Since its Managing Partners made their first investment in Africa in 2013, 4DX has raised three institutionally backed funds, and the firm has approximately $200 million in assets under management.

In 2024, International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, became a 4DX investor with a $10.5M capital commitment, demonstrating the firm’s ability to partner with best-in-class global institutions across multiple investor segments, including endowments, private equity firms, family offices and foundations.

The firm has built a reputation for backing bold, visionary entrepreneurs and supporting them with a high-touch, value-added approach to company building.

With investments spanning a range of industries, including FinTech, E-commerce, Embedded Finance, Creative Industries, Marketplaces, Climate and Edtech, 4DX focuses on companies that are shaping Africa’s digital future.

The portfolio includes category-defining companies such as Flutterwave, Andela, Autochek, Breadfast, MaxAB, Wasoko, mPharma, Thndr and Yoco.

Its portfolio companies operate in 22 African countries, with regional offices in Accra, Cairo and Nairobi, and an active presence in South Africa and Francophone Africa.

Alemayehou and Sekyi-Otu will support 4DX’s leadership team and portfolio founders, strengthening the firm’s global network and providing strategic counsel and mentorship.

Mimi Alemayehou brings deep experience from both the private and public sectors. She has held global executive roles at Mastercard, as well as managing director of the Black Rhino Group and Chair of Blackstone Africa Infrastructure LP.

A recognized leader in development finance, she served as Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. government’s development finance agency.

She also served as the U.S. representative on the Board of the African Development Bank and on the President’s Advisory Council on Africa Diaspora Engagement in the United States.  She held multiple Board positions, including at Twitter, U.S. African Development Foundation and FinDev Canada.

Kurankye Sekyi-Otu is an experienced leader in the alternative investment industry. He is the Founder & CEO of Capoeira Partners, a strategic advisory firm working with founder-led asset management firms, and previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Polar Asset Management Partners, one of Canada’s largest hedge funds.

He also held senior roles at Mackenzie Investments and CIBC Capital Markets, with extensive experience in capital formation, business development, and institutional partnerships.

“The appointment of Mimi and Kurankye comes at a pivotal time for 4DX and our portfolio,” said Walter Baddoo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 4DX Ventures. “As more African technology companies scale globally, we’re excited to bring on world-class advisors with truly global perspectives and deep operational and investment expertise. Both Mimi and Kurankye are known for their roll-up-your-sleeves approach and will be instrumental in supporting our founders, deepening our global  institutional relationships, and contributing to our long-term strategy.”

Speaking of her new role, Mimi Alemayehou said:

“I’m thrilled to join 4DX and support the impactful work Walter, Peter, and the team are driving across the continent. This role is an exciting new chapter in my dedication to championing growth and development across Africa and emerging markets. 4DX has played a catalytic role in the African tech ecosystem, and I’m energised to bring my experience in development finance, technology and policy to help scale innovation, build strategic partnerships and deepen engagement with key stakeholders across sectors.”

Kurankye Sekyi-Otu added,

“4DX has built an impressive track record of investing in founders who create category-defining companies, tackle local challenges, and uplift their communities. Our immediate focus is to deliver deep operational insight that drives meaningful execution as 4DX scales and deepens its partnerships with world-class global institutions. I’m committed to activating a global network of operators, partners, and domain experts to support the firm’s continued growth and strategic evolution.”

4DX’s unique value creation model is institutionalized through 4DX Labs, its value creation arm designed to help portfolio companies succeed by providing hands-on support across product, marketing, data science, engineering, sales, business development, corporate development and fundraising.

This model has supported multiple strategic transactions, including Swarm Technologies’ acquisition by SpaceX, Tactyc’s acquisition by Carta, and the landmark merger of MaxAB and Wasoko — the largest tech merger in Africa to date.

As the firm looks ahead, 4DX is also exploring growth-stage investments and promising new categories such as the creative economy, where its regional expertise and network provide a strong competitive edge. Alemayehou and Sekyi-Otu will play a key role in advising 4DX and extending the firm’s influence in global capital markets.

The country continues to face the escalating energy shortages and the imminent threat of a nationwide grid collapse. Hence, innovative solutions are being put forward by companies like Hohm Energy to address the pressing challenges caused by the country’s worsening energy crisis. 

With increasingly severe power shortages surpassing 6,000 megawatts, the dire need for sustainable energy alternatives has led to the demand for innovative cleantech solutions. 

The three-year-old startup is focused on bolstering the renewable energy sector, connecting homeowners and businesses with accredited solar installers, product suppliers, and embedded solar finance solutions.

