Fundraising Fox

Lateral Capital

Venture capitalActively deployingoperating company · company profile

Nairobi · Seed–Late Stage · 9 people tracked

Also known as LATERAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP · Lateral Frontiers · Lateral Frontiers VC

Find your way into Lateral Capital

2,331 people in our graph share verified history with the Lateral Capital team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Niki Pezeshkiunlockedknows Rob Eloff · together at Goldman Sachs (overlapped)
×6knows the team · via Goldman Sachs
knows the team · via Barclays
knows the team · via Lloyds Bank
×2knows the team · via The University of Sheffield
knows the team · via SOAS University of London
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Investment thesis

Lateral Frontiers partners with visionary founders in emerging markets who leverage frontier technologies to solve pressing global challenges, particularly in fintech and cleantech. The firm believes the world's greatest opportunities will be created in the Global South and emphasizes founder quality, resourcefulness, and long-term value creation. Beyond capital, the firm provides team-building support, client introductions, regulatory guidance, and fundraising assistance to drive transformative tech innovation across frontier economies.

Source: firm website, verified Sep 15, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Late Stage
Check
$100K – $1M
HQ
Nairobi, New York, KE
Leads rounds
Leads
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2017
Private fund assets
$50M
VC funds
2
Tracked investments
41

Team · 9 people

from curated & public directories
John N. Lilly· General Partner
Timothy J. Kost· General Partner

Founder mafia

2 people who came through Lateral Capital went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 21 of 41 portfolio companies

Fintech ×12SaaS ×6Cleantech ×5Enterprise Software ×5Data & Infrastructure ×4Hardware ×4IoT ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2

HQs:United States×10Nigeria×5Kenya×3Colombia×1Egypt×1Jersey×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 9 portfolio companies
44%
solo founders
4 of 9 mapped founding teams

Founding team size:solo founder×42 founders×5

Investments · 41 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2025 · 12024 · 32023 · 12021 · 52018 · 111 dated

Figma, Inc.NYSE: FIGMay 2024SEC filingmedium confidence

Figma provides a cloud-based design and product development platform that enables teams across design, engineering, product management, and marketing to collaboratively create digital products from ideation through production.

San Francisco, US

Dylan Field(Chair of our Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and President)

Board seatJohn Lilly· per SEC Form D · $415.7M raise · filed May 2024

Co-investorsGreylock PartnersIndex VenturesSequoia Capital

4G Capital4g-capital.comin𝕏

4G Capital provides business loans, financial training, and digital financial services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Africa, using mobile money for loan disbursement and repayment.

AI & Machine LearningFintechImpact & Social GoodSt Helier, JE

Co-investorsCapria VenturesCeniarthGlobal Innovation FundIFC

Aperiaaperiatech.com𝕏

Aperia develops tire management technology that monitors and maintains tire inflation and predictive maintenance for commercial fleets and consumers.

HardwareIoTLogistics & Supply ChainBurlingame, US

JOSHUA CARTER(Executive Officer, Director)inBRANDON RICHARDSON(Executive Officer)in

BoardJACK FUCHS(Director)inHAL KRUTH(Director)ANDREW SMITH(Director)STEPHEN GRAND(Director)

Co-investorsBlackhorn VentureseLab VenturesEnerTech CapitalTrucks VCAugment Ventures

Asokoasokoinsight.com

Asoko Insight provides research, data analytics, and compliance solutions for businesses operating in African markets, leveraging proprietary datasets and in-country research capabilities across 25+ African countries.

AgTechData & InfrastructureEnterprise Software

Co-investorsCapria Ventures

Autochekautochek.africaOct 2021 · $3.4M

Autochek is an automotive technology company that builds solutions for auto loans, vehicle maintenance and after-sales services, warranties, and transactional marketplaces within Africa's automotive sector.

FintechMarketplacesMobility & Transportation

Iyamu Mohammed(Founder)inEtop Ikpe(Founder)in

Co-investors4DX VenturesCapria VenturesEndeavor CatalystEnza CapitalMSA NovoNorrsken22+6 more

B54b54.co

Lanre Oyedotun(Founder)in

Co-investorsAtlantica VenturesCapria VenturesVelocity Digital

Carry1stcarry1st.comin𝕏

Carry1st provides payment processing, game distribution, and marketing services for publishers entering African and Middle Eastern markets.

