HARARE, Jun. 25 (NewsDay Live) — The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe (NVCCZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a pipeline for venture-backed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access capital markets through the Zimbabwe Entrepreneurship Exchange (ZEEX).
The partnership aims to bridge the gap between Zimbabwe’s early-stage venture capital ecosystem and capital markets by providing a structured pathway for startups and SMEs to transition from venture funding to public market participation.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will identify high-potential startups and SMEs supported by NVCCZ that could qualify for listing on ZEEX. They will also explore co-financing and blended-finance models, offer capacity-building programmes and develop financial products tailored to the venture and growth capital sectors.
ZSE Holdings chief executive officer Justin Bgoni said the agreement marked a significant shift in the relationship between venture capital and capital markets.
“Venture capital and capital markets have historically operated in separate worlds in Zimbabwe, with very little structured dialogue between the two. This MoU is a deliberate effort to change that,” Bgoni said.
“By creating a recognised pathway from NVCCZ’s portfolio of early-stage enterprises to ZEEX, we are introducing capital market planning into the venture space. Entrepreneurs receiving NVCCZ support will now have a clear route to public market participation from the outset.”
NVCCZ chief executive officer Tinotenda Kambasha said the partnership would help businesses secure long-term growth opportunities beyond initial venture capital funding.
“Successful venture investing is not only about providing capital. It is about supporting businesses throughout their growth journey,” Kambasha said.
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“Our partnership with ZSE creates a clear pathway from early-stage funding to capital market participation, ensuring promising enterprises can access long-term growth opportunities.”
He said ZEEX would also provide venture-backed firms with an exit route for investors, improving liquidity and enabling capital to be reinvested into new businesses.
The two organisations will also roll out investor awareness campaigns, roadshows and SME financing conferences to deepen market participation and support entrepreneurship.
The partners said operationalisation of ZEEX remains on track, with growing support from institutional and financial sector players.
ZEEX is a newly approved digital capital markets platform designed to facilitate fundraising, asset tokenisation and secondary market trading, with a focus on expanding financial inclusion and improving SMEs’ access to capital.