Led by E3 Capital and 4DX Ventures, the $8 million funding round is the largest seed investment secured by a tech startup in South Africa, pointing to Hohm Energy’s essence in driving change within the country’s energy sector. 

With participation from well-known investors including Breega, E4E Africa, and Climate Capital Ventures, the funding will facilitate Hohm Energy’s innovative solar solutions to thrive further.

Founded in 2021 by Tim Ohlsen and Emir Gluhbegovic, Hohm Energy’s platform leverages a software and marketplace model designed to simplify the adoption of solar energy solutions. 

With a focus on enhancing accessibility and affordability, the energy startup empowers over 7 million households connected to South Africa’s national grid to transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Speaking on the significance of the investment, CEO Tim Ohlsen emphasized the startup’s goal of helping homeowners to embrace clean, renewable energy solutions despite the complications involved in the solar industry. 

Through its innovative “Home Ranger” feature, Hohm Energy ensures careful oversight and compliance throughout the solar installation process, guaranteeing quality and technical integrity for every project undertaken.

Hohm Energy’s platform offers a seamless experience for both homeowners and solar installers, facilitating customized solar designs, access to financing options, and comprehensive post-sales services. 

In forging strategic partnerships with leading retail financial institutions including Investec, Nedbank, and Capitec, Hohm Energy has led structured financing options, unlocking new avenues for homeowners to embrace solar energy solutions.

Recognizing the scalability of its model beyond South Africa’s borders, Hohm Energy remains focused on deepening its presence in the country despite persistent power disruptions. 

With a focus on maintaining its climate fintech strategy, enhancing technological capabilities, and empowering local solar installers, Hohm Energy is ensuring South Africa’s green energy becomes sustainable.

Founded by CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko in 2021, MAKA stands out with its interactive social commerce model, leveraging live try-on hauls and user-generated content to provide a personalised and scalable shopping experience.

The funding, which includes support from notable investors like Jonathan Shipman and executives from Wolt, comes at a key time for Africa’s growing e-commerce market. With a rapidly growing user base of 334 million and a surge from 13% to 28% in active paying customers from 2017 to 2021, the continent presents a significant opportunity for fashion brands.

MAKA’s strategic collaboration between creators and consumers aligns with the influencer-inspired buying trend, as 30% of people cite creator recommendations impacting their purchases, according to Hubspot. The platform addresses key challenges in the African e-commerce sector, offering a secure marketplace built on trust, while also tackling issues of limited local options and fragmented online shopping experiences.

CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko emphasizes MAKA’s focus on empowering users and creators alike, providing an authentic space for self-expression and meaningful connections. The platform’s unique blend of content and commerce set it apart in the evolving sector, driven by a vision to redefine African e-commerce and enhance individuality in style exploration.

Nestcoin will leverage the fund to expand its global operations and invest in more products to accelerate crypto adoption and financial freedom for people in frontier markets.

Yele Bademosi, who previously founded Microtraction, Binance and Bundle, alongside Taiwo Orilogbon, co-founded Nestcoin with the goal to democratise access to economic opportunities presented by crypto and web3, making it simple and accessible to everyday people.

Last year, the company launched Breach, its media arm created to advance crypto education globally, and Metaverse Magna (MVM), a crypto gaming guild that helps users earn up to $1,000 per month. Nestcoin also has several other products in the pipeline, designed to provide compelling use cases for crypto.

MVM has had over 2,000 applications since its launch. However, only 400 gamers are currently live on the platform, a number the company is looking to increase to 1,000 before next quarter – for context, some of the largest guilds have a player size of around 2,000 to 3,000.

The $6.45 million in funding comes from a global group of investors, including Distributed Global, Alter Global, Serena Ventures, Alameda Research, A&T Capital, MSA Capital, 4DX Ventures, Raba Capital, Goat.vc, Social Capital, Old Fashion Research, CMT Digital, Electric Capital, Social Capital, CoinFund, gumi Cryptos Capital, and DeFi Alliance, among others.

“We are excited that our investors are backing this ambitious plan to create a future where billions of people in frontier markets have access to the opportunities that crypto brings. With this financing, we will continue to grow our diverse team, which already spans nine countries, expand our product offerings, and invest in more ventures aligned with our vision,” Bademosi said.

Nestcoin also hopes to introduce its DeFi projects by Q2 this year. In addition to that, the company will be exploring ways in which content creators on the platform can earn crypto while educating its 6,000 subscribers with structured learning paths.

The company’s pre-seed round is the second-largest in Africa and largest in Nigeria as well as sub-Saharan Africa right now and will be used to develop more products and improve existing ones.