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TLcom Capital Partners

Europe, England, United Kingdom, London

Description

TLcom Capital Partners is a prominent Africa-focused venture capital firm, headquartered in London, with a strong operational presence across the African continent. The firm is dedicated to identifying and nurturing high-growth technology companies, backing Africa's top founders from Seed to growth stages. TLcom's investment philosophy centers on providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance and operational support to help its portfolio companies scale and achieve market leadership in their respective sectors.

The firm manages significant capital through its dedicated Africa-focused funds. Its flagship vehicle, the TIDE Africa Fund, successfully closed at $71 million, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the African tech ecosystem. Building on this success, TLcom launched the TIDE Africa Fund II, which achieved a first close of $31 million towards a target of $150 million. These funds are strategically deployed to support companies across various stages, from initial seed rounds to more substantial Series A and B investments, reflecting a long-term commitment to its portfolio.

TLcom Capital's investment strategy typically involves writing initial checks that range significantly depending on the fund and stage. For instance, initial investments from the TIDE Africa Fund generally ranged from $500,000 to $10 million. With the newer TIDE Africa Fund II, the firm aims to deploy larger initial checks, typically between $1 million and $15 million, enabling it to support more mature startups and provide substantial follow-on funding. The firm has built a robust portfolio of leading African tech companies spanning critical sectors such as fintech, logistics, edtech, and e-commerce, including notable investments in companies like Andela, Twiga Foods, and Autochek.

TLcom's deep understanding of the African market, combined with its global network and hands-on approach, positions it as a key player in fostering innovation and economic growth across the continent. The firm's commitment to building sustainable businesses and its ability to provide tailored support are critical factors in the success of its portfolio companies.

Investor Profile

TLcom Capital Partners has backed more than 57 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 31 rounds, about 54% of its total and boasts 9 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in Nigeria, United States, Kenya.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Mobile, Information Technology.
  • Led 3 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $500K – $15M.

Stage Focus

  • Series A (25%)
  • Seed (19%)
  • Series Unknown (19%)
  • Series B (19%)
  • Series C (9%)
  • Pre Seed (5%)
  • Series D (4%)

Country Focus

  • Nigeria (30%)
  • United States (18%)
  • Kenya (14%)
  • Italy (9%)
  • United Kingdom (9%)
  • Ireland (7%)
  • Israel (5%)
  • South Africa (4%)
  • Sweden (4%)
  • Mauritius (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Mobile
  • Information Technology
  • E-commerce
  • Internet
  • Retail
  • Wireless
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Saas
  • Big Data
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does TLcom Capital Partners frequently co-invest with?

Gemini Israel Ventures
Asia, Tel Aviv, Israel, Herzliya
Co-Investments: 4
Golden Palm Investments
Africa, Greater Accra, Ghana, Accra
Co-Investments: 7
Goldman Sachs
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 4
International Finance Corporation
North America, District of Columbia, United States, Washington
Co-Investments: 5
Founder Collective
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 3
Y Combinator
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 3
DOB Equity
Europe, Gelderland, The Netherlands, Veessen
Co-Investments: 3
Enza Capital
Africa, Nairobi Area, Kenya, Nairobi
Co-Investments: 3
Flourish Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3
Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP)
Asia, Yerushalayim, Israel, Jerusalem
Co-Investments: 3

Which angels does TLcom Capital Partners often collaborate with?

AS
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Shared Deals: 1
EL
North America, Florida, United States, Miami Beach
Shared Deals: 1
HZ
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Shared Deals: 1
EB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
NB
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
RS
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
RO
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 1
JO
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
LF
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by TLcom Capital Partners?

Hub2.Io

Port Louis Town, Port Louis, Mauritius

Hub2.Io offers payments digitalization services.

Financial Services
Series ADec 2, 2024
Amount Raised: $8,500,000
littlefishapp

Johannesburg, NA - South Africa, South Africa

littlefishapp LittleFish was developed with the objective of encouraging more gratifying, approachable, and consistently helpful trade.

BankingDebit CardsE-CommerceE-Commerce PlatformsFinTechInformation TechnologyMobile PaymentsPaymentsRetailSmall and Medium Businesses
SeedOct 2, 2024
Educatly

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Educatly is a student-recruitment platform providing students with all the information they need to study abroad.

EdTechEducationInternet
SeedJul 29, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,500,000
Zone

Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

Zone is a regulated blockchain network that enables payments and acceptance of digital currencies.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyInternetMobile PaymentsPayments
SeedMar 18, 2024
Amount Raised: $8,500,000
Terragon Group

Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Terragon Group is data and marketing technology company focused on Africa

AnalyticsArtificial Intelligence (AI)BillingContentCRMData CenterMachine LearningMarketingMobileSaaS
Series BJul 27, 2023
Amount Raised: $9,000,000
Talstack

Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Talstack is a subscription-based talent management platform.

Corporate TrainingE-LearningHuman ResourcesSaaS
Pre SeedMar 10, 2023
Amount Raised: $850,000
Vendease

Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Vendease is a marketplace that lets restaurants in Africa order directly from farms and food manufacturers.

AppsE-CommerceFood and BeverageMarketplaceSoftware
Series ASep 26, 2022
Amount Raised: $20,000,000
littlefishapp

Johannesburg, NA - South Africa, South Africa

Inspiring better ways of commerce

BankingDebit CardsE-CommerceE-Commerce PlatformsFinTechInformation TechnologyMobile PaymentsPaymentsRetailSmall and Medium Businesses
SeedSep 1, 2022
Amount Raised: $2,500,000
Pastel

Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

Pastel supports African businesses by offering tools that help manage their businesses and maximize efficiency.

Information TechnologyProductivity Tools
SeedAug 15, 2022
Amount Raised: $5,500,000
SeamlessHR

Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

End-to-end, modern cloud-based HR platform for emerging markets.

Human ResourcesSaaS
Series AJan 12, 2022
Amount Raised: $10,000,000