Lisk is leading the way in a world where global venture capital often ignores emerging markets. The growth platform for founders in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America has unveiled the EMpower Fund, a $15 million venture initiative designed to bring capital, mentorship and global reach to Web3 startups in high-growth economies.
“By connecting local roots with global reach, we equip founders with the capital, guidance, and ecosystem they need to compete on the world stage,” Lisk explains. The fund targets post-incubation ventures delivering real-world solutions in payments, identity, and financial access, where blockchain adoption is moving from speculative interest to necessity.
Despite rapid technology adoption and resilient entrepreneurship, Africa and Latin America remain chronically underfunded. In 2022, less than five percent of global venture funding reached these regions, according to Crunchbase and AVCA. Many startups, even those with proven traction, are trapped at the seed stage. Lisk sees this mismatch as both a challenge and an opportunity: for founders to scale and for investors to access undervalued, high-potential ventures.
Strong Returns in Emerging Economies
Emerging markets have demonstrated strong performance over the past decade. Data from Cambridge Associates shows venture funds in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America delivering 9–11% annualized net returns, outperforming U.S. venture markets, which have recently cooled. Lisk believes this trend signals the start of a generational bull run, driven by fintech adoption, stablecoins and blockchain infrastructure that is solving real-world problems.
Unlike one-off grants or hackathons, the EMpower Fund is designed for continuity. Startups may receive up to $250,000 in initial funding, alongside advisory support in governance, financial modeling and investor readiness. By embedding mentorship into its investment model, Lisk ensures that companies are not just funded, they are equipped to attract follow-on capital and compete globally.
Web3-Native Solutions for Local Impact
The EMpower Fund focuses on high-utility Web3 applications, addressing tangible challenges in payments, remittances, supply chains and digital identity. Funded companies also integrate with Lisk’s Ethereum-aligned Layer 2 network, providing a scalable technological framework for long-term growth.
A unique aspect of the fund is its tokenized structure, which allows streamlined LP subscriptions and secondary liquidity. This opens early-stage venture investment to a broader class of limited partners, including retail investors traditionally excluded from such opportunities, while offering exposure to undervalued startups with structured risk mitigation.
Early Beneficiaries Showcase African Innovation
The first four EMpower Fund investments highlight the diverse and practical potential of Web3 in emerging economies:
- Lov.cash (South Africa): A digital supply chain platform improving transparency and efficiency in logistics.
- Afrikabal (Africa): An agritech marketplace connecting smallholder farmers to global buyers and investors.
- IDRX (Indonesia): A stablecoin solution expanding financial access for the unbanked.
- SigraFi: Provides financing for small-scale gold producers via gold-backed on-chain loan notes.
These companies exemplify Lisk’s philosophy: local solutions with global scalability, addressing urgent economic and social needs.
Lisk does more than fund. Through its advisory program, the platform helps startups build investor-ready data rooms, strengthen governance and refine fundraising narratives. This integrated approach ensures that founders are not only financed but prepared to thrive in a competitive global ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
The EMpower Fund represents a paradigm shift in venture capital for emerging markets. Lisk treats Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia not as distant prospects but as centers of Web3 adoption and innovation today.
By combining structured investment, tokenized participation, and hands-on mentorship, the fund is positioning itself to unlock economic opportunity, technological transformation, and a new generation of globally competitive Web3 companies.
For founders, the $15 million initiative offers a pathway from validated local innovation to global market impact. For investors, it provides early exposure to high-growth, underfunded ecosystems with a track record of strong returns. As blockchain and fintech reshape emerging economies, Lisk’s EMpower Fund is not just financing innovation it is building the next wave of African entrepreneurship on the world stage.
