IN-PERSON MEETUPS
WAI City Circles: Member-led gatherings across Africa.
Conversations, conference side-events, coffees. Spaces where members show up in-person to build trust and strengthen relationships.
The network for women shaping capital in Africa.
A trusted community of women investors shifting capital, influence and industry norms.
300+
MEMBERS
22
CITIES
2017
FOUNDED
$6B+
AUM
WHAT IS WAI?
More than a network.
A home for women doing the real work.
Women in African Investments (WAI Group) is a relationship-based community of women investors. The network is a place for women to come together to build pathways for capital to reach women investors and entrepreneurs.
Our members do this by changing the norms, narratives and mindsets that shape how capital flows and to whom.
The WAI Group fosters connections and collaborations that integrate women's priorities into fund design, policy and regulations.
Our members work across the ecosystem.
No silos. Shared purpose. Systemic collaboration.
Members join WAI because they strongly align with its purpose.
WAI is the right fit if you’
- Have direct responsibility for investment decisions at an Africa-focused fund
- Are building your first fund, investment vehicle, or investor club
- Are a senior investment professional
- Work in an ecosystem or market-building organisation that directly advances WAI's purpose
- Are committed to systemic change in the African investment industry
WAI is not the right fit if you:
- Primarily operate as a transaction advisor
- Work at a consulting firm, law firm, media, or events company
- Are in a junior investment role (analyst or associate)
“The WAI Group makes women fund managers visible, holds our industry accountable and combats inequalities in access to capital.”
ACTIVITIES
How our members show up for each other.
ONLINE CONVERSATIONS
WAI At The Edges: Member-led conversations elevating shared knowledge.
Creating space for members to exchange ideas, support each other, and contribute to collective learning.
COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES
Turning relationships into collaboration and action.
Find future partners, test ideas, and build fund, policy, or ecosystem projects together.
SHAPE THE INDUSTRY
Shared insight. Collective influence. Lasting impact.
Share insights, complete surveys, and contribute to collective thinking shaping a more effective investment ecosystem.
Member Testimonials
“I was in the middle of raising my first fund and genuinely considering giving up. I posted in WAI on a Friday. By Sunday I had three members who had been exactly where I was, and knew the way through.”
Wanjiru Kamau
EquaLife Capital · Nairobi
HOW WE CONNECT
WAI is a WhatsApp-first community. We meet our members where they are.
WAI began, and continues to thrive, on WhatsApp. Our members connect on the WAI Group WhatsApp Community, a curated, members-only group where introductions, conversations, and opportunities happen daily.
Members also have access to Grace by WAI, our WhatsApp Chatbot, and their own Member Portal for updating member-details, creating WAI events and accessing a searchable directory that helps members connect and collaborate with intention.
Meet the women shaping capital across Africa.
SUPPORTED BY FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
Thinking about joining?
Before applying, explore our FAQs to learn more about WAI and whether membership is right for you.
READ FULL FAQs- WAI Group (Women in African Investments) is a relationship-based community of women investors shaping capital flows across Africa through shared learning, collaboration, and systemic action.
- We convene women investors across the ecosystem to shift narratives, policy, and practice. Members co-create industry insights, mentorship, and collective initiatives with measurable outcomes.
- WAI is built for women making investment decisions at Africa-focused funds, building their own vehicles, or doing senior ecosystem work that advances our purpose.
- Applications are reviewed by the WAI team against our fit criteria. Once accepted, you receive onboarding, access to the WhatsApp community, the member directory, and Grace by WAI.
Join WAI. Be part of reshaping how the system works.
Membership reflects a shared commitment, with tiered annual fees. Applications are reviewed to ensure alignment with our community and WAI’s purpose.
APPLY TO BE A MEMBER