Delta40 Announces $20M Fundraising Milestone for Africa’s First Institutional Venture Studio. New York, New York — February 11, 2026 — Delta40 has successfully raised $20 million to support its integrated Venture Studio and Fund, marking a significant milestone in Africa’s startup ecosystem. This funding initiative, the first of its kind on the continent, is designed to bridge the gap between venture building and early-stage capital, providing hands-on support to startups across Africa.
The fund, which is backed by 54 investors from 13 countries, includes 25 founders and 14 African investors, spans global institutions, high-net-worth individuals, development finance institutions (DFIs), family offices, and foundations. This diverse investor base is a testament to the global recognition of the potential of African startups. Delta40’s innovative model combines early-stage capital with embedded product, fundraising, commercial, finance, legal, growth, and exit expertise.
The venture studio, initially launched in Kenya and expanded to Lagos, Nigeria, provides direct, on — the-ground support to portfolio companies as they scale across the continent. Lyndsay Holley Handler, Founder & CEO of Delta40, commented on the significance of this initiative: “Through Delta40, we’re building and scaling innovations that transform lives, economies, and planetary health across Africa — with solutions that can power and feed the world. What sets this model apart is our community of innovators, investors, and business leaders who provide hands-on support from idea to pan-African scale and impactful exits.”.
The studio’s focus is on energy & mobility, agriculture, and fintech, with a goal to integrate AI across all sectors. Delta40’s model has shown promising results, with global benchmarks indicating that venture studios help startups raise capital 2x faster and realize IPO and M&A exits 30% faster than traditional models. This fundraising effort is a strategic move to address persistent gaps in Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
Currently, less than 2% of venture funding goes to female founders, and less than 30% to African founders, despite data showing that locally led ventures and diverse founding teams generate stronger financial returns and outsized impact. Institutional investors and partners include the Soros Economic Development Fund, FMO, GIZ, Autodesk Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies, Livelihood Impact Fund, Small Foundation, Lemelson Foundation, Factor(E) Ventures, and Skoll Foundation, reflecting a strong commitment to supporting African entrepreneurship. Delta40 has invested in and supported 16 companies to date, creating over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across 30+ African countries.
The final close of this fundraising will enable Delta40 to further grow its portfolio and expand its venture studio support. “
As an investor and operator, I’ve seen how difficult it is for founders to access both bold capital and hands-on support. Delta40 delivers both—and that’s why I’m confident that future funds will only accelerate the momentum we’re already seeing, “said Biola Alabi, Partner, Investments, Delta40.
Further details are expected as Delta40 continues to build and scale transformative ventures across Africa.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
