On 3 December, Goodwell Investments was named VC Fund of the Year 2019 at the SuperReturn Africa GP Awards. This award recognises Goodwell’s contribution to investing in high impact, early and growth-stage inclusive businesses. Over 2019 Goodwell has been one of the most active VC funds in Africa, investing across sectors such as financial technology, e-commerce and mobility.
The award ‘for industry, by industry’ was judged by various commercial institutional investors, DFIs and fund-of-fund private equity managers, including FMO, DEG, Afreximbank, FINNFUND, Avanz Captial and Obviam.
Dare Okoudjou, CEO of MFS Africa, one of Goodwell’s portfolio companies congratulated us, saying, “Goodwell Investments has a rare combination of the 3Cs: understanding of Context, ability to work across Culture and a great deal of Courage to actually close deals. It makes them an outstanding partner to be on your side when you are playing the long game as we are. I am so glad they have won this award”.
This last year, we have invested in Max.ng (Nigeria), Copia and Sendy (both Kenya) and were lead investors in Inclusivity Solutions (South Africa). A follow on investment was also made in Nomanini (South Africa), reflecting our commitment to investees by joining early in their journey and providing a long financial runway.
Danai Musandu, one of our South African-based Investment Associates who was on hand to receive our award, remarks, “It is a long journey of patient capital in our markets, and we are honoured to see that the work of our teams, investors and portfolios is beginning to show. This award is an indication of the success of our dual mission of social impact and financial return. Our track record debunks the myth that there is an intrinsic trade-off between social impact and financial return.”
The award encourages Goodwell Investments to continue its mission to show that they can and will build the next generation of African wealth.
For more information about Goodwell visit www.goodwell.nl