Early-Stage African Fintech Investing
Fintechs focused on financial inclusivity in Africa make it easier to do business - and to do life
About Kinyungu
UPDATE: Kinyungu Ventures is now part of Verdant Frontiers.
Kinyungu Ventures catalyzes resilient businesses for local intergenerational prosperity, focusing on the fin+tech verticals. We strive to do three things well.
- Context: Provide wisdom in crucial moments
- Connects: Leverage trusted relationships
- Capital: Invest in great businesses
We are crazy enough to invest in unconventional and early ventures Friends and family can only get you so far, while VCs and banks see you as too risky. This infamous “missing middle” of investing $50-500k is our sweet spot.
Unicorns are cool, but we love zebras and camels Many great small businesses don’t fit the typical VC or bank profile, but have tremendous unfulfilled potential and are the engine of East Africa’s economy.
We don’t just write checks, we go on the journey with you We’ve been in your shoes. So, we know first hand the value of the right people, the right advice, at the right time. We also love investing across multiple stages.
Learn more about our Chasing Outliers research. Or contact us.
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Core Both-And Beliefs
Trust and Truth The best ideas are not within us, but between us. The most important problems are solved by battle-tested teams. So, we build trust and relationships slowly, and we resolve conflict and tell the truth quickly.
Service and Leadership The greatest leaders are servants, equipping everyone around them to surpass them. We serve and lead our partners, entrepreneurs, investors, and communities best through listening, coaching, and being coachable.
Purpose-Driven and Profit-Savvy Shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves, we are motivated by solving problems and serving others, while also being wise in business realities. We live in the tension of many both/ands.
Pivoting and Persevering The best entrepreneurs learn quickly from the market, adapt accordingly, and pivot courageously. They also know when to keep persevering.
Founder — Tony Chen
Tony founded Kinyungu Ventures in 2017. In 2021, Tony Chen joined Verdant Frontiers as a Partner. As part of the move, Verdant Frontiers also acquired Kinyungu Ventures. Tony is GP of the Verdant Frontiers Fintech Fund.
Tony has 25+ years experience starting new companies with multiple exits. He co-founded Redica Systems, a SaaS business he led as CEO for 8 years. Tony earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. Tony and his family lived in Kenya for three years, when he had 500+ coffees with entrepreneurs and made dozens of investments.
