ABOUT US

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 adynamic partner network to ensure that the solution to virtually every challengeconfronting a Sub-Saharan African high-growth business is no more than three 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.

OUR HISTORY

  • 2010
       

    2010 - KNIFE FUND I:
    HBD Venture Capital

    Knife Capital was established in 2010 as the incarnation of the South African venture capital division of ‘Here Be Dragons’ – a privately owned emerging market investment group founded by internet entrepreneur and cosmonaut Mark Shuttleworth. Knife Capital took over the management of seven HBD portfolio companies to create a managed fund. Exits include CSense (Analytics Software) to US technology giant General Electric, Fundamo (Mobile Financial Services) to VISA and orderTalk (online food ordering software) to Uber Eats.

  • 2013
       

    2013 - GRINDSTONE
    ACCELERATOR

    Grindstone Accelerator is a structured entrepreneurship development programme. It takes South African SMEs with proven traction through an intensive year-long review of their strategies and provides them with the necessary support to build a foundation for growth in becoming more investable, sustainable, marketable and exit-ready.

  • 2016
       

    2016 - KNIFE FUND II:
    KNF Ventures 12J

    KNF Ventures is a SARS Section 12J Venture Capital Company – enabling qualifyinginvestors to claim amounts invested as a full and permanent deduction from taxable income in South Africa. By leveragingKnowledge, Networks & Funding, KNF Venturesaccelerates the growth of South Africaninnovation-driven SMEs and generatesenhanced returns for investors.

  • 2017
       

    2017 - UK EXPANSION

    Knife Capital introduces the Draper-Gain Family Office as strategic investor and expands to the UK to accelerate the international growth of portfolio companies.

  • 2020
       

    2020 - KNIFE FUND II EXTENSION

    Knife launched a second Section 12J Venture Capital Company to extend the offering. KNF Ventures II has the same investment mandate as the first section 12J Fund and will continue to build on the success and momentum created. For more information about this fund please contact invest@knifecap.com

  • 2021
       

    2021 - KNIFE FUND III

    Knife is raising a new $50 million fund to invest behind the aggressive expansion of South African breakout companies that achieved a product/market fit, thereby filling a critical follow-on funding gap. For more information about this fund please contact invest@knifecap.com