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Kevin Dillon, co-founder of Africa Bridge Fund, believes Africa has the potential to be the next global leader in AI and technology. This coming from a guy who knows a thing or two about the subject.
Born and raised in Cape Town, where he studied law at the University of Cape Town, Dillon began his career at Price Waterhouse, and was transferred to Silicon Valley in the mid-1980s.
“It was a pivotal time, as Silicon Valley rapidly became the global epicenter of technological innovation. Working with Price Waterhouse and later Microsoft, I witnessed firsthand how companies like Apple, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard weren’t just building products, they were shaping an entire ecosystem,” he told Disrupt Africa.
By the early 2000s, he had moved to Europe, which was undergoing its own tech renaissance.
“As Microsoft’s first CFO for Europe, I helped establish and scale operations at a time when venture capital was surging, EU policy was fostering innovation, and the European tech ecosystem was maturing. Despite challenges like language barriers and market fragmentation, Europe succeeded by strategically aligning capital, talent, and policy,” said Dillon.
In 2004, he co-founded Atlantic Bridge, a global growth equity technology firm that now manages over EUR1 billion (US$1.2 billion) in assets.
“We’ve invested in 110 companies, exited 38 – including seven unicorns – and partnered with leading university innovation hubs to source new ideas,” Dillon said.
And earlier this year, he co-founded Africa Bridge, which aims to drive innovation and investment across the African tech landscape.
“I’ve been investing in tech startups for over 20 years. Over that time, I’ve backed numerous ventures across different regions, including Africa. One example is Insight Terra, an exciting climate tech platform focused on industries managing large infrastructure, such as mining and agriculture,” said Dillon.
“Although I no longer live full time in Africa, for years, I have closely watched Africa’s evolving tech landscape. It’s exciting to see that many of the fundamental building blocks I observed in Silicon Valley in the 1980s and in Europe in the early 2000s – such as risk-tolerant capital, world-class universities, and a culture of collaboration – are taking shape in Africa.”
Though Dillon had initially assumed the best way to contribute to the continent would be through philanthropy, the changing investment landscape has shown a deeper opportunity to help scale and accelerate African startups, he said.
“Over the years, I’ve had conversations with trusted friends and colleagues about launching a dedicated tech fund for Africa. That’s when I approached Frank McCosker, a longtime colleague from Microsoft and other ventures. He shares my enthusiasm for Africa’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem. Together, we co-founded Africa Bridge Fund to invest in high-potential, homegrown startups and help them scale,” he said.
Africa Bridge is actively fundraising and engaging investors.
“While I can’t disclose names just yet, the fund will comprise a mix of family offices, DFIs, institutional funds, and individual investors, with backing from both African and international sources,” said Dillon.
It is primarily interested in three sectors: e-health, covering medical devices, biotech, and data-driven health solutions; climate-tech, including carbon capture, risk management, and digital MRV; and enablement technologies, such as connectivity, education, payments, and infrastructure that drive access and inclusion.
Africa Bridge Fund invests in Africa-based and African-owned businesses.
“While Africa is vast and diverse, we are currently focused on South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana – but we remain open to high-impact, scalable ventures across the continent,” Dillon said.
“Our team’s expertise lies in helping startups scale and supporting their journeys toward successful exits, often in global markets like the US. We want to work alongside founders who are driven to scale and create meaningful impact. We build the right investment syndicates globally in line with company specific needs and opportunities including European and US investors.”
Beyond capital, Dillon said his team is passionate about strengthening the tech venture ecosystem to accelerate Africa’s innovation flywheel.
“Africa’s tech scene is incredibly diverse and dynamic. African entrepreneurs tend to be resourceful and resilient, often creating opportunities in response to gaps in formal job markets. This means they’re naturally attuned to cost efficiencies, creative problem-solving, and scalable innovations,” said Dillon.
Broadly, he sees African tech ventures falling into three categories – regional solutions, addressing local challenges such as off-grid energy and water purification; adaptations, tailoring successful innovations from the US, Europe, and Asia to African markets; and global champions, breakthrough technologies originating in Africa that can compete worldwide. But what impact will the current capital shortage have, regardless of what category a startup falls into?
“It’s hard to predict market cycles, but what I do see is investors actively searching for high-quality opportunities. Those with clear financials, strong leadership, and scalable strategies will continue to attract support. Venture capital in Africa remains dynamic and full of potential,” Dillon said.
What are Africa Bridge Fund’s plans for the next year or so?
“We are focused on closing our first fund and making our initial investments. Additionally, we are exploring university innovation hubs to drive collaboration and stimulate Africa’s tech ecosystem,” said Dillon.
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