B2B MarketplacesFintechGaming

Lucy Hoffman(Founder)in

Co-investorsBitkraft Esports VenturesSony Ventures CorporationAlumni VenturesAndreessen HorowitzAvenir Growth CapitalCapria Ventures+11 more

Ejaraejara.io

Nelly Chatue Diop(Founder)in

Co-investorsAdaverseCapria VenturesLoftyInc CapitalMercy Corps Ventures

Inovuesinovues.comin𝕏

INOVUES makes non-invasive glazing retrofit systems that upgrade existing building facades and windows to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions without replacing the original components.

CleantechClimate TechPropTechHouston, US

Anas Al Kassas(Executive Officer, Director)inAhmad Atwan(Director)inJohn Paulos(Director)

Co-investorsCentral Texas Angel NetworkR/GA VenturesE8 AngelsSaint-Gobain NOVA

Kashierkashier.ioin

Kashier is a digital payment platform that lets businesses accept online payments from customers and partners through tools such as payment links, e-invoicing, e-commerce integrations, QR code payments, and subscriptions.

E-commerceFintechSaaSCairo, EG

Khaled Raslan(Founder)in

Co-investorsCapria VenturesDigital Currency GroupFirst CircleSawari VenturesThe Fintech Fund

Kountablekountable.comFeb 2021

San Francisco, US

Christopher Hale(Founder)inCatherine Nomura(Founder)in

BoardSTEVEN SCHOW(Director)

Co-investorsCapria VenturesMS&AD VenturesBootstrapLabs

Mesh++meshplusplus.comin𝕏Oct 2021 · $4.9M

Mesh++ manufactures wireless mesh networking hardware with low-loss routing protocols for fast, automatic connections across difficult-to-serve areas.

HardwareIoTChicago, US

Danny Gardner(Founder)in

Co-investorsCapria VenturesFirst Leaf CapitalIllinois VenturesAnorak VenturesGAN VenturesSOSV+1 more

Minka Privateminka.io

Minka builds payments infrastructure that lets clearinghouses, banks, and fintechs network and clear payments in real time.

Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSBogota, US

Domagoj Rozic(Chief Executive Officer)Paola Sánchez(Founder)Kai Schmitz(Director)Jorge Kuljis(Director)

Co-investorsTiger Global ManagementCapria VenturesCollab+CurrencyColle Capital PartnersKaszek Ventures

Monomono.coin𝕏Oct 2021 · $15MAcquired

Mono provides financial data access, identity verification, and direct bank payments for businesses in Africa through an open banking platform.

Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechLagos, NG

Abdulhamid Hassan(Founder)inPrakhar Singh(Founder)in

Co-investorsY CombinatorCapria VenturesEntrée CapitalHoaQIngressive CapitalLoftyInc Capital+6 more

Monomono.lain𝕏Oct 2021 · $15M

Mono provides payment infrastructure for enterprises, including payouts, Bre-B transfers, branded wallets, and Visa cards through a single API integration.

Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSBogotá, CO

Sebastian Ortiz(Founder)inJuan Camilo Poveda(Founder)in

Co-investorsY CombinatorTiger Global ManagementEntrée CapitalGeneral CatalystTarget Global

Octavia Carbonoctaviacarbon.cominOct 2024 · $5M

Octavia Carbon develops solutions to address climate change, with a team focused on sustainability initiatives.

CleantechClimate TechDeep Tech

Co-investorsE4E AfricaLaunch Africa VenturesRenew Capital

Pngmepngme.comin

Pngme provides alternative data analytics and creditworthiness assessment solutions for financial institutions in Africa and Asia.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintech

Lorraine(CEO)Rob(VP of Growth)Philip(CTO)

Co-investorsBeresford VenturesCapria VenturesConsenSys MeshOctopus VenturesRaptor GroupRising Tide Africa (RTA)+3 more

Qoreqore.incin𝕏

Qore provides a digital banking platform and operating system that enables financial institutions to digitize and automate their operations.

Cloud ComputingFintechSaaS

Co-investorsGreen Visor CapitalSilverton PartnersTAU Ventures

Rhaeosrhaeos.comin𝕏Feb 2023

Rhaeos develops FlowSense, a noninvasive wireless wearable skin patch that monitors fluid flow in the body, initially targeting hydrocephalus patients who depend on implantable shunts for cerebrospinal fluid management.

HardwareHealthtechMedical DevicesEvanston, US

Dr. Chad WebbJohn A. Rogers(Executive Officer, Director)Roozbeh Ghaffari(Director)inAnna Lisa Somera(Executive Officer)inChad Seaver(Director)R. Chad Webb(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsCreative VenturesPortal Innovations

Seamless HRseamlesshr.comin𝕏

Seamless HR provides financial solutions for employees, including earned wage access, term loans, and salary advances, delivered as workplace benefits to enhance employee retention and financial wellbeing.

