XA Network, a leading investment network founded by tech alumni in Southeast Asia, has announced its expansion into Africa with the launch of XA Africa.
The move is a significant step in the network’s mission to foster global innovation and support promising startups across diverse markets.
XA Africa is spearheaded by three experienced tech professionals:
- Nitin Gajria, former Managing Director of Google Sub-Saharan Africa
- Jason Scott, a venture capitalist and architect of the Black Founders Fund at Google
- Marek Dawidowicz, Marketing Director at YouTube and a South African native
In a statement, Nitin Gajria, Co-Founder of XA Africa, emphasized the potential of African tech founders to address some of the continent’s biggest challenges. “Founders of technology startups in Africa are uniquely placed to solve some of Africa’s most profound challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities. We see the foray of XA Network into Africa as a natural progression, allowing us to connect amazing founders to experienced and expert operators from the tech industry.”
XA Africa aims to provide African startups not only with capital but also with the strategic guidance and support needed to scale their businesses. The network brings together seasoned investors and experts from major global technology companies. Already, the newly established XA Africa has made notable investments in the following African startups:
- Crop2Cash (Nigeria)
- BuuPass (Kenya)
- Kaya (South Africa)
- Talamus Health (Ghana)
The founders of these startups have praised the partnership with XA Network. Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, founders of BuuPass, expressed their excitement, stating, “We are excited to have XA network on board because of their strong network of experts who are open to listening and helping. They’ve introduced us to advisors from Expedia and truly understand the dynamics of emerging markets, making them a valuable investor.”
Similarly, Michael Ogundare, CEO of Crop2Cash, said, “Partnering with XA Network has been a game-changer for our company. Their strategic guidance and network have opened doors to new opportunities, and we’re excited to see the impact of our collaboration continue to unfold.”
Since its inception six years ago, XA Network has become a key player in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem, making nearly 100 investments in the region. The network is consistently ranked as the #1 investment network in Southeast Asia, thanks to its approach of connecting startups with senior leaders from prominent global tech companies and experienced founders.
Speaking on the potential for cross-continental collaboration, Gajria added, “We see an opportunity to build a stronger bridge between ecosystems in Africa and Southeast Asia along the way. This investment hypothesis has already been proven across some of the African founders we are currently supporting.”
XA Africa will host its first public Demo Day webinar on Thursday, November 7, from 1-2 pm GMT+1, where Africa-focused investors will have the opportunity to meet and invest in four founding companies and learn more about XA Africa’s vision.
