About This Fund
Ring Africa is a €50 million impact venture capital investment fund dedicated to supporting early-stage startups in French-speaking West Africa. It focuses on companies with a strong social and environmental impact, targeting those tackling climate change challenges, facilitating the region’s economic formalization, and improving agricultural productivity. Investments will range from pre-seed to Series A stages. Ring Africa leverages the expertise of Mstudio , an Abidjan-based startup studio established in 2023. The founders, Cedric Mangaud and Leslie Ossett, bring experience from co-founding Saviu Ventures and BuuPass, respectively. They aim to adapt successful business models from English-speaking Africa to the Francophone market, focusing on solutions that empower the region’s vast informal sector, which employs an estimated 95% of the working population. Mstudio has already invested in over eight startups across fintech, edtech, and social commerce. Elisabeth Moreno, former French Delegate Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity, and Equal Opportunities, has been appointed as President of the board. She will champion Ring Africa’s commitment to gender equality and inclusion while supporting the fund’s growth.