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The Climate Resilient Africa Fund (CRAF) is an impact venture capital fund established to support seed-stage startups in Africa that provide scalable solutions to the climate crisis. Founded with the mission to foster climate-smart transformation in Africa's agri-food systems, CRAF operates from its headquarters in Africa. The fund focuses on innovative solutions that enhance resilience and sustainability in agriculture, addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
Currently, CRAF manages a portfolio of five companies, emphasizing its commitment to impactful investments. The fund's strategy is centered on the agri-food value chain, targeting transformative opportunities that promote sustainability and productivity. CRAF's notable milestones include its active engagement in the climate resilience sector and its focus on empowering smallholder farmers through strategic investments.
CRAF's investment strategy is designed to target transformative opportunities across the agri-food value chain, focusing on five high-impact verticals: Digital Farmer Services, Precision Agriculture, Supply Chain Innovations, Agro-processing, and Biotechnology. The fund invests in seed-stage startups that provide innovative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity while promoting sustainability. CRAF seeks to empower smallholder farmers by providing access to affordable services such as finance, insurance, technical advisory, and market access through digital platforms and data-driven tools.
In Precision Agriculture, CRAF supports technologies that enable precise tracking of farm inputs and outputs, ensuring sustainability and ethical sourcing. The fund also addresses post-harvest losses through Supply Chain Innovations, focusing on improvements in storage, logistics, and market infrastructure. Investments in Agro-processing aim to retain economic value within local economies, while Biotechnology initiatives support innovations that enhance productivity and sustainability in agriculture, including drought-tolerant seeds and biofertilizers tailored for African agro-ecologies.
CRAF has invested in five notable portfolio companies that exemplify its commitment to climate-smart solutions in agriculture:
Hossam Allam - Managing Partner: Hossam has extensive experience in venture capital and impact investing, focusing on climate resilience and sustainable agriculture.
Sherief Kesseba - Managing Partner: Sherief brings a wealth of knowledge in agricultural technology and investment strategies aimed at enhancing food security.
Moustafa Rehan - Venture Partner: Moustafa specializes in biotech investments, particularly those that contribute to sustainable agricultural practices.
Simba Mhungu - Venture Partner: Simba has a strong background in supply chain innovations and logistics within the agri-food sector.
Salma Noureldin - Portfolio Analyst: Salma focuses on analyzing portfolio performance and identifying growth opportunities for startups.
Ziyad El Hamzawi - Investment Analyst: Ziyad supports the investment team in evaluating potential deals and conducting market research.
Nouran Sayed - Junior Fund Administrator: Nouran assists in the administrative functions of the fund, ensuring smooth operations.
Tamara Abdelal - Marketing Associate: Tamara manages the fund's marketing efforts, promoting its mission and portfolio companies.
Shibshib & Oreo - Co-Chief Morale Officers: These two mascots contribute to the fund's culture and team spirit.
To pitch to CRAF, startups should visit their website at cra.fund for detailed application instructions. The fund prefers pitches that include a clear overview of the business model, market analysis, and the specific climate challenges being addressed. Founders should expect a response within a few weeks after submission.
Warm introductions are encouraged, as they can enhance the likelihood of a successful pitch. Startups should ensure their decks are concise and focused on the impact of their solutions on climate resilience and agricultural productivity.
As of March 2026, CRAF has been actively promoting its mission to support climate-smart transformation in Africa's agri-food systems. The fund continues to highlight its focus on innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and productivity within the agriculture sector.
CRAF's portfolio remains strong with five notable companies, each contributing to the fund's goal of addressing climate challenges through impactful investments.
What are the investment criteria for CRAF?
CRAF invests in seed-stage startups across Africa that provide scalable solutions to the climate crisis, particularly in the agri-food tech and nature economy sectors. The fund focuses on companies that target transformative opportunities within the agri-food value chain.
How can startups apply or pitch to CRAF?
Startups interested in pitching to CRAF can visit their website at cra.fund for more information on the application process. The fund encourages innovative solutions that enhance climate resilience.
What makes CRAF different from other funds?
CRAF emphasizes not only financial support but also strategic guidance and access to networks that help portfolio companies scale their impact. The fund is dedicated to building sustainable business models that contribute to climate resilience in Africa.
What is the geographic scope of CRAF's investments?
CRAF focuses exclusively on seed-stage startups located in Africa, targeting companies that address climate challenges within the continent's agri-food systems.
What is the typical check size for investments?
While specific check sizes are not disclosed, CRAF primarily invests at the seed stage, which typically involves smaller amounts aimed at early-stage companies.
What kind of post-investment involvement does CRAF have?
CRAF provides ongoing support to its portfolio companies through strategic guidance, access to networks, and assistance in scaling their operations, ensuring they can effectively address climate challenges.
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