Profile
Novastar Ventures is a venture capital investor headquartered in London, with additional offices in Nairobi and Lagos. Founded by Andrew Carruthers and Steve Beck, the firm assembles a diverse team across key entrepreneurial hubs in Africa and the UK. Novastar is committed to partnering with bold entrepreneurs that are transforming markets and sectors in Africa while creating meaningful social and environmental impact, evidenced by their strong emphasis on ESG principles.
The firm focuses on sectors including CleanTech, ClimateTech, HealthTech, and Education. They typically invest in early to growth-stage companies, supporting them with investment sizes ranging from $1-5 million. With their recently closed Africa People and Planet Fund III raising $147 million, Novastar Ventures reinforces their commitment to sustainable African growth. The firm primarily invests across Africa, leveraging their regional expertise and networks.
Notable investments from Novastar’s portfolio include GreenWheels - an electric mobility company, ARC Ride - an electric vehicle startup, and Rechaj - a company within their electric mobility investments. Their portfolio highlights their focus on companies that deliver substantial impact and advancement within their respective industries.
Industry
Novastar Ventures Funds
| Name | Type |
|
|
|
Size | AUM | Launch date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Novastar Ventures East Africa Fund I
|
Venture Capital (VC)
|
Agriculture
Education
E-commerce/Marketplace
Fintech
Healthcare Services
Infrastructure
Energy
|
Pre-seed
Seed
|
Africa
|
$5-10 m
|
$80 M
|
March 2014
|
|
Novastar Ventures Africa Fund II
|
Venture Capital (VC)
|
Agriculture
E-commerce/Marketplace
Financial Services
Fintech
Healthcare Services
Infrastructure
Energy
AgriTech
|
Pre-seed
Seed
|
Africa
|
$5-10 m
|
$108 M
|
March 2018
|
|
Africa People and Planet Fund III
|
Venture Capital (VC)
|
Education
CleanTech
HealthTech
ClimateTech
|
Seed
Series A
Series B
|
Africa
|
$1-5 m
|
—
|
September 2026
|
Contacts
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