Ingressive Capital, an early-stage $50 million VC firm based in Lagos, is ranked among the top African VC firms by Crunchbase. We provide seed and pre-seed funding to tech-enabled startups in various sectors — including financial services, marketplace, and wellbeing.
Ingressive Capital invests in startups by providing financial backing of up to $500,000 for 10% ownership. Beyond financial support, we are also a partner and provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to our networks — ensuring the companies in our portfolio thrive; regardless of their industry.
In this article, we’ll share our investment philosophy, evaluate our investment process, and discuss how we leverage our network to benefit our portfolio companies.
Our investment philosophy
Ingressive Capital emphasizes understanding not only a startup’s market potential but also its competitive dynamics — evaluating how founders position themselves in a rapidly evolving ecosystem. We believe in investing in entrepreneurs who are passionate, driven, and have a clear vision for their business.
That’s why we look for founders who are addressing local or regional challenges and have the potential for global impact.
We also consider the market opportunity and the competitive landscape. Our team thoroughly evaluates a startup’s business model, revenue generation potential, and the scalability of their product or service. Beyond these, we assess your team and their ability to execute your vision.
Furthermore, we understand the importance of mentorship and support for startups beyond just financial investment. Our network of experienced mentors and industry experts across various sectors provides invaluable guidance to our portfolio companies, helping them navigate challenges, make strategic decisions, and accelerate their growth.
We believe that this hands-on approach sets our investment strategy apart and helps to maximize success potential for the startups we back.
How big are Ingressive Capital tickets?
While ticket sizes typically reach up to $500,000 for 10% ownership, we remain flexible to invest beyond this amount in pre-seed and seed-stage startups demonstrating extraordinary growth potential or strategic alignment.
By investing not just capital but also expertise and resources, we support our portfolio companies in building sustainable and successful businesses that can make a lasting impact on their respective industries.
How does Ingressive Capital evaluate potential investments?
We consider various factors when evaluating potential investments. We analyze market traction and customer acquisition strategies, particularly focusing on cost efficiency and the scalability of customer growth models. We also assess the startups’ team dynamics, industry expertise, and their ability to adapt to market changes.
For example, we’ve supported startups like Grey — whose innovative cross-border payment solutions have scaled rapidly across markets due to a strong acquisition strategy.
We also believe in conducting thorough due diligence before making any investment decisions. This involves reviewing the startup’s financials, conducting market research, and engaging with existing customers or partners.
Since we place a strong emphasis on the scalability and sustainability of the startups we invest in, we evaluate not only the current performance of the startup but also its potential for long-term growth and success in the market.
By looking at the scalability of the business model and the sustainability of its competitive advantage, we aim to partner with startups that have the potential to become industry leaders — like Paystack, Mono, and Grey.
Which industries does Ingressive Capital focus on?
We focus on startups in sectors like financial services, marketplace, and wellbeing — industries that have shown tremendous potential for growth and innovation in Africa. We believe that by backing startups in these industries, we can contribute to the sustainable development of the continent and make a positive impact on people’s lives.
In fact, Ingressive Capital has been instrumental in shaping Africa’s fintech landscape, with investments in Paystack and Mono paving the way for digital transformation across the continent.
For example, the fintech sector in Africa has been experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing adoption of mobile money services and the rise of digital payment platforms. This growth presents numerous opportunities for startups to disrupt traditional financial services and provide innovative solutions to the unbanked population.
Similarly, the healthtech industry in Africa is gaining traction as more startups focus on leveraging technology to improve access to healthcare services — especially in remote areas where medical facilities are scarce.
By investing in healthtech startups like Healthtracka, we aim to support initiatives that have the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes across the continent.
What’s the typical investment process at Ingressive Capital?
The investment process at Ingressive Capital is pretty straightforward.
Here’s how our investment process works:
- Apply online. Startups can submit applications via our online portal, which is reviewed weekly by our investment team for alignment with our criteria. We then invite shortlisted startups for an initial screening interview.
- Prepare for due diligence. If a startup successfully passes the initial screening, they proceed to the due diligence stage. This involves in-depth discussions, market analysis, as well as legal and financial reviews. If the due diligence is satisfactory, the investment terms are negotiated, and the deal is closed.
- Get onboarded. Following the closure of the deal, we’ll continue to support the startup through regular check-ins, strategic guidance, and networking opportunities. We also have a 90-day initial onboarding period where we provide support with business development, talent sourcing and community introductions.
This hands-on approach is designed to help the startup grow and succeed in the competitive market landscape.
Success stories: How does Ingressive Capital support startups post-funding?
At Ingressive Capital, our support for startups goes beyond just providing capital. We actively work with our portfolio companies to help them overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth. We provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to our extensive network of industry experts and investors.
We also organise and support regular networking events and workshops where portfolio companies can learn from each other and connect with potential partners or customers. Our team is always available to provide advice and support as startups navigate various stages of their growth journey.
Over the years, we’ve invested in several successful startups that have significantly impacted their respective sectors. One such success story is Paystack, a fintech startup that has revolutionised online payments in Africa.
Through our funding and support, Paystack has expanded its operations across multiple countries and has become a key player in the African fintech landscape — even becoming one of the most successful exits on the continent.
Another success story is Healthtracka — a digital health platform that allows consumers direct access to lab test bookings, at-home sample collection and digital results within 72 hours. With the financial backing and guidance from Ingressive Capital, Healthtracka has been able to serve all kinds of customers significantly, improving healthcare outcomes.
How does Ingressive Capital ensure sustainable growth for its portfolio companies?
We believe in taking a long-term approach to investing. That’s why we focus on building enduring partnerships with our portfolio companies and supporting them throughout their growth journey. We work closely with the startups’ management teams to develop strategic plans, implement best practices, and identify growth opportunities.
We also encourage our portfolio companies to adopt sustainable business practices and contribute to the communities they operate in. By aligning the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the broader society, we believe we can create a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem for startups to thrive.
How can startups apply for funding from Ingressive Capital?
If you’re a startup looking to secure funding from Ingressive Capital, you can submit your application through our online portal. However, we recommend you carefully review our investment criteria to ensure that your business aligns with our focus sectors before applying.
When submitting your application, ensure to provide detailed information about your business model, market opportunity, traction, and team. Highlight any competitive advantages or unique features of your product or service. But remember to be concise and comprehensive in your application.
We can’t wait to have you join Africa’s leading network of transformative startups!
