Lisk, the Ethereum-aligned Layer 2 platform, has launched the Lisk EMpower Fund, a $15 million venture initiative to supercharge Web3 startups in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Announced with a bold vision to bridge the “capital cliff” faced by founders in high-growth markets, this fund is a game-changer for post-incubation projects struggling to scale to Series A. As Lisk’s Gideon Greaves put it, “Real use cases. Real adoption. Real growth. Emerging markets will lead. The West will follow.”
The EMpower Fund offers more than just funding up to $250,000 per startup as an initial investment. It provides hands-on advisory support, guiding founders through regulatory compliance, tokenization strategies, investor-grade financials, and governance.
A standout feature is its tokenized LP structure, streamlining subscriptions and offering secondary market liquidity to democratize venture access for retail investors. With proprietary deal flow from on-ground partners like @ayahq_ and @web3bridge, Lisk ensures pre-vetted startups with proven product-market fit.
The fund’s first investments showcase its focus on real-world utility. LovCash (South Africa) digitizes retail supply chains, while Afrikabal, backed by Google and the AU, connects African farmers to global buyers via blockchain. IDRX (Indonesia) powers financial access with stablecoins, and SigraFi (LATAM) offers gold-backed DeFi loans for small producers. These startups, rooted in local challenges, signal Lisk’s bet on exceptional founders driving scalable Web3 solutions.
Building on Lisk’s ecosystem, the fund targets 50+ startups annually. With Africa’s economy projected to hit $4.2T by 2027 and crypto adoption soaring in emerging ecosystems like Port Harcourt, the EMpower Fund positions emerging markets as Web3’s next frontier. Founders can apply here. Investors can explore tokenized LP opportunities on the same site.
