Playfair founder- Federico pirzio biroli ( Fede ) to do angel investing in Africa
Africa is a hot bed for investment ranging from ideological point of view to man power, many people are starting up their own companies some supersede the others while others fail due to lack of funds and other reasons, according to Techloy , The founder of Playfair Capital, a technology venture capital firm based in London, Federico Pirzio-Biroli is reportedly moving to Africa to become an angel investor.
According to the report, Fede (as he’s fondly called) is moving to Africa because he has always been fascinated by frontier markets and he feels he can replicate the good works he has done in London there.
“My decision to move to East Africa was made in November. I am and have always been personally excited by frontier markets, and feel like there is a real opportunity to move the needle there for the better,”
Fede told Business Insider.
The fact that Fede had worked in Africa with several NGOs before becoming a technology investor was also a reason why he has decided to come down here.
At the moment, we do not know the kind of tech startups Fede’ll be investing in but there are indications that entrepreneurs with startups that changes the way people live, work, and play for the better will get huge chunks of Fede’s money.
When we’re talking angel-investing, Fede is a man you can reference (and reverence if you like).
He started investing as an individual in early 2011. Two years from that time, he had invested in over 20 companies, during which time he was an angel in residence at White Bear Yard!
Fede, through Playfair Capital, has invested in companies across the UK, Europe, the US, and Africa – Yes, Fede has invested in Kenya’s Mobius Motors and Nigeria’s Andela.
As he plans to move to Africa, Playfair Capital will be closing its co-working space at Warner Yard in Clerkenwell. This space is home to a dozen early stage tech startups and is the London base of Techstars accelerator.
“…and so, it is with a heavy heart that we oversee the transition of Warner Yard away from co-working, but we are also excited by the opportunities which this change will bring, most notably allowing Playfair to fully concentrate on what it does best; investing in startups,”
Playfair Capital stated in a post.
As for the Playfair Capital fund, it’s not going to shut its doors completely. Fede will only hand over control to his remaining staff in preparation to becoming a limited, rather than general, partner.
“Playfair Capital is well positioned and will continue going from strength to strength without my operational involvement,”
said Fede.
This dude right here is doing all this just ‘cos he’s moving to Africa? I’d say African startups should brace up for some real angel investment.
