Staff Writer
Venture capital and private equity can drive business growth, create jobs, and support innovation, the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN) said during a public discussion held in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
The event, titled “Investing in Potential: How Venture Capital and Private Equity Can Drive Namibia’s Economic Transformation”, brought together private sector leaders, investment professionals and civil society members.
The discussion focused on how venture capital and private equity can help Namibian enterprises grow, diversify the economy and ensure strong governance and developmental impact.
Speakers highlighted that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers to business expansion, especially for high-growth and early-stage companies that traditional bank loans often cannot support.
Venture capital and private equity were described as alternative financing tools that can unlock private investment, strengthen entrepreneurship and support innovation across sectors.
Globally, these instruments have helped build new industries, boost competitiveness and increase employment.
The event noted that building a strong venture capital and private equity ecosystem in Namibia could fast-track economic transformation, support industrialisation and grow a new generation of enterprises that contribute to inclusive development.
EAN vice president Jesaya Hano-Oshike said venture capital and private equity are globally recognised as strong drivers of innovation, job creation and inclusive growth, helping to bridge the gap between promising ideas and the funding needed to turn them into successful businesses.
He said Namibia’s SMEs form the backbone of the economy but struggle with access to capital.
“Venture capital and private equity fill the void by providing funding and strategic guidance, governance and networks,” he said.
Presenting on private equity, Cacious Siboleka, Manager of Alternative Investments at GIPF, said private equity firms buy significant stakes in companies to improve operations, reposition strategies and create value, usually exiting the investment within 3–7 years.
He said the main difference with venture capital is that venture capital investors support early-stage companies more directly through strategic guidance and network access, targeting high returns over 5–10 years.
Siboleka also highlighted gaps in Namibia’s unlisted investment industry, including weak oversight, poor transparency, fragmented investors and limited support for local fund managers.
Director at Manta Ventures, Nicole Maske, said venture capital can play a central role in supporting Namibia’s economic transformation.
She said the country has 40 000 SMEs that create 200 000 jobs and contribute 12% to GDP.
“In 2024, Namibia’s startup ecosystem ranked 8th in Africa and 87th globally,” she said.
She said venture capital helps high-growth innovators take risks and build new businesses with long-term potential.
EAN said the dialogue helped identify barriers and enablers for scaling Namibia’s investment ecosystem and strengthening partnerships between government, investors and entrepreneurs to expand access to finance for innovation and enterprise growth.
