Knife Capital PTY LTD

FUND MANAGER DETAILS
Year Fund Started 2010
Type of Fund Manager Venture Capital
Regulatory License Number FSB license 41642
Total Number of Investments to Date 25
Number of Investment Executives 6
Principal Office Address 2nd Floor Old Warehouse Building, Black River Office Park, 2 Fir Rd, Observatory, Cape Town
Key Contact Person and Designation Keet van Zyl, Vivienne van der Westhuizen
BEE Ownership None of the above
Company Description Knife Capital is a venture capital investment manager that accelerates the international expansion of African innovation-driven businesses by leveraging knowledge, networks and funding. KNOWLEDGE: In selecting entrepreneurs with deep subject matter expertise and then adding a blend of the business building skills of Knife Capital and the diversified experience of a credible investor base, investees gain a solid knowledge foundation to scale from. NETWORKS: Knife provides market access and accelerates investee traction by leveraging a dynamic partner network to ensure that the solution to virtually every challenge confronting Sub-Saharan African high-growth business is no more than 3 phone calls away. FUNDING: With emphasis on each phase of the FMGR (Find-Make-Grow-Realise) investment cycle, Knife responsibly applies funding to take advantage of windows of opportunity for investee companies to close growth gaps and create sustainable exit-ready businesses. Knife Capital has offices in Cape Town, London and Jersey, and invest via a consortium of funding partnerships. Knife Capital is well entrenched in the African entrepreneurial eco-system and pioneered many of the initiatives that have shaped the VC industry on the continent.
Telephone 021 555 1933
E-mail info@knifecap.com / keet@knifecap.com / vivienne@knifecap.com
Website www.knifecap.com
FUND DETAILS
Name of Fund Knife Capital Fund III
Stage of Fund Fundraising
Committed Capital of Fund US$50 million (target)
Fund Structure LLP (Jersey & SA)
Nature of Fund Expansion Funding / Series B
Number of Portfolio Companies 0
INVESTMENT PREFERENCES
Minimum Investment USD 3 million
Maximum Investment USD 10 million
Average Current Investment Size N/A
Industry Preference
  • Computer &/ Electronics
  • Financial & Insurance
  • Telecommunications
  • ICT
Industry Excluded
  • Gambling
  • Military services & Arms
  • Real Estate / Property
  • Tobacco & Alcohol
Investment Stage Preference
  • Expansion
Investment Stage Excluded
  • Seed
  • Start-up
Minimum and Maximum Equity Usually Taken 10%-49%
Geographical Preferences
  • South Africa
  • East Africa
  • West Africa


FUND DETAILS
Name of Fund KNF Ventures (RF) PTY LTD
Stage of Fund Closed
Committed Capital of Fund R250 million
Fund Structure s12j fund
Nature of Fund Growth funding VC
Number of Portfolio Companies 10
INVESTMENT PREFERENCES
Minimum Investment R5 million
Maximum Investment R49 million
Average Current Investment Size R20 million
Industry Preference
  • Computer &/ Electronics
  • Financial & Insurance
  • Telecommunications
  • ICT
Industry Excluded
  • Gambling
  • Military services & Arms
  • Real Estate / Property
  • Tobacco & Alcohol
Investment Stage Preference
  • Start-up
  • Small
  • Expansion
  • Venture Capital
Investment Stage Excluded
  • Bridge
  • Late stages
  • Buyout
  • Mature
  • Large
  • Buy-in
  • Not specified
Minimum and Maximum Equity Usually Taken 10%-49%
Geographical Preferences
  • South Africa
FUND DETAILS
Name of Fund KNF Ventures II (RF) PTY LTD
Stage of Fund Second close
Committed Capital of Fund R150 million
Fund Structure s12j fund
Nature of Fund Growth funding VC
Number of Portfolio Companies 3
INVESTMENT PREFERENCES
Minimum Investment R5 million
Maximum Investment R29 million
Average Current Investment Size R16 million
Industry Preference
  • Computer &/ Electronics
  • Financial & Insurance
  • ICT
  • Telecommunications
Industry Excluded
  • Gambling
  • Military services & Arms
  • Real Estate / Property
  • Tobacco & Alcohol
Investment Stage Preference
  • Start-up
  • Small
  • Expansion
  • Venture Capital
Investment Stage Excluded
  • Bridge
  • Late stages
  • Buyout
  • Mature
  • Large
  • Buy-in
  • Not specified
Minimum and Maximum Equity Usually Taken 10%-49%
Geographical Preferences
  • South Africa


FUND DETAILS
Name of Fund Grindstone Ventures
Stage of Fund Fundraising
Committed Capital of Fund R100 million (target)
Fund Structure GP/LP (South Africa)
Nature of Fund Early Stage VC
Number of Portfolio Companies 2
INVESTMENT PREFERENCES
Minimum Investment R1 million
Maximum Investment R5 million
Average Current Investment Size R1,5 million
Industry Preference
  • Computer &/ Electronics
  • Financial & Insurance
  • Telecommunications
  • ICT
Industry Excluded
  • Gambling
  • Military services & Arms
  • Tobacco & Alcohol
Investment Stage Preference
  • Early-Stage
  • Seed
  • Small
  • Venture Capital
Investment Stage Excluded
  • Private Equity
  • Late stages
  • Medium
  • Buyout
  • Mature
  • Large
  • Buy-in
Minimum and Maximum Equity Usually Taken 5%-49%
Geographical Preferences
  • South Africa