iYa Ventures

Overview

iYa Ventures is a community development venture capital firm dedicated to providing strategic and financial resources to early-stage companies that offer goods or services to underserved consumer groups in Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm focuses on markets such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, aiming to support the rising middle class in these regions. iYa Ventures also emphasizes the effective use of technology among Africa’s entrepreneurs, seeking to foster innovation and growth in the continent's emerging markets. The firm's investment strategy is sector-agnostic but leverages domain expertise in areas including consumer credit and finance, workforce recruitment and staffing solutions, creative industries (digital media and design), hospitality, and education. iYa Ventures targets ventures where it can exercise significant influence, aiming to deliver moderate capital growth and sustainable returns over the long term. The firm is managed by iYa Ventures Management, a minority and woman-owned advisory company headquartered in New York, with a presence in Accra, Lagos, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. iYa Ventures' team comprises professionals with expertise in private equity, law, and media. Their investment committee includes individuals with significant experience investing across a range of industries in Africa. The firm has been involved in notable deals such as Bharti Airtel’s $9 billion acquisition of Zain’s African telecom assets and the creation of Ethiopia’s Commodities Exchange. By investing in technology-enabled businesses, iYa Ventures aims to achieve top-quartile returns while positively impacting local communities and the environment.

Investment Focus

• Early-stage companies providing goods or services to underserved consumer groups in Sub-Saharan Africa