The Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures Mandat, launched by Seedstars Capital and Fondation Botnar, will invest $20 million in early-stage, purpose-driven firms across Africa with the goal of enhancing the wellbeing and happiness of young people living in low- and middle-income regions.
Together, they establish Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures, a $20 million fund with a mandate to invest in pre-seed to Series A businesses in industries like health care, environmental sustainability, local food security, water and sanitation, waste management, digital technologies, quality education, access to employment, financial services, safe transportation, and affordable housing.
While Fondation Botnar is a Swiss philanthropic foundation devoted to enhancing the health and wellbeing of young people living in urban areas worldwide, Seedstars Capital is an alternative investment platform focused on assisting emerging fund managers and investing in technology companies in emerging and frontier markets.
Partner at Seedstars Capital Benjamin Langer remarked, “Our partnership with Fondation Botnar will combine our strengths and resources to drive meaningful impact in emerging markets, together and with the added strength of our co-investor network, we will identify, invest and scale innovative companies with the potential to transform the lives of young people across our key markets.”
The venture philanthropy lead at Fondation Botnar, Antoine Veyrassat, expressed his organization’s excitement to join Seedstars in supporting businesses that are changing the world.
In particular, Veyrassat noted that “Our shared commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of young people aligns strongly with our investment strategy that takes a market-based approach to philanthropy in addition to our other philanthropic funding, especially as rapid urbanization and the increasing number of young people living in cities presents both unique challenges and opportunities,”
As a catalyst for increased investment into Africa, Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures will co-invest alongside other like-minded investors. Investing will take place across the continent of Africa, with a particular emphasis on businesses that are already operating in Tanzania, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, and Egypt, or that are planning to do so in the near future.
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