FintechFuture of WorkHR TechSaaSLagos, NG

Emmanuel Okeleji(CEO & Co-Founder)inDeji Lana(CTO & Co-Founder)in

Co-investorsArgonautic VenturesCapria VenturesConsonance Investment ManagersEnza CapitalHelios Digital VenturesIngressive Capital+5 more

Sparkmetersparkmeter.ioJun 2018

SparkMeter provides metering and low-voltage transformer-sensing hardware combined with software for billing, payments, prepaid metering, customer and asset management, and grid management.

CleantechEnergyHardwareWashington, US

Daniel Schnitzer(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardDaniel Goldman(Director)inBunmi Adekore(Director)Tokunboh Ishmael(Director)inRaymond Jay Dunn(Director)Allison Archambault(Director)

Co-investorsAlitheia CapitalBreakthrough Energy VenturesCapria VenturesEndgame CapitalClean Energy VenturesGoodwell Investments

USAlateralfrontiers.com

Lateral Frontiers is a venture capital firm that invests in founders in frontier and developing markets, particularly across Africa.

CleantechFintechSector AgnosticNairobi, KE

RobSteven

BoardSam

Wattnowwattnow.ioinNov 2024

Wattnow provides circuit-level energy measurement and software for industrial facilities to identify waste, verify utility bills, optimize load scheduling, and detect equipment faults.

CleantechEnergyIoTSaaSTunis, TN

Co-investorsE3 CapitalOcterra CapitalSatgana216 Capital

Workstyleworkstyleafrica.com𝕏

Workstyle Serviced Offices Limited operates furnished, shared office spaces in Westlands, offering flexible membership plans, amenities, and a community network for businesses to work, meet, and collaborate.

Future of WorkPropTechNairobi, KE

Co-investorsCapria Ventures

Zonezonenetwork.comin𝕏

Zone operates a regulated blockchain network and payment infrastructure that routes and settles transactions directly between financial institutions without a central intermediary.

Crypto & Web3Enterprise SoftwareFintechLagos, NG

Obi Emetarom(Co-Founder & CEO)inWale Onawunmi(Co-founder & Chief Technology Officer)in

Co-investorsAlter GlobalCapria VenturesDigital Currency GroupTimon CapitalTLcom CapitalTofino Capital+1 more

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Aside, Inc.ActurusArcuturusArcuturus VerstaanAutocheckKOKO NetworksLateral CapitalLipa LaterLynkMedsafMeshMeshplusSeemlesshrVibra

Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.

Exits · 2

IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolio

Figma, Inc.NYSE: FIGLynkacq. by Eden Life

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Lateral Capital made?
Lateral Capital has 33 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does Lateral Capital invest at?
Lateral Capital invests at the Seed, Series A, Late Stage stages.
What is Lateral Capital's typical check size?
Lateral Capital typically writes checks of $100K – $1M.
What sectors does Lateral Capital focus on?
Lateral Capital focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Crypto & Web3, Energy, Fintech, Marketplaces, Mobility & Transportation.
Where is Lateral Capital located?
Lateral Capital is headquartered in Nairobi, KE.
Does Lateral Capital lead rounds?
Yes, Lateral Capital leads investment rounds.
Who does Lateral Capital co-invest with?
Lateral Capital most often shares deals with Capria Ventures, Ingressive Capital, TLcom Capital, among 59 tracked co-investors.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Rob Eloff of Lateral Capital // the history and future of venture capital in Africa [CC066]

upside podcast · Rob Eloff

Startup Investors: An Intro to Lateral Capital, With Steven Grin of Lateral Capital

Mindset Startup Academy-Verlin Gradney · Steven Grin

Startup Investors: Lateral Capital's Investment Thesis, With Steven Grin of Lateral Capital

Mindset Startup Academy-Verlin Gradney · Steven Grin

Co-investors · 2

SOSV

SOSV is a deep tech venture capital firm that makes first-check pre-seed investments and follow-on rounds in startups focused on human and planetary health, providing lab space and hands-on support at its US locations.

Both backed · 1
$30K – $550K
Expert DOJO

Expert Dojo is an early-stage startup accelerator and investor that focuses on sales and marketing growth strategies, offering an investment program plus a non-dilutive growth program with mentorship, training, and demo days.

$50K – $100K

Firms observed investing alongside Lateral Capital, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Lateral Capital's recorded portfolio.

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