The new Zidi Venture Backers Program will help train aspiring venture backers (investors), on how to invest in startups and SME’s.

Zidi Venture Backers Program // An introduction to Angel Investment

Zidi Circle, venture capital and private equity firm that promotes inclusive entrepreneurship and financing for the diaspora entrepreneurs and SME’s in Africa has launched a Venture Backers Programme whose main aim is to train aspiring venture backers (investors), on how to invest in startups and SME’s.

Dubbed as Zidi Venture Backers Programme, the program is targeting aspiring investors, both in the diaspora as well as in Africa.

Participants will join a general program, and then branch out to join various chapters per country/region.  This will essentially help to reduce the financing gap currently within diaspora enterprises/African SMEs.  Once the venture backers complete their training, they will be required to commit their finance (specify whose ventures) ventures either individually or collectively.

Why join Zidi’s venture backers program?

Zidi’s inclusive Entrepreneurship and financing ecosystem has been incomplete without enough venture backers.  The firm prides itself on a wide number of entrepreneurs who are unique, from diverse backgrounds, and represented by the African Diaspora, as well as markets that are not embraced by the official VC clubs.

In the recent past Africa’s VC front has suffered from an inadequate number of venture Bakers. This has often resulted to funding gaps, specifically in ZIDI’s incubation and acceleration programs, where over 90% have a funding need that the firm was not able to meet.

The program’s aim is to prepare aspiring venture backers by providing them with Resources, Skills, and Exposure to the VC world so that they can own the deal process, be successful investors and build their own track record.

This program will also enable Zidi to reach a diverse pool of individuals and industry operators seeking to invest in diverse founders both in the diaspora and Africa’s specific startups.

Through the 4 weeks program, the cohort will receive tools to become confident and start functioning as venture backers who invest collectively thus minimizing the risk.

The program will entail:

• In-depth Bootcamp covering basic informal investing basics
• One-on-one Mentoring from experienced investors
• Investing where they assemble their venture backers club and start investing together under our guidance and ecosystem deal pipeline
• Chance to become judges in our pitch competition
• Monthly investor meetups of your venture club and other clubs
• Free Zidicircle’s Venture backers membership for 12 months

As part of this program Zidi wants to bring together successful, motivated, and passionate professionals with a broad interest in the venture capital space who are driven to find and fund exceptional Zidicircle cohorts from our incubation and acceleration programs.

Program Dates:

The venture backers program will run quarterly every year. The inaugural cohort will start in August 2021 and will run for 4 weeks.

For attractive investment opportunities, the backers will draft a short investment memo to review with the investment team and conduct diligence and execution for those opportunities that are consummated.

Initial investment sizes will range from $10,000 to $50,000 per company.  After the venture backers Program concludes, venture backers will be supported in their endeavors to become angel investors and investment evaluators.

Qualifications & Requirements

Interested candidates should meet the following criteria:

• Have at least 5 years of professional experience
• Be able to access and grow entrepreneurial networks across industries
• Have a strong interest in developing skills and experience as investors
• Be dedicated to change the current Funding ecosystem
• Be able to dedicate approximately 2 hours per week for four weeks to the program • Be ready to commit funds in first investments in any of the below ticket sizes; -$1000-5000,

-$5000-10,000,

-$10,000-50,000,

-$50,000-100,000

Next Steps

To apply to the venture backers Program, please fill out our application form here by July 31, 2021. Choose your category and Apply;

• Zidi Diaspora Venture backers program
• Zidi Kenya Backers program
• Zidi Ghana Venture backers program

For more details about the Venture Backers Program click here!