Equipping African Startups & Venture Capital Funds with everything they need to expand, scale and raise capital in the UK. Yes, everything.
F2F Sandbox
An initiative run by V54 Open Impact, the nonprofit arm of Ventures 54, and funded by the UK Government, International Tech Hub Networks in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
HI THERE. WE’RE F2F SANDBOX!
Startup founders and funders across Africa are increasingly seeking ways to leverage global markets to enhance their access to capital, talent, and networks. However, many face challenges in identifying effective strategies and tools.
The Founder 2 Funder (F2F) Sandbox initiative addresses this by offering tailored support to African startup founders and venture capital fund managers seeking access to the UK ecosystem.
Sandbox delivers an on-demand support programme that helps foster business growth and expansion - whether for commercial, operational, or fundraising purposes, ensuring founders and funders achieve their specific market access goals.
We work with Founders
F2F Sandbox connects high potential African technology startups with operators, market makers and investors that will support them in market expansion primarily into the UK. Currently assisting startups from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria only.
FOUNDER SUPPORT PILLARS
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Guiding startups in building and maintaining strong relationships with UK investors to secure funding and support.
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Assisting startups in identifying and forming strategic partnerships and client relationships within the UK market.
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Advising on efficient operational strategies and talent acquisition to sustainably build a robust and effective team.
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Ensuring startups understand and adhere to UK regulations, compliance standards, and governance practices.
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Supporting startups in the logistical and strategic aspects of moving or expanding their business operations to the UK.
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Connecting startups with key players and networks within the UK startup ecosystem to foster growth and collaboration.
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Facilitating connections and support among startups through peer-to-peer learning and community building.
Founders will receive tailored support through a sprint-style plan that will cover 2-3 key support areas. To be eligible for F2F Sandbox, startups must be actively exploring or in the process of market expansion into the UK.
The following timeline is what to expect from a Founder Sprint:
WEEK 1
ONBOARDING & ASSESSMENT
Full business needs assessment from fundraising to expansion to define support and connections plan.
WEEK 2 - 3
DEEP DIVES & SUPPORT
Connect you with Expert Advisors for your business and provide specific capacity building for UK Market Entry.
WEEK 4 - 5
CONNECTIONS & FOLLOW-UPS
Provide bespoke connections into the UK Ecosystem & support with end to end engagement.
WEEK 6
OFF BOARDING & ACTION PLAN
Sprint review to assess outcomes and define follow-up action plan for further ecosystem and connections engagement.
FOLLOW-ON
TRACKING AND SUPPORT
Regular check-in’s to track progress of connections and activities. Providing ad-hoc support where needed.
We work with Fund Managers
F2F Sandbox supports emerging and established managers of African Venture Capital Funds with accessing LP capital and exit enablement. Including UK operational and platform expansion for portfolio support requirements.
SUPPORT PILLARS FOR — FUND MANAGERS
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Assisting fund managers in building and maintaining robust relationships with Limited Partners (LPs) in the UK, whilst also building relations and partnerships with General Partners (GPs) as UK Funds looking to co-invest into African startups.
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Identify and provide access to key stakeholders who can support with design and execution of exit strategies and opportunities via the UK for current and future portfolio companies.
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Providing fund managers with tools, strategies and UK market networks that can be used to support portfolio companies with specific UK market access needs - reference Founder Support pillars for examples.
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Equipping fund managers with a comprehensive framework to navigate broader strategic areas such as market trends, regulatory changes, talent acqusition amongst others to ensure a well-rounded approach to UK Market access and entry.
Fund Managers will receive tailored support through a sprint-style plan that will cover 2-3 key support areas. To be eligible for the Sandbox, funds must be looking to raise capital from the UK and or looking to expand presence in UK beyond just capital raising such as portfolio entry support or new office establishment.
The following timeline is what to expect from a Fund Sprint:
WEEK 1
ONBOARDING & ASSESSMENT
Full fund needs assessment from fundraising to expansion to define support and connections plan.
WEEK 2 - 4
DEEP DIVES & SUPPORT
Connect you with Expert Advisors for your business and provide specific capacity building for UK Market Entry.
WEEK 5 - 8
CONNECTIONS & FOLLOW-UPS
Provide bespoke connections into the UK Ecosystem & support with end to end engagement.
WEEK 9
OFF BOARDING & ACTION PLAN
Sprint review to assess outcomes and define follow-up action plan for further ecosystem and connections engagement.
FOLLOW-ON
TRACKING AND SUPPORT
Regular check-in’s to track progress of connections and activities. Providing ad-hoc support where needed.
IMPACT & ECOSYSTEM BUILDING
As part of London Tech Week 2024, the V54 Open Impact team provided support for London Africa Network’s x Africa Tech Festival - Africa Ignite Event.
Utilising the F2F Sandbox network to host the UK-Africa Super Connect portion of the event bringing 12 Ecosystem Partners together to host 26 Masterclasses and Office Hour Sessions for 60 visiting African Startups.
RESOURCES
Sandbox Partner Network
F2F Sandbox operates expansive network of organisations and individuals who are actively supporting Startups and Funds in the UK - Africa corridor, whilst also surfacing and supporting those who are newly seeking to create communities of best practice.
Partners to be announced over the coming months as part of our ecosystem spotlight series.
Coming soon.
Ecosystem Resources Library
F2F Sandbox is an invite via application only initiative working with a select number of Startup and Funds per year. But wherever possible its knowledge base and opportunities facilitated will be distilled down into publicly accessible resources via the V54 Open Impact Library.
Launching very soon with our first tool - the UK Market Entry Pack, a guide and checklist for African Founders looking to expand into the UK.
Coming soon.
LET’S HAVE A CHAT
If you are a founder or fund manager looking for UK market access support. Or an ecosystem support organization that can provide support to African founders and fund managers with market expansion. Then get in touch.
Sandbox Team
V54 Open Impact
