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.

Fortunately, in today’s digital age, a range of innovative tools and services have emerged to help businesses like yours achieve just that.

You may have seen and heard of YOCO, iKhokha and Flash Business – titles that are becoming increasingly prevalent in local convenience stores, farmers’ markets, community hubs and at local vendors.

But why are these solutions so popular among entrepreneurs and small business owners? Let’s delve into each of these services to uncover how they can contribute to the success of your business.

Yoco: Streamline payments and boost business growth

Yoco is an African technology company with a singular mission: to empower small businesses by simplifying the payment process and offering a suite of tools and services to enhance overall business operations. At the heart of Yoco’s offerings is the Yoco app, a free and user-friendly application designed to connect you seamlessly to your business.

Here’s what the app brings to the table:

Yoco makes it effortless for your customers to make card payments in person and online, expanding your payment options and increasing customer convenience. To help you manage your business, the app also enables you to create a Yoco profile, track payments, monitor sales, send invoices and more, all from one centralised platform.

Yoco is one of the largest suppliers of card machines to small businesses in South Africa, with over 120,000 merchants relying on their card machines, online payment tools, point of sale (POS) software and working capital products.

The advantages? You can streamline your payment processes, enhance customer experience and position your business for growth.

iKhokha: transform your payment experience

LiKhokha offers a mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solution that empowers business owners to accept card transactions seamlessly. Their range of card machines, combined with the iKhokha smartphone app, creates a comprehensive payment ecosystem that brings numerous benefits to your business.

iKhokha accepts Visa and MasterCard debit and credit card payments, as well as cash and mobile transactions. In addition to card payments, you can sell value-added services such as mobile airtime and monitor sales performance with their My Business merchant portal.

When it comes to security, iKhokha takes payment security seriously, being one of the first and only South African mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solution to receive full international payment security accreditation from multiple global regulatory bodies.

You’ll also enjoy the user-friendly features which help you send customer receipts via email or SMS, track business performance with analytics and the internal battery power.

Flash Business: Your business on the go

The Flash Business app puts your business in the palm of your hand, enabling you to sell products and services from your smartphone. Whether you’re on the move or at your store, Flash Business offers a range of services.

It comes with an easy registration feature. Thanks to this, becoming a Flash trader is a breeze, just download the app, register your cell phone number and top up your Flash balance.

Once you have completed registration, you can sell a variety of products and services, including airtime for major networks, data, electricity, prepaid water bills, 1voucher, bill payments, RICA registrations and Flash tokens. Topping up your Flash balance is simple and can be done at various retail locations or through cash deposit at select ATMs.

With Flash Business, you can expand your revenue streams, cater to diverse customer needs and operate your business anytime, anywhere.

In a world where time is money, AppGallery emerges as a game-changer for entrepreneurs seeking to streamline their operations.

Beyond providing apps for Yoco, iKhokha and Flash Business, the app market empowers them with easy access to a wealth of other significant apps that can transform the way they do business.

From payment processing to inventory management, marketing to analytics, these apps are your gateway to a more efficient and prosperous entrepreneurial journey.

So, explore the possibilities, discover the apps that suit your needs and watch your small to medium business thrive like never before.