Shortlist Announcement
CAMPEA is pleased to announce and to congratulate the finalists for the Central African Fund Manager of the Year — GP Awards 2024, presented in partnership with SuperReturn Africa. After a rigorous review of nominations and long-list submissions, an independent jury has selected three market leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to deploying private capital, building investable pipelines, and advancing market standards across Central Africa:
-
Baylis Funds
-
XSML Capital
-
Kuramo Capital
These finalists represent diverse strategies and proven dedication to the development of the region’s private markets. The winner will be revealed at the GP Awards ceremony during SuperReturn Africa.
Ms. Tania Eyanga, CEO and Founding Chair of CAMPEA, the co-organising body for the Central African GP Fund Manager of the Year award commented:
CAMPEA warmly congratulates all the finalists — Baylis Emerging Markets, XSML Capital, and Kuramo Capital — for being shortlisted as contenders for the Central African Fund Manager of the Year 2024. Their recognition reflects not only outstanding investment performance but also their commitment to driving growth, innovation, and sustainable value creation across Central Africa. By mobilising capital, strengthening governance, and supporting businesses that power economic transformation, these finalists embody the very best of private equity and venture capital in the region. CAMPEA celebrates their achievements and looks forward to honouring the winner at the upcoming GP Awards ceremony.
Finalist profiles
Baylis Funds
Baylis Funds is an investment group focused on private markets in Africa with a demonstrated track record of investing across growth and mid-market opportunities. The firm emphasizes robust sector due diligence, active value creation and strong ESG integration in its investment process. Baylis has been recognised for partnering closely with local management teams and for structuring deals that balance commercial returns with developmental impact — an approach that has helped mobilise institutional co-investors into less-covered Central African opportunities.
Why Baylis stands out
-
Emphasis on operational value creation and governance upgrades at portfolio level.
-
Disciplined investment process tailored to frontier and growth markets.
-
Active engagement with local partners and development finance institutions to scale investments responsibly.
XSML Capital
XSML Capital is a specialist investor in small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa, with a particular focus on rapidly scalable businesses that can benefit from strategic capital and operational support. XSML’s approach is centred on providing growth capital, hands-on operational support and exit planning to create sustainable, investable companies. Their regional emphasis and network of local advisors enable deep origination and active portfolio management in Central African markets.
Why XSML stands out
-
Proven track record of mobilising growth capital into SMEs and mid-market companies across multiple funds.
-
Strong emphasis on local market knowledge and operational support to founders.
-
Focus on measurable commercial and social outcomes that enhance investability.
Kuramo Capital
Kuramo Capital is a third party fund manager and fund of fund investment firm with experience across emerging markets and a history of structuring complex cross-border transactions. Kuramo’s strategy typically targets sectors with durable cash flows and infrastructure-adjacent opportunities that can underpin long-term portfolio value. The firm is known for leveraging institutional relationships and structuring blended-finance solutions that de-risk larger tickets into frontier markets, thereby unlocking capital for projects in Central Africa.
Why Kuramo stands out
-
Experienced in structuring institutional-grade capital and blended finance solutions to undertake large commercial investment with social benefits in Central Africa as exemplified with Plantations & Huileries du Congo .
-
Capacity to mobilise large institutional partners into frontier transactions.
-
Focus on sustainable, long-term investments that align investor return requirements with regional development objectives.
The case for investing in Central Africa
Central Africa remains an under-allocated but strategically important region for private markets. The finalists for this award exemplify why fund managers and institutional investors are increasingly focused on the region:
-
Untapped market potential: Several Central African countries possess significant natural resources, large domestic markets, and growing service sectors that are ripe for private capital and operational transformation.
-
High impact / high additionality: Capital deployed in Central Africa frequently yields outsized development outcomes — from job creation and value chain development to infrastructure and financial inclusion. This additionality is attractive to impact-oriented investors and DFIs.
-
Dispersed competition, concentrated opportunity: Lower competition relative to larger African hubs can create favourable entry valuations and the possibility to establish early-mover advantage in critical sectors.
-
Growing institutional support: Partnerships with DFIs, commercial banks and regional hubs are improving structuring options (e.g., blended finance, guarantees) that reduce entry risk and increase viability for institutional investors.
-
Professionalisation and exit pathways: As governance and reporting standards improve and regional capital markets deepen, the environment for viable exits becomes stronger — especially for managers who invest in operational improvements and strategic positioning.
Next steps
The winner will be announced at the GP Awards ceremony during SuperReturn Africa in Cape Town. CAMPEA congratulates the three finalists and thanks all fund managers who participated in this year’s selection process. The Award recognises excellence not only in financial performance but in fund managers’ ability to build sustainable markets, foster local partnerships and deliver development impact alongside investor returns.
For more information about the awards, ceremony details, or to request media access, please contact awards@campea.org.
Call to Action
If your firm is active in Central Africa and interested in joining CAMPEA’s network, contributing data to our Transaction Research Desk, or sponsoring future initiatives, please reach out to office@campea.org or membership@campea.org. Together we can deepen the region’s investment ecosystem and create durable value for investors and financing community stakeholders alike.