# Top 15 Machine Learning Startup Investors in South Africa in June 2026

## Industrial Development Corporation
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Sandown, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Debt Financing, Series A, Post-IPO Debt
- Focus: Renewable Energy, Mobile, Sustainability

The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd (IDC) is a national development finance institution set up to promote economic growth and industrial development.

## Knife Capital
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Cape Town, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Series A, Seed
- Focus: Software, Manufacturing, Information Technology

Knife Capital is an independent growth equity investment firm focusing on innovation-driven ventures with proven traction. By leveraging knowledge, networks & funding, Knife accelerates the international expansion of entrepreneurial businesses that achieved a product/market fit in a beachhead market. Knife have offices in Cape Town andLondon.Knife invests via a consortium of funding partnerships, including SARS section 12J Venture Capital Company KNF Ventures and select family offices. Knife facilitated lucrative exits of local technology companies to the likes of General Electric, Visa, Garmin and Uber.

## Venture Capital Studio
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Cape Town, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Information Technology, FinTech, Finance

36 Followers, 31 Following, 1 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Black Silver Capital (@blacksilvercapital)

## Phillip Sebole Masango
- Type: Angel
- Location: Cape Town, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Private Equity
- Focus: Information Technology, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence

Phillip Sebole Masango, is a South African C-Siute Executive and Venture Capitalist, a visionary who seamlessly navigates the intersections of Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Development, Business Intelligence (BI), Design, Web, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, IoT, Digital Strategy, Creativity, and Innovation. With aproven track record of assuming CEO, CTO, and other top executive roles, he brings a rare fusion of technical expertise, business acumen, and strategic foresight to every venture he leads. Phillip doesn’t just build companies—he drives innovation, scales businesses, and redefines industries.A Mission Rooted in Empowerment and Progress:
With extensive experience in the Startup Ecosystem, Technology Industry, Creative Industry, Digital Innovation, Management Consulting, and Venture Capital, Phillip thrives in environments where innovation flourishes. His mission is to empower individuals, startups, businesses, and organizations by delivering cutting-edge technology and digital solutions that drive exponential growth. However, his work extends beyond personal ambition—it is a devotion to serving humanity. Phillip is committed to creating a world where technology democratizes and decentralizes industries, enabling individuals and businesses to innovate, lead, and thrive. He envisions a future where technology not only liberates but also elevates and inspires—enabling companies to reach new heights and igniting a wave of global prosperity.A Legacy of Meaningful Success: 
For Phillip, success is not defined by accolades or financial gain—it is measured by the profound impact he creates. He refuses to chase success in pursuits that lack meaning, believing that true success comes from doing what one loves—better than anyone else—driven by passion, joy, and self-mastery. His approach to business and innovation is holistic, tackling challenges from multiple angles to fuel transformative change. He thrives in collaborative environments where boundaries are pushed, industries are reshaped, and new possibilities emerge.Yet beyond business, Phillip understands that life is a journey of emotions and meaning. He embraces every experience—both triumphs and challenges—as stepping stones toward a greater purpose. With unwavering dedication and a heart set on impact, he continues to push forward, leaving a legacy that will resonate for generations to come.

## 4Di Capital
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Cape Town, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Software, Financial Services, Mobile

4Di Capital is an independent seed- and early-stage technology venture capital firm based in Cape Town, South Africa.Nurture capital is the term that best describes 4Di Capitalâ€:tm:s purpose and philosophy.We understand that in the early days of any business, support, mentoring and access to networks is just as important as seed capital.Using tried and tested international venture capital best practices, adapted for local use, we believe in entrepreneur-friendly finance without frills, and in working as a team with our investments to achieve their true potential.4Di Capital Early-Stage Technology Fund 1 targets startup investment opportunities with high growth potential at the seed- and early-stages in the mobile, enterprise software and web sectors.We look for founder teams with hungry passion, commitment, domain expertise and deep insights into the large market problems they wish to solve with their technology solutions.

