We believe early.
A working prototype. An insight others missed. We see the person behind the company, and the possibility ahead.
What we look forAFRICAN AI. PRE-SEED CAPITAL.
We back Africa’snext generationof AI founders.
First cheques for African founders aged 18–25.
Big conviction. Real support. Right from the start.
R200M
Oakvale’s announced commitment
to the African AI ecosystem.
18–25
African founders.
For teams, the average founder age.
AI
A meaningful part of the product.
A real problem worth solving.
Pre-seed
A working prototype or MVP.
Early enough to build together.
BIG CONVICTION. A CLEAR FOCUS.
Talent is here.
So are we.
We’re a family-backed pre-seed fund based in Cape Town. We back African founders building with AI to solve problems they know inside out.
We care about how fast you learn, how close you are to the problem and what you’ve already made happen.
Find your fitFamily-backed capitalCape Town rootsAfrican ambitionAn open door
WHY OAKVALE
The right belief.
At the very beginning.
A great builder shouldn’t have to leave home to be taken seriously. We’re here for the young Africans turning real problems into companies.
We get involved.
Product decisions. First customers. The hard questions. We work alongside our founders with the commitment of a co-founder.
Meet your first believers
We build for what’s next.
Patient family capital. Clear milestones. Honest conversations. The first cheque is the start of our work together.
How we workOUR FIRST INVESTMENT
Every great company
starts with a builder.
Rivar Maharaj saw what retailers were missing. He’s building an AI layer that makes their existing systems work smarter, without replacing the technology they already rely on.
Meet Rivar & Tennsa
THE FIRST CHAPTER / TENNSADARE TO TRY
The future doesn’t
build itself.
The first version. The uncomfortable question. The leap you’ve been thinking about. That’s where it begins.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Show us what
you’re building.
No perfect pitch required. A real problem, something you’ve built and your own words.
Start your application01
The company
The problem. The people it matters to.
02
The founders
Who you are. Why you’re the ones.
03
The product
What exists. Where AI makes a difference.
04
The progress
What you’ve tested, learned or sold.
05
The funding
What you need. What it makes possible.
06
The materials
Your deck, business plan and pitch video.