# Oakvale Invest — Full Content > Africa-only, family-backed pre-seed venture firm investing in AI-driven startups led by founders aged 18 to 25. This file is the llms.txt "full" companion: the complete public content of oakvaleinvest.com in one markdown document. Updated when copy changes. --- ## At a glance - Name: Oakvale Invest - Fund size: R200 million (~100 million SEK) - Stage: Pre-seed only - Sector: AI-driven companies (AI must be the core) - Geography: Africa only — founders building in or from Africa - Founder age: 18 to 25 at time of investment - Founded: 2025 by Henrik Persson Ekdahl - Headquarters: Val de Vie, Paarl, South Africa - Working space: Cape Town CBD and Polo Offices, Val de Vie - Excluded sectors: Fintech, agritech, anything where AI is not core - Decision time: ~2 months from first conversation to wire - Follow-on: Generally none; free introductions to Series A/B network ## Team ### Henrik Persson Ekdahl — Founder Swedish entrepreneur and investor with three decades of building, backing, and selling technology companies. Founded Oakvale Invest in 2025 after relocating to South Africa, where he now lives and works from Franschhoek. The fund is the next chapter in a career built on patient capital and long-term conviction, and the first one he's building alongside his son. - Email: henrik@oakvaleinvest.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrik-persson-ekdahl-36647685/ ### Herman Ekdahl — Investment Associate Henrik's eldest son and the second generation at Oakvale. Herman works at the intersection of venture, marketing, and startup growth at Oakvale Invest. He focuses on finding promising companies and giving founders the visibility they deserve in a crowded market. Drawn to ambitious people building meaningful things, he's been building on his own since he was twelve. - Email: herman@oakvaleinvest.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herman-ekdahl-870702238/ ### Michaela Jayne Stewart (MJ) — Investment Associate MJ sources founders, builds relationships, and develops the pipeline that connects young African AI talent with the capital and network they need to grow. Her background spans project coordination, executive operations, and hospitality, a foundation of adaptability she now brings to early-stage investing on the continent. - Email: mj@oakvaleinvest.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaela-jayne-stewart-100013321/ --- ## Investment mandate We invest only when all six are true: 1. **Africa-only** — The company must be built in Africa or be an African-founded company primarily serving African markets. No exceptions. 2. **AI Technology-driven** — AI must be a core driver of the product, advantage, or moat. Not a marketing add-on. 3. **Market disruption potential** — We back bold, high-upside ideas with real-world application. 4. **Pre-seed rounds only** — We do not invest at Series A or later. 5. **Next-generation founders (18–25)** — At the time of investment. 6. **Foundation-building support** — Our role is to help founders build strategy, product discipline, governance, operating rhythm, and long-term readiness. ### Foundations we help build - Product clarity and focus - Go-to-market discipline - Operating cadence and rhythm - Governance basics - Long-term strategy support - Investor readiness --- ## Our approach ### Four pillars 1. **Pre-Seed Stage Only** — We invest exclusively at pre-seed. This is when foundations matter most. 2. **Founder Partnership** — We work alongside founders as partners, not observers. Hands-on when needed, patient always. 3. **Foundation Building** — Product clarity, operating rhythm, governance basics, and long-term strategy. 4. **Generational View** — We ask not just what returns this commitment will generate, but what legacy it will leave. ### What we look for in founders - Bold vision — AI-driven ideas with market disruption potential - Africa focus — Building in Africa, for Africa, from Africa - Coachability — Openness to building foundations together - Conviction — Belief that transcends market conditions --- ## FAQ ### About Oakvale **Who is Oakvale Invest?** A R200 million family-backed fund investing in pre-seed AI companies built by young African founders. Founded by Henrik Persson Ekdahl, based in Franschhoek. "Oakvale" is the English translation of "Ekdahl". **What does "family-backed" mean?** Our capital comes from one family, not institutional LPs. No fund clock. No quarterly pressure. We can think in decades because no one is asking us to think in quarters. **Where are you based?** Val de Vie, Paarl, with working space for founders in Cape Town CBD and at the Polo Offices in Val de Vie. ### What we invest in **Cheque size?** Case by case. Always pre-seed, sized to what the company needs. **Equity?** Case by case, agreed with the founder. **Stage?** Pre-seed. MVP or working prototype required. Pre-revenue is fine. Early traction (users, signed LOIs) helps but isn't required. **Who do you back?** African founders aged 18 to 25 building AI companies. At least one founder must be African. Diaspora founders qualify if the company is built for and from Africa. **Countries?** Africa only — open to founders across the continent. **Is the "AI" requirement strict?** Yes. AI must be the core: AI B2B SaaS, AI infrastructure, AI-native products. Not a feature bolted on. **African or international market?** We prefer founders building from Africa for the global market. African talent, global ambition. **Do you lead rounds?** We prefer to be the sole investor at pre-seed, but co-invest when it makes sense. ### Process **Decision time?** Around two months from first conversation to wire. Investment decisions are made by our committee. **What do you need to see?** A working MVP or prototype, African founder under 26, AI-core product, clear international market thesis, and evidence you've thought about how this becomes a real business. **Best way to pitch?** The /apply form on this site, or direct to Herman or MJ. ### After we invest **First 90 days?** We get to know your business, onboard you into Oakvale's network, give you access to our working spaces, and meet regularly to understand what you need. **How involved are you?** We meet every portfolio founder at least once a month and take a board seat. We answer the phone. **What do you help with?** Strategy, hiring, the next round, introductions, problems we've seen before. **What if my company starts to fail?** We do everything in our power to help you not get there. Stewardship over speculation isn't a slogan. ### Later rounds **Do you do follow-on?** Generally, no. Pre-seed is what we do. **How do I raise my Series A?** We make introductions to a trusted network of Series A and B investors. You're not obligated to take their money or use our introductions. **Cost for the later-round help?** None. It's part of the deal. No advisory fee, no extra equity. **Exceptions to no-follow-on?** Rarely. Genuine standouts may get follow-on. Founders should plan as if we don't. --- ## Press coverage ### Breakit (Swedish) **Henrik Persson Ekdahl är tillbaka, med 100 miljoner som ska satsas på AI-bolag** — "He's back, with 100 million SEK to bet on AI companies." Henrik Persson Ekdahl returns with 100 million SEK to invest in new AI companies in South Africa, targeting 30 to 40 portfolio companies. https://www.breakit.se/artikel/45926/henrik-persson-ekdahl-ar-tillbaka-med-100-miljoner-som-ska-satsas-pa-ai-bolag ### Varsity Newspaper (English, April 16, 2026, by Chelsea Adrian) **A R200 Million Bet on South Africa's Next Generation of Tech Startups** — Oakvale Invest is actively trying to fix a broken link in the ecosystem, not offering capital from a distance. https://varsitynewspaper.substack.com/p/a-r200-million-bet-on-south-africas --- ## Contact - Applications: invest@oakvaleinvest.com (or use /apply) - Press: herman@oakvaleinvest.com - Investor relations / sourcing: mj@oakvaleinvest.com - Founder: henrik@oakvaleinvest.com Site: https://oakvaleinvest.com