## Savannah Fund
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
- Focus: E-Commerce, FinTech, Software

Savannah Fund is a seed capital fund specializing in US$25,000-US$500,000 investments in early stage high growth technology (web and mobile) startups in sub-Saharan Africa. Initially focused on East Africa, the fund aims to bridge the early stage/angel and venture capital investment gap that currently exists in Africa. The Fund expects toachieve this objective by combining capital with mentor networks both in the region and from Silicon Valley via an accelerator program and a follow-on independent seed fund.The fund is managed by an experienced and technology savvy team that have founded companies or are actively involved in angel investing or having run successful accelerator programs in past but also understand the unique Subsaharan African environment. They are backed and supported by both local, regional and international networks of angels,venture capitalists whose expertise we can draw on to help startups succeed and scale to fully fledged regional or global companies.They believe in the potential for Africa to become a global technology innovator by creating sustainable for profit companies that create jobs and make an impact.

## Capaci.Tech
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Johannesburg, NA - South Africa, South Africa
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: SMS, Apps, SaaS

CapaciTech operates as a South African holding company that consists of an advisory business and special purposes vehicles that house shareholdings in various entrepreneurial ventures.

## Wavecrest Growth Partners
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Private Equity, Series A
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Automotive

Wavecrest Growth Partners is a growth equity firm focused on investments in high-growth, profitable B2B technology companies. The firm targets investments in high-growth companies with proven products and business models and brings to bear a differentiated combination of investing and operating experience and networks to help accelerate growth andprofitability. It refers to invest in companies that have over 20% in annual growth and $5 to $30M in bookings or revenue.

## LeapFrog Investments
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Port Louis Town, Port Louis, Mauritius
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Private Equity, Series D
- Focus: Financial Services, Finance, Insurance

Scaling purpose-driven businesses to achieve leaps of growth, profitability and impact.

## Paper Plane Ventures
- Type: VC Fund
- Relevant deals: 1

## Hannover Re
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Private Equity
- Focus: Insurance, FinTech, InsurTech

We stand as one of the leading global reinsurers, offering comprehensive coverage in both property and casualty reinsurance across every continent worldwide

## Bantam Group
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Westwood, Massachusetts, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Internet, Artificial Intelligence

They are passionate about seeing their portfolio companies become successful.

## AgFunder
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Agriculture, AgTech, Biotechnology

AgFunder is a global venture capital firm backing deeptech platforms across AI, biotech, robotics, manufacturing, climate, and materials.

## Joe Caruso
- Type: Angel
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Internet

For the last 20 years Joe has served as mentor, coach, and personal advisor to CEO’s and entrepreneurs. In recent years, he has served as investor, advisor and active director with dozens of companies, public and private.Joe is currently a member of Launchpad Venture Group and was previously a member of Walnut Ventures, Common Angels, eCoastAngels and a principal of Brookwood Partners, all investment groups for early stage companies. He also maintains an active consulting practice dealing with structuring and negotiation of acquisitions, strategic partnerships and financings, and issues related to dispute resolution.He has served on dozens of boards over the years and is recipient of the Leadership in Private Corporate Governance award from the National Association of Corporate Directors New England Chapter. He is a graduate of Northeastern University (BSEE with honors) and the Harvard Business School (MBA) He has served as advisor to Northeastern’s School of Technological Entrepreneurship, and serves as a mentor for Boston University's entrepreneurship program, the Boston TechStars program, and Mass Challenge.Previously, Joe served as interim CEO for companies in need of strategic change - running businesses ranging from 5 to 1,000 employees. Early in his career, he worked at Teradyne and Autex, Inc., and was CEO at Cyborg Corporation, a venture-funded company that was a pioneer in the use of PC’s in laboratory and factory automation. He also has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.Former board memberships include: ACT Medical, Acumenta, Adhesive Technologies, American Fantasy Sports, Audiofile, Boston Restaurant Associates, Boston University's Photonics Center (advisory director), Coffee Connection, Colonial Mills, Common Angels, Corion, Cyborg Corporation, General Analysis, Haymarket Bank, Iconics, i2Chem, Laser Science, Metrisa, MicroE, Nimbit, Qiave Technologies, QD Vision, Quant Funds (trustee); Tytronics, Wwwhoosh, Zentox, the Turnaround Management Association (founding director, New England Chapter), the National Association of Corporate Directors (New England Chapter), the Association for Corporate Growth (New England Chapter) and WEST (Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology). Joe has also served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.

## Automattic
- Type: VC Fund
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Corporate Round
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Information Technology

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