Artificial Intelligence has ushered in a new and exciting phase of technology, where the presence of AI will become ubiquitous, indispensable and powerful across our modern world. Whilst AI will result in the revolutionary acceleration of technology and transformation of industries, AI equally holds the promise of positive social impact throughout Asia, Africa and other emerging markets. 

AI Capital is a flagship investment fund, leveraging its unique capabilities, strategic insights and global connectivity to generate long-term sustainable value by investing in businesses where AI capability can enhance investment returns. AI Capital is targeting early growth stage private equity investments in South and Southeast Asia and Africa. 

AI Capital has been established by partners Michael Jordaan, Willem Roos, Nic Kohler, and Roger Grobler, all of whom are former founders, entrepreneurs, successful CEOs, and investors in their own right, with a market-leading track record of investing behind the AI theme. The partners have generated strong historical returns across AI Funds I and II over the past eight years, with a proven ability to invest in businesses that can scale across multiple markets.

AI Capital's new flagship Fund III will be in partnership with New York-based Rohatyn Group (“TRG”), a specialized global emerging markets asset management firm, on conclusion of TRG’s acquisition of Ethos Private Equity, the largest private equity business in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Standard Bank is the investment banking partner to AI Capital. Standard Bank, in its capacity as sole Investment Bank and Advisor to AI Capital, has been instrumental in structuring, advising and fundraising for AI Capital. 

“As a bank invested in the growth of Africa, we believe in the positive impact that early-stage investments can have on innovation, job creation and economic development, so we are focused on driving growth in companies that can scale through this wave of technological transformation. We are truly privileged to be partnering with such a world-class investment team in AI Capital, who offer a unique combination of being entrepreneurial, disruptive and impactful, underpinned by deep AI skills and a strong track record of building businesses of significance. Apart from being a banking partner to AI Capital, Standard Bank has been an investor in AI Capital since Fund I and is excited to be a committed co-investment partner for the future,” says Yusuf Noorbhai, Head: Structured Capital, Standard Bank. 

“AI has been around for 60 years, but it has suddenly reached a tipping point, as demonstrated by the rapid adoption and use of ChatGPT. As a team, we have reflected deeply on how best to invest behind this revolutionary technology and concluded that the greatest returns will be generated by companies using AI, as opposed to building AI tools. We have been successfully investing in companies using AI over the past eight years, which is our focus and aligns with our experience as entrepreneurs and business operators,” says Michael Jordaan, AI Capital Investor and Founding Partner.