Leapfrog Ventures’ Takuma Terakubo wants to fund 200 startups by 2020

Leapfrog Ventures founder and CEO Takuma Terakubo says he aims to invest in 200 African startups by 2020.

This follows a report by Japanese publication The Bridge earlier this week that the venture capital firm had invested $50 000 in Kenyan startup Biasharabot.

Yesterday (29 August) Digest Africa reported that Leapfrog Ventures is also set to invest $190 000 in three Ugandan startups: Francom, Swipe2pay and Xente.

“My first target is 200 startups to invest until end of 2020 and ticket size is basically $30 000 to $50 000, sometimes $100 000,” said Terakubo.

Leapfrog Ventures and the Rwandan government are working on a sandbox that aims to encourage collaboration between Japanese tech companies and African startups

Terakubo founded Leapfrog Ventures in May in a joint venture with Japanese startup incubator Samurai Incubate. The Bridge reported that the venture capital firm’s fund is worth $4.5-million.

He explained that his purpose is to establish a community of 200 startups which will “incubate the whole continent” and help it solve its problems. Terakubo added that in addition, he intends to connect this startup community with Japanese tech companies.

Terakubo has already set these plans in motion. Leapfrog Ventures is working in cooperation with the Rwandan government on a Tech SandBox initiative which will see Japanese tech companies collaborate with African startups.

He also confirmed Leapfrog Venture’s $50 000 investment into BiasharaBot and said it was motivated by the continent’s logistics challenges.

“Logistics is big problem in Africa for economic growth, my motivation is to solve this problem and make a smooth distribution network with them,” he said.

Featured image: Leapfrog Ventures founder and CEO Takuma Terakubo (Supplied)