First Check Africa

FirstCheck Africa is a pioneering venture capital firm focused on closing the gender funding gap in Africa by investing in tech startups founded or co-founded by women. Launched in 2021 by Eloho Omame and Odunayo Eweniyi, the fund initially started as an angel investment initiative, providing early "first checks" of up to $25,000 to women entrepreneurs at the ideation stage. It has since grown into an institutional fund with over $12 million under management, including a significant $2 million commitment from TLcom Capital. The firm is sector-agnostic, focusing on high-growth, technology-driven companies across Africa. It invests in pre-seed and seed stages, with checks now reaching up to $250,000. FirstCheck Africa aims to support female founders by not only providing capital but also leveraging its extensive network to help startups raise follow-on rounds and scale successfully. The firm’s portfolio spans across several African countries, with companies gaining traction in global accelerators like Y Combinator. FirstCheck Africa's strategy centers on empowering female-led ventures that demonstrate strong leadership potential, aiming to create a new generation of entrepreneurial role models across the continent. The fund is committed to advancing equity and leadership for African women in technology and entrepreneurship.