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SWEAT Africa is backed by leading development banks, venture funds, corporations, and foundations working together to empower African founders and scale scientific innovation.

Who Are the SWEAT Investors & Funders? SWEAT Africa would not be possible without the support of our visionary investors and funders who all share a common goal: to empower African startups, accelerate scientific innovation, and build a sustainable ecosystem where ideas turn into impact. text and photo: CERI Media   SWEAT Africa brings together AfricaÂ’s most ambitious founders, researchers, and innovators – and none of this would be possible without the support of our visionary investors and funders. From international development banks to philanthropic foundations, global corporations, and local venture capitalists, our partners share a common goal: to empower African startups, accelerate scientific innovation, and build a sustainable ecosystem where ideas turn into impact.   KfW Development Bank KfW Development Bank is the international cooperation and funding arm of GermanyÂ’s KfW Group, supporting sustainable development projects in Sub?Saharan Africa. It focuses on climate, economic development, private sector growth, and social infrastructure – channeling long-term financing to improve lives and build resilient economies across the region.   ThirdWay Capital ThirdWay Capital is an investment firm dedicated to supporting high-growth African companies through capital, strategic guidance, and operational partnerships. By backing ventures with strong market potential, ThirdWay seeks to unlock value and scale businesses that contribute meaningfully to the continentÂ’s economic landscape.   UTFund (University Technology Fund) UTFund is a South African venture fund focused on bridging research and innovation with commercialisation – providing early-stage financing, technical support, and business development resources to university spin-outs and science-based startups.   OneBio Africa OneBio Africa is a life sciences and biotech accelerator committed to advancing bioscience innovation on the African continent. It supports companies developing solutions in health, diagnostics, therapeutics, and life sciences to address regional healthcare challenges and expand scientific capability.   Boehringer Ingelheim Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the worldÂ’s largest family-owned biopharmaceutical companies, founded in Germany in 1885 and active across human and animal health. The company invests significantly in research and development to discover novel therapies and innovative health solutions.   Elma Philanthropies Elma Philanthropies is a private foundation funding initiatives focused on childrenÂ’s health, education, and economic resilience in Africa and internationally. Through strategic grantmaking, the organisation supports projects and institutions that deliver scalable, long-term impact for underserved communities.   Dell Technologies / Dell.org Dell.org and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation drive social impact initiatives that expand access to education, economic opportunities, and technology for underserved populations. They support programmes that empower communities to thrive and strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in Africa.   Allan & Gill Gray Foundation The Allan & Gill Gray Foundation is a perpetual philanthropic organisation established in 2015 by Allan and Gill Gray to channel the controlling interests of the Allan Gray and Orbis investment firms into long?term public good and societal impact. It supports initiatives that promote human dignity, equitable opportunity, and entrepreneurship, working through grant?making and partnerships that strengthen communities in Southern Africa and beyond.   AfricInvest AfricInvest is a leading Pan-African private equity and investment platform with over $2 billion raised across funds targeting small and medium-sized enterprises. The firm finances companies that drive inclusive economic growth across sectors such as healthcare, financial services, agribusiness, and manufacturing.   AfricaGrow AfricaGrow, managed by Allianz Global Investors, is a fund of funds designed to expand investment capital into African SMEs and startups. It catalyses sustainable economic growth and job creation by supporting local investment vehicles with proven track records in high-growth markets.   GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) GIZ is GermanyÂ’s principal agency for international cooperation, implementing projects that improve living conditions, foster economic development, and strengthen governance in partner countries. In Africa, GIZ focuses on sustainable development, technical skills, and inclusive economic transformation.   South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) The SAMRC is a statutory body funding and conducting health and medical research to improve public health outcomes in South Africa. It collaborates with government, academic institutions, and industry partners to tackle priority health challenges and support scientific innovation.   Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Boston Consulting Group is a global management consulting firm that partners with leaders in business and society to address complex strategic challenges and drive transformation. BCG provides insight-driven advisory services across sectors – from innovation strategy to organisational growth and sustainability.   Trevor Noah Foundation The Trevor Noah Foundation is a South African nonprofit that focuses on expanding educational opportunities and breaking cycles of poverty. It supports programmes preparing youth from underserved communities for higher education and future careers.   Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global leader in life sciences and laboratory services. Its mission is to enable customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer by supplying cutting-edge instruments, reagents, and scientific solutions that accelerate research, diagnostics, and innovation.   Allianz SE Allianz SE is a global financial services leader specialising in insurance and asset management. Through initiatives like AfricaGrow, Allianz contributes capital, risk management expertise, and sustainability-oriented financing to support inclusive economic development across Africa.   Together, these investors and funders are more than financial backers – they are catalysts for AfricaÂ’s next generation of innovators. By supporting SWEAT Africa, they help bridge the gap between research and entrepreneurship, local ambition and global opportunity, and ideas and real-world solutions.   * We will update this list and we expect another 30-50 funders and investors to join so keep in close contact with SWEAT Africa.

News date: 2026-02-05

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