Zenzele, A Circle of Empowerment
Imagine Africa. A continent of unimaginable natural wealth and an irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone is estimated to hold natural mineral wealth reserves equivalent to more than the combined gross domestic product of the United States and European Union. Most Africans rely on tiny entrepreneurial ventures in the informal market for employment. What if Africa's potential was unlocked? What if the future held more employment in the formal market, giving Africans the economic power to feed their families, send all their children to school, gain access to primary healthcare and enjoy their birthright of a poverty-free life? What if Africa had a dynamic middle class with disposable income to support robust local economies and a majority of educated, engaged citizens who could hold governments accountable? Freed from poverty, what would Africa's brightest produce? What would a developed Africa look like, with it's Missing Middle filled? Imagine that Africa.
Zenzele Circle, An African Angel Investment Network
Zenzele Circle is an African angel investment network working to help create Africa's Missing Middle through job creation. We link start-up small and medium enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa with seed and growth capital, as well as strategic sectoral relationships. We seek high potential and sustainable business ventures. Our investment partners have patient capital and are hungry to harness Africa's untapped potential--the last truly high growth frontier. We demand best practice, international standards, a commitment to excellence and above all, sound sustainable businesses that create value-adding jobs. Zenzele Circle is about economic empowerment for Africa. Zenzele is a Zulu word meaning to do for self, it is a term invoking self-empowerment. Zenzele Circle works with entrepreneurial businesses to create Africa's Missing Middle.