We partner with businesses to grow them
Twenty84 is a hybrid venture platform that acquires and scales businesses across Africa and emerging markets.
The talent is here. What’s missing is the right partner.
Africa and emerging markets are full of untapped potential: talented operators, growing consumer markets and businesses ready to scale. What’s often missing is the right capital, systems and support to unlock it.
Thesis
Diamonds in the rough, ready for good execution.
I
Lack of capital
Talented founders lack access to capital. Traditional funding is slow and out of reach for most, so potential dies before businesses begin.
II
Lack of support
Visionaries understand their markets but lack the operational systems, growth playbooks and guidance to reach the next stage.
III
Untapped opportunity
While first-world markets are saturated, Africa and emerging markets are wide open, waiting for good execution.
How we invest
Built for businesses that are ready to grow.
When we partner with a business, we bring three things to the table, depending on what it needs: capital, systems and reach.
- capital
- expansion · inventory · hiring · product
- systems
- finance · operations · workflows
- ai
- implementation, hands-on
- brand
- marketing · ads · content · websites
- involvement
- capital only → stake → full partners
- horizon
- long term
Not just funding, but the tools to actually grow.
Capital
Smart, targeted capital for the highest-leverage areas. Designed to accelerate growth, not just extend runway.
Consulting & operations
We help operators get their structures and systems right, so a good business can become a great one.
AI implementation
AI built into finance, operations and everyday workflows, hands-on, by the people who run them.
Distribution & brand
Marketing, ads, content, websites and brand strategy, so businesses reach the customers they deserve.
In the trenches
Operational expertise, AI capability and a full marketing engine, side by side with our partners.
Built for the long term
We back operators we believe in and build alongside them for the long term.
Mandate
What we look for.
Building something real? Generating revenue? We want to hear from you.
Cash-generative physical businesses
Retail, services, property and hospitality. Things people will always need, with a natural moat against disruption. We layer on systems, brand and smart capital to accelerate what’s already working.
Tech & AI businesses
High-growth businesses adapted for African and emerging-market context: founders who take proven global plays, reshape them for local markets and create outsized value.
Africa & emerging markets
While first-world markets are saturated, these are wide open. The talent is here; we bring the capital, systems and support to unlock it.
What we believe
Three principles guide everything we do.
- 01
People first
Everything starts with the person. We invest in people before businesses, with integrity and trust, and build alongside them for the long term.
- 02
We fit in where we’re needed
Sometimes that’s just capital. Sometimes it’s a small stake and light guidance. Sometimes we roll up our sleeves and become full partners.
- 03
Spread the light
We exist to create opportunity for people who would otherwise be held back: more jobs, more growth, more capability.
Capital · Systems · AI
How we work
“We get in the trenches.”
Share your business idea.
We’re looking for exceptional founders and operators. Whether you need capital, systems or a growth partner, we’d like to hear from you.