AXIAN Group, a pan-African conglomerate, is launching AXIAN Investment to oversee two new investment activities: its Private Equity and Venture Capital funds and its direct investments in fledgling technology startups across the continent. A first for an African-focused company, consolidating this broad range of investment activities under one brand reinforces the group’s position as a first-rate investor in the region. Its objective is to grow alongside the African market and empower businesses across the continent to create value.

AXIAN Investment will enable the group to share its resources and experience both directly and indirectly, supporting businesses at different stages of maturity. It will empower AXIAN Group to deliver an even broader positive impact through diverse yet synergised investments, reaffirming its commitment to support entrepreneurs and create shared and inclusive values. Meanwhile, supporting Africa’s growing position within the global economy.

AXIAN Investment is mandated to manage both the wider group’s investments in venture capital and private equity funds, such as Partech Africa, Disruptech, Amethis, African Development Partners, Actis Energie, Emerging Capital Partners and Adenia. Concurrently, AXIAN Invesment’s Corporate Venture Capital arm will invest directly in disruptive African technology startups such as MaxAB, LipaLater, Djamo, Jetstream. Chari and Zazuu.

The group’s initial mandate, which governs alternative investments and was adopted in 2017, led to investments in 20 Private Equity and Venture Capital funds across the world, but with a strong regional focus on Africa.

Only a recent participant in the African tech-enabled startup ecosystem, AXIAN Investment through its CVC arm has closed one deal a month over the past year. Today, its CVC arm is a minority shareholder in 10 startups. AXIAN Investment intends to ramp up this activity in order to become an established first-rate investor across the technology sector (including in fintech, e-commerce, healthtech and logistech), create synergies between innovative startups and the group’s other business lines.

“AXIAN Investment will enable us to invest strategically in both Private Equity and Venture Capital, empowering businesses to create more value while contributing to economic growth in countries across Africa. Consolidating both branches of investment activity under one roof will allow us to reinforce our standing as the group’s lookout-point seeking innovation and opportunities across the continent. Our involvement in 77 businesses across 28 countries in Africa via both direct and indirect operations will allow the AXIAN Group to leverage this broad presence to become a first-rate, pan-African investor.” Hassane Muhieddine, CEO of AXIAN Financial Services.