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Race and gender equity in entrepreneurship is often treated as a “nice to have”, but we believe it’s central to building a thriving innovation economy. Diverse teams are proven to outperform because they bring broader perspectives, sharper problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of diverse customer bases. Yet in South Africa, the venture space remains dominated by male founders, and women, particularly women of colour, continue to be underrepresented.
At Grindstone Ventures, we’ve made diversity a deliberate strategy. Being a female-led fund is not symbolic; it influences how we evaluate companies and the founders we back. When we invested in Play Sense, a company pioneering micro-schools for early childhood education, we recognised not only a scalable business model but also the strength of its female-led vision. Their model reflects inclusivity and community, values that often emerge when diverse founders lead.
This is not charity; it’s smart economics. If capital continues to concentrate in the same networks, we risk building an innovation ecosystem that is homogenous, fragile, and disconnected from the majority of South Africans. When capital flows into diverse hands, it strengthens the ecosystem and creates new markets.
True transformation in venture capital requires intentionality. Equity and inclusion must be prioritised, not as side projects but as central pillars of investment strategy. A fund that ignores diversity is not just leaving impact on the table, it’s leaving financial returns there too.
