USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment makes award to 27four to kick-start the fundHERforward initiative

We are excited to share a significant milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within South African private markets. 27four is proud to announce that we have received an award from USAID Southern Africa Mobilizing Investment (USAID Mobilizing Investment) to establish a working capital facility to encourage and support the growth of gender diverse fund managers as the first initiative under our fundHERforward programme.

Our extensive research into and active involvement in the advancement of transformation and gender equality have consistently highlighted a major challenge faced by previously disadvantaged individuals, especially women, when entering the sector: the need to sustain a business while actively fundraising. The fundHERforward project is designed to address this challenge head-on by providing essential operational working capital support during the fundraising phase. This support is further enhanced by ancillary mentorship and assistance, enabling managers to secure a sustainable fund close. We firmly believe that this support will empower first-time managers to channel their energies into building their deal pipeline and securing funding, thereby relieving them of the financial pressures that often impede progress.

We are immensely grateful to USAID Mobilizing Investment for recognising our efforts and for contributing positively to diversity, equity, and inclusion in South African fund management.

“fundHERforward is more than just a project; it represents a movement towards equitable opportunities. Our mission is to bridge the gap and clear the path for women fund managers to thrive,” says Marde van Wyk, Private Markets Principal at 27four.

In the weeks ahead, we will be unveiling the application process for accessing the working capital facility. Stay tuned for updates on our progress.