tide Africa (RTA)+2 more
Zoie Health is a digital women's health platform offering wellness supplements, at-home test kits (fertility, STIs, general health), online consultations, contraceptives, and an online pharmacy, alongside a community for women.
Digital HealthDirect to ConsumerFemTech
Thato Schermer(Founder)in
Zoie Health is a digital women's health platform offering wellness supplements, at-home test kits for fertility, STIs and general health, online consultations with healthcare providers, contraceptives, and an online pharmacy.
Digital HealthDirect to ConsumerFemTech
Co-investors4DX VenturesE Squared Investments
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Carbon EnergyFoondamateKnabuKolaKola MarketVenturesafrica
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has FirstCheck Africa made?
- FirstCheck Africa has 19 tracked investments.
- What stage does FirstCheck Africa invest at?
- FirstCheck Africa invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is FirstCheck Africa's typical check size?
- FirstCheck Africa typically writes checks of $50K – $250K.
- What sectors does FirstCheck Africa focus on?
- FirstCheck Africa focuses on Impact & Social Good, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is FirstCheck Africa located?
- FirstCheck Africa is headquartered in Lagos, NG.
- Does FirstCheck Africa lead rounds?
- Yes, FirstCheck Africa leads investment rounds.
- Who does FirstCheck Africa co-invest with?
- FirstCheck Africa most often shares deals with LoftyInc Capital, 4DX Ventures, TLcom Capital, among 47 tracked co-investors.
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