TL;DR,
- CV Summit in Cape Town attracted over 250 attendees at Watershed Workshop 17, with Crypto Valley VC launching an Africa Fund targeting 200,000−500,000 investments for blockchain startups.
- African blockchain ecosystem shows recovery from 2022 crypto winter as investors focus on sustainable business models.
- B2B payment systems, cross-border settlements, and compliance-focused blockchain solutions attracted the most investor interest, with emphasis on continental interconnectivity and practical problem-solving.
Investor optimism in the blockchain startup ecosystem in Africa increased once more at the most recent CV Summit in Cape Town on April 25th, suggesting a possible recovery from the difficulties seen during the 2022 crypto winter.
African businesses faced challenges, including layoffs, asset sales, and closures, when global investments in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries declined.
A Resurgence of Optimism at the CV Summit
Overlooking the setbacks, a changing cryptocurrency environment is revitalising Africa’s blockchain innovation sector. Investors cited as reasons for this increased optimism the broad use of blockchain technology by businesses and consumers throughout the continent, as well as advancements in regulatory frameworks and the rise of creative entrepreneurs, during the conference.
Leading the crypto investor trends is Switzerland’s Crypto Valley VC, which just established the Africa Fund to assist blockchain and cryptocurrency entrepreneurs throughout the continent. The fund targets seed, pre-Series A, and Series A rounds for investments ranging from $200,000 to $500,000. Additionally, it invests up to $135,000 for 7% on a convertible note.
Many investors are becoming interested in blockchain and cryptocurrency applications in Africa, claims CV VC CEO and founder Mathias Ruch. Its increasing faith in Africa’s blockchain potential is seen in the investment firm’s portfolio expansion to include fourteen African startups specialising in infrastructure, developer tools, and wallets.
On panels talking about how to close the gap between blockchain developers and investors, several speakers emphasised the need to teach investors about Web3 technologies in Africa. The CEO of Vogel Front Office, Rony Vogel, underlined the need for transparency and information sharing to distribute funds that are pending for blockchain initiatives.
RELATED: Twelve African Blockchain Startups Secure Millions in Venture Funding
Hashgraph Foundation chief ventures officer Andrew Forson reminded entrepreneurs that self-serving tactics to inflate company valuations, common in startups, are an immediate red flag for any investor. Instead, concentrating on sustainable businesses that actually provide some utility and some solutions can maintain investor confidence.
“There has to be a rationalisation of valuations to justify investor confidence in what startups are building and asking investor funding for.”
The Watershed Workshop 17 conference venue saw over 250 attendees, each vying for a piece of Africa’s buzzing ecosystem.
Seed Funding for Blockchain Projects
For Africa, blockchain uniquely solves some local problems. For finance, it’s cheap, faster and safer financial rails. Payments rails, stablecoin‑based treasury solutions, cross‑border settlements, and B2B infrastructure for compliance or on‑/off‑ramps attracted the most interest.
Access to seed funding for blockchain projects remains a cutthroat competition. Innovations aren’t scarce; everyone is trying to prove why their product works, but Africa provides the problems. Additionally, ecosystem grants acting as quasi‑non‑dilutive supplements aid in development. When compared to VC funding, it does fall short, but it can kickstart the well-sought seed funding for blockchain projects.
More investors equal more funded projects, which later expand to an actual solution for Africa.
If you’re wondering about how to attract blockchain investors, a viable product is among the first aspects. However, pairing clear regulatory references with tangible distribution (bank partnerships, telecom channels, or marketplace integration) gets you a bit closer.
Regulations are also another factor to consider. Africa’s regulatory standpoint is fragmented. In other jurisdictions, Sandboxes, payment service licenses, and digital asset guidelines are being piloted. Other regions outright ban any form of digital assets. Instead of viewing it as a barricade, it’s often best to build projects that navigate the legal demands of a region.
RELATED: Why Circle Ventures Backed CV VC’s African Blockchain Fund with $20M
B2B payment systems, supply-chain traceability or any blockchain-powered projects should think beyond their hometown. Interconnecting Africa is the key goal. Accelerator programs drill these facts while blending technical audits with commercialization coaching. The CV summit is often the end goal, proving to investors why your product is the next credible unicorn startup.
The CV summit was a chance for startups to prove that our solutions have merit, and they did impress. The hype cycles are over, and startups must provide actual merit. Enterprise pilots, compliance-focused design, and realistic valuations are definitive factors that investors eye. Blockchain startup funding is ideal for many founders. The process involves getting smarter capital stacks, clearer rules, and stronger partnerships.
