M. LEWIS GROUP
Strategic Advisory.
Private Capital.
Long-Term Partnership.
Building, financing & scaling
Africa's next economy.
We advise. We build.
We finance.
We invest.
Bringing together advice, relationships and capital under one platform.
Partners for the journey
from opportunity to
execution.
Strategic advisory, venture advisory, corporate finance, and access to private capital.

Strategic Advisory. Private Capital. Long-Term Partnership.

M. LEWIS GROUP is a Zambia-headquartered institutional platform spanning venture-building, strategic advisory, corporate finance, investment banking, and private capital. The platform is focused on building businesses into growth-ready enterprises, financing their expansion, and scaling their impact across Africa's productive economy.

We combine venture-building, strategic advisory, private capital, and operating partnerships to help companies strengthen their foundations, become growth-ready, and transition from promising local businesses into scalable regional platforms.

Our focus extends beyond investing in companies. We identify businesses positioned at critical points in Africa's value chains and work alongside them to strengthen the systems required for growth β€” connecting capital, technology, production, infrastructure, logistics, and markets to build more competitive and scalable enterprises.

Our Businesses

A M. LEWIS GROUP Company

Four integrated platforms working together across Africa's productive economy.

M. LEWIS PARTNERS
A M. LEWIS GROUP company
Boutique Investment Banking & Corporate Finance Advisory

M. Lewis Partners is the boutique investment banking and corporate finance advisory business of M. LEWIS GROUP, advising private businesses, entrepreneurs, investors and institutions on growth, private capital raising transactions, capital and strategic financial decisions.

With Investment Banking and Corporate Finance at its core, our service lines and activities include:
  • Corporate finance
  • Strategic & Corporate advisory
  • M&A advisory
  • Private capital raising
  • Financial modelling and valuation
  • Private Equity Transaction structuring
  • Private capital advisory
M. LEWIS CAPITAL PARTNERS
A M. LEWIS GROUP company
Curated Access to Africa's Private Markets

M. Lewis Capital Partners is an investor-focused private-market platform sourcing, evaluating and curating investment opportunities across Africa β€” giving family offices, private investors and institutional capital access to opportunities they may not otherwise discover.

We serve capital providers seeking carefully selected private-market opportunities across Africa, including:
  • Family offices
  • High-net-worth individuals
  • Private investors
  • Institutional investors
BASIWEL
A M. LEWIS GROUP company
Venture Building

Basiwel is the venture-building platform of M. LEWIS GROUP, partnering with entrepreneurs and businesses from idea to growth β€” building viable, scalable, and investment-ready ventures.

We meet ventures at any stage and build what is required:
  • Venture Discovery & Build
  • Venture Launch
  • Investment Readiness
AFRILEAP CAPITAL
A M. LEWIS GROUP company
African Private Investment Platform

AfriLeap Capital is the African private investment platform of M. LEWIS GROUP, deploying capital into exceptional African growth-ready businesses and building long-term value through private investment and ownership.

Our activities and focus areas include:
  • Growth capital
  • Direct investments
  • Portfolio value creation

Our investment philosophy is straightforward:

"We look for businesses positioned at critical points in Africa's value chainsβ€”energy, food, logistics, technology, finance, manufacturing and distributionβ€”with the potential to become growth-ready, scalable enterprises. We invest where strategic capital, operating expertise and connectivity can strengthen these businesses, unlock their growth potential and connect them to the broader ecosystems around them."

At its core:

"We invest in and help build the infrastructure through which goods, capital, technology and markets move across Africa."

Africa's next phase of economic growth will require more than capital. It will require productive businesses, reliable infrastructure, stronger regional supply chains, technology, financial innovation and companies capable of operating across borders.

M. LEWIS GROUP intends to operate at the intersection of these opportunities.

Our objective is to become a trusted strategic and capital partner to entrepreneurs, business owners, investors and institutions building the next generation of African businesses.

Our Four Capabilities

Advice, relationships and capitalβ€”working together

We build businesses into growth-ready enterprises, finance their expansion, and scale their impact across Africa's productive economy.

