XA Network, a prominent investment network founded by tech alumni in Southeast Asia, has announced its expansion into Africa with the launch of XA Africa. This move reflects the network’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting promising startups globally, now bringing its expertise and resources to Africa’s fast-growing technology ecosystem.
XA Africa is spearheaded by three tech industry veterans: Nitin Gajria, former Managing Director of Google Sub-Saharan Africa; Jason Scott, a venture capitalist and architect of Google’s Black Founders Fund; and Marek Dawidowicz, the current Marketing Director at YouTube and a South African native. Their collective experience forms the backbone of XA Africa’s mission to empower African startups.
“Founders of technology startups in Africa are uniquely positioned to solve some of the continent’s most profound challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities,” said Nitin Gajria, Co-Founder of XA Africa. “XA Network’s expansion into Africa is a natural progression, enabling us to connect exceptional founders with experienced operators from the tech industry.”
XA Africa aims to do more than just provide capital. Its primary goal is to connect African tech founders with seasoned investors and experts, particularly from leading global and regional technology companies. This approach provides startups with the mentorship and strategic support they need to scale their ventures and thrive in the competitive global market.
The network has already made significant investments in a range of promising African startups, including Nigeria’s Crop2Cash, Kenya’s BuuPass, South Africa’s Kaya, and Ghana’s Talamus Health. The founders of these startups have emphasized the immense value XA Africa brings, particularly through its network of industry leaders and strategic advisors.
“We are excited to have XA Network on board because of their strong network of experts who are open to listening and helping,” said Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, co-founders of BuuPass. “They’ve introduced us to advisors from Expedia and truly understand the dynamics of emerging markets, making them a valuable investor.”
Michael Ogundare, CEO of Crop2Cash, echoed this sentiment. “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. We’re grateful for their trust in our vision.”
XA Network’s reputation in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem is well-established, with nearly 100 investments over the past six years. It has consistently been ranked as the top investment network in the region. Comprised of senior leaders from prominent global and regional tech companies, XA Network distinguishes itself by offering portfolio companies more than just financial support – they provide hands-on guidance from some of the industry’s most experienced operators.
As XA Africa continues to grow, Gajria also sees potential for building stronger ties between the African and Southeast Asian startup ecosystems. “We see an opportunity to build a stronger bridge between ecosystems in Africa and Southeast Asia along the way. In fact, this investment hypothesis has already been proven across some of the African founders we are currently supporting,” he added.
XA Africa will host its first public Demo Day webinar on Thursday, November 7, from 1–2 p.m. GMT+1. The event will give Africa-focused investors the chance to meet and invest in four of XA Africa’s founding companies while learning more about the network’s vision for the continent.
For more information and to register for the event, click here.