NVCCZ plans diaspora fund
ROBIN PHIRI
The National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe (NVCCZ) says it plans to establish a diaspora fund aimed at attracting investment from Zimbabweans living abroad to support local startups, innovation, and industrial development.
The initiative is part of the company’s broader effort to build a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and help the country achieve its Vision 2030 target of becoming an upper middle-income economy.
NVCCZ chief executive officer Tino Kambasha said the fund will provide a trusted and transparent platform through which Zimbabweans in the diaspora can channel their resources into high-impact ventures back home.
“We are definitely going to open a diaspora fund to have that trusted partner who handles projects transparently and delivers returns as promised,” Kambasha said.
He added:
“This will not only help entrepreneurs access much-needed capital but also allow the diaspora to play an active role in driving national development.”
Kambasha said the NVCCZ, launched on 16 January this year, was created to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization after it became clear that many innovation hubs were failing to turn ideas into viable businesses.
“His Excellency established innovation hubs across the country, but most were dying a natural death because there was no commercialization. That’s how NVCCZ came about — to become the link between innovators, funders, and industry,” he explained.
Operating as a privately managed, professional entity, the NVCCZ — soon to be rebranded as the National Venture Fund — works closely with industry players, investors, and the government to nurture startups and early-stage businesses.
Kambasha said the organization’s work is anchored on five pillars aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Development Strategies (NDS 1 and 2), with a strong focus on youth empowerment, women inclusion, devolution, and regional balance.
Among the ventures currently being supported are KumbaCare, a digital health startup developing a virtual hospital platform that enables online medical consultations and pharmacy access, and a locally built ERP system that automates business operations using artificial intelligence.
“These projects show the kind of talent Zimbabwe has,” Kambasha said. “Our job is to connect that innovation with industry and funding so it can scale.”
He added that the NVCCZ is also advocating for a Start-up Act, improved ease of doing business, and stronger intellectual property protections to create a more enabling environment for innovators and investors.
“We want to build bridges between ideas and execution, between potential and prosperity. Zimbabweans at home and abroad must be part of shaping the future economy,” he said.