Our model is:

BUILD.FUND.SCALE.

Build stronger enterprises. Mobilise the right capital. Scale across Africa.

M. LEWIS GROUP works with businesses at different stages of their journey β€” from emerging ventures and established SMEs to growth companies and regional enterprises. We diagnose where you are, determine what you need next, and deploy the right combination of strategy, enterprise building, capital and growth execution.

Our model combines four capabilities:

Advice, relationships, capital and execution β€” working together across the lifecycle of every business we serve.

🎯

STRATEGIC ADVISORY

We help businesses determine what to build, how to structure it, where to compete, how to scale and how to become investment-ready.

πŸ—οΈ

ENTERPRISE BUILDING

We build the commercial, financial and organisational architecture required to turn a promising business into an investment-grade enterprise.

πŸ’°

PRIVATE CAPITAL

We provide or arrange capital for businesses and projects that demonstrate attractive commercial potential and strategic relevance.

🀝

OPERATING PARTNERSHIPS

Where appropriate, we work alongside founders and management teams beyond the investment decision β€” supporting execution, partnerships, expansion and value creation.

The combination is important.

β€’

A business may have capital but lack strategy.

β€’

Another may have a strong strategy but lack capital.

β€’

Another may have a good product but lack distribution.

β€’

Another may have customers but lack infrastructure.

M. LEWIS GROUP seeks to connect these missing pieces through our services:

Strategic Advisory

We help leaders make better decisions, navigate complexity and create long-term enterprise value. From growth strategy and market expansion to transformation, restructuring and strategic partnerships, we work alongside management and boards on the decisions that matter most.

Venture Advisory

We work with ambitious founders and emerging businesses to build stronger, more scalable and investment-ready companies. We support strategy, commercialisation, governance, financial modelling, investor readiness, fundraising and growth.

Corporate Finance Advisory

We advise businesses and shareholders on the transactions that shape value. Our capabilities include capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, valuation, financial structuring, restructuring, transaction preparation and strategic finance.

Capital Partners

We connect exceptional businesses and investment opportunities with appropriate sources of capital. Through our investor relationships, venture capabilities and private-capital platform, we seek to facilitate and, where appropriate, participate in transactions that create long-term value.

"We build businesses into growth-ready enterprises, finance their expansion, and scale their impact across Africa's productive economy."

Wherever you are in your journey, you can engage us at any stage.

How You Can Engage Us

Enter at any stage of the journey:

Strategy
↓
Business Design
↓
Financial Structuring
↓
Investment Readiness
↓
Capital
↓
Growth
↓
Regional Expansion

What We Charge before Capital stage

Fixed-Fee Mandate

A transparent engagement fee based on the scope and depth of work required.

$750 – $5,000

Depending on scope and depth

Fixed + Success Fee

A combined structure aligning our interests with your outcomes.

Fixed fee + success fee or investment participation component, structured appropriately.

Our Packages

Service What Clients Get
Diagnostic Business + financial + market assessment
Investment Readiness Full strategy, model, deck, capital plan
Build & Scale Ongoing strategic advisory + capital raising + expansion

Note: The exact pricing depends heavily on the business team's credibility, workload, and country market understanding β€” including the client's funding size and ability to pay.

Start the Conversation β†’

Strategy, Capital & Execution β€” Working Together

We believe the best outcomes are created when strategy, capital and execution work together.

That is why our role does not necessarily end when the advice is delivered.

We can help a business understand where it is going, prepare for the journey, structure the capital required to get there and connect it with the partners capable of accelerating its growth.

Where appropriate, we invest alongside the entrepreneurs and businesses we support.

Partners Across the Ecosystem

We partner with leaders and organizations at every stage

πŸ§‘β€πŸ’Ό

Entrepreneurs & Founders

Building high-growth businesses into growth-ready enterprises

🏒

Established Companies

Seeking growth or strategic transformation

πŸ“Š

Shareholders

