In this month’s issue, we speak with the Head of Investments at Visa Foundation, Najada Kumbuli, who shares how current trends such as fintech innovation, local fund manager expertise, and ecosystem-level interventions are shaping the Foundation’s investment strategy across Africa. Read on pp. 14-15.

In this issue, Marco Balk, Portfolio Manager at Trustus Capital Management, shares insights into the fund’s strategy, its current positioning, and how it navigates the region’s complexities—from liquidity challenges to political risk. Read on pp.16-17.

In addition, the African private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) markets have long faced skepticism over exit opportunities. Concerns about liquidity, fund timelines, and return realization have historically dampened institutional capital flow into the continent. Yet, as the ecosystem matures, these perceptions are increasingly being challenged by real progress in exit mechanisms, signaling a positive inflection point for asset managers and investors alike. Read on p.22.

On the fundraising front, Mediterrania Capital Partners, a Private Equity firm focused on growth investments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, has announced the final close of its fourth fund, Mediterrania Capital IV Mid Cap (MC IV), at €600m. Read news on p.4.