With its most recent investment in TurnStay, the South African travel payment platform, which has just closed a $2M seed round, TAPSI has now deployed 50% of its capital.

TAPSI was launched in 2022 to extend TLcom’s investment reach to pre-seed stage companies, providing up to $200,000 in funding alongside access to the firm’s global network, operational expertise, and over two decades of experience in African venture investing.

The fund acts as an upstream feeder vehicle for TLcom’s core $154M TIDE Africa Fund II, enabling portfolio companies that perform well to progress to larger funding rounds.

In addition to Turnstay, the TAPSI portfolio currently includes Talstack [Nigeria], Bright Financial [Sudan and Ethiopia], Tradehub [Egypt], Agrails [Kenya] and three startups backed through its partnership with First Check Africa, which focuses on delivering early-stage capital to female founders.

Through TAPSI, TLcom expects to close on up to ten additional pre-seed investments before the end of 2026 and will continue to invest in diverse founding teams across Africa’s major innovation hubs.

Building on the investment approach of TLcom’s TIDE Fund I and TIDE Fund II, TAPSI is sector-agnostic and focuses on key sectors where TLcom sees strong early-stage potential for outsized impact.

Talstack’s journey demonstrates this approach in practice, leveraging its TAPSI pre-seed funding to validate its model and achieve early traction, culminating in a subsequent seed round from TIDE Fund II in 2024.

This dedicated pre-seed fund strengthens TLcom’s position as a multi-stage investor, reflecting the firm’s deep understanding of the funding lifecycle of the African tech ecosystem and the critical role early capital plays in setting African startups on a path to scale and create impact.

Eloho Omame, partner at TLcom Capital, says,

“Pre-seed investments allow us to expand our portfolio and allocate capital across multiple stages of a company’s lifecycle. Our goal is to create massive value in underserved markets and collaborate with African founders to build from the start all the way to exit; be it an acquisition or in the form of an IPO. This is by no means easy for any start-up, in any sector; building in Africa is not for the faint-hearted. However, the likelihood of success significantly increases if we support and work with founders earlier on in their journeys and we grow alongside them”.

TLcom boasts one of African tech’s most impressive early-stage portfolios, including Pula, uLesson, Autochek, FairMoney, Educatly, HUB2, ILLA, Littlefish, Seamless HR, and Andela – one of the continent’s tech unicorns.

With approximately $250 million under management, including the $154M TIDE Africa II, TLcom is dedicated to empowering ambitious entrepreneurs who are solving critical challenges in large, underserved markets.

Eloho Omame concludes,

“With TAPSI as a dedicated pre-seed arm of our investment platform, TLcom is uniquely positioned to back companies across their entire growth journey from ideation and product-market fit to scaling and maturity, reinforcing our role as a long-term partner to Africa’s most ambitious founders. As we progress with this fund, we look forward to speaking with and supporting more early-stage start-ups from across the continent”.

Truth be told, many are an inch close to giving up due to the dynamism of both technology and venture capital getting more complicated as the future approaches daily.  Interestingly, there are trailblazers ready to untangle this complication for both women and even male entrepreneurs.

Eloho Omame is one inspiring in great numbers and shaping the future. As a Partner at TLcom Capital, a seasoned technology venture capital investor, and the Co-Founder of FirstCheck Africa, a female-focused pre-seed firm, Eloho Omame stands as a unique push for those seeking to thrive in this unpredictable ecosystem.

Before we go further, it’s important to note that Eloho Omame’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced rejection and discouragement and this can be seen in episode 8 of ‘They Said I Couldn’t’ – a docu-series by Sunlight Nigeria in collaboration with Under 40 CEOs.

Despite facing skepticism and discouragement from those she sought permission from, Eloho refused to wait for validation, forging ahead with her dreams.

Eloho Omame: Advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Eloho Omame is not just an investor; she embodies a fervent commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in Africa’s technology sphere. She is a driving force behind the success stories of numerous entrepreneurs. As a Partner at TLcom Capital, a firm managing around $250 million, she actively supports high-growth companies across Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt, addressing some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.

FirstCheck Africa: Pioneering Female-Led Venture Capital

In 2021, Eloho co-founded FirstCheck Africa, breaking ground as one of the few female-led and female-focused technology venture capital firms in Africa. Through this initiative, she dedicates herself to nurturing the extraordinary female entrepreneurial talent across the continent, empowering them to build remarkable companies.

Shaping Africa’s Technology Ecosystem

Eloho’s influence extends beyond her investment roles. As an inaugural member of Nigeria’s Startup Consultative Forum, established under the Nigeria Startup Act in 2022, she holds a key position on the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Chaired by the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, this council reflects Eloho’s zeal in representing the interests of Africa’s largest technology and innovation ecosystem.

Endeavors of Eloho Omame Beyond Investment: Lagos Innovates and More

Eloho’s impact is not confined to boardrooms. From 2018 to 2021, she served as the inaugural Managing Director & CEO of Endeavor in Nigeria, creating a sought-after support network for early-growth stage entrepreneurs in West Africa. Additionally, she played an essential role in delivering “Lagos Innovates” under the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, supporting innovation-driven enterprises and fostering job creation.

Expertise in Global Growth Equity

With a career spanning various prominent institutions, including General Atlantic and Credit Suisse, Eloho has boosted her investing efforts. As a Vice President at General Atlantic in the U.K., she sourced and led technology investments in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

Her academic achievements include an MBA from the London Business School and a BSc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her leadership roles, such as being the Co-President of the London Business School Africa Club, reflect her dedication to fostering growth and mentorship.

Today Eloho will be holding a masterclass at TLcom’s Africa Tech Female Founder Summit with a focus on empowerment. In her upcoming masterclass, she aims to demystify the venture capital sector, providing valuable insights on fundraising for pre-seed and seed-stage female founders.

TLcom Capital, under Eloho’s leadership, is actively addressing the gender gap in venture capital. The firm’s TIDE Africa Fund II asserts a leadership team that is 60% female, setting a remarkable example in an industry traditionally dominated by men. TLcom’s mission extends beyond rhetoric, as evidenced by its co-investment with FirstCheck Africa to support the launch of its debut fund.

With total commitments of approximately $350 million, TLcom manages a diverse portfolio of African startups, including Andela, Ajua, Autochek, Ilara Health, Kobo360, Okra, Pastel, Pula, Seamless HR, Shara, Terragon Group, Twiga Foods, uLesson, and Vendease. The firm’s on-the-ground presence in Kenya and Nigeria, coupled with offices in the UK, positions TLcom as a key player across all stages of the venture capital cycle.

Eloho Omame’s journey from a Vice President at General Atlantic to a Partner at TLcom Capital and Co-Founder of FirstCheck Africa emphasizes her resilience, expertise, and dedication to enhancing positive change. For those seeking a female mentor for inspiration in the space of technology, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, Eloho Omame emerges as a perfect fit—an apt leader, an advocate for diversity, and a forerunner reshaping Africa’s technology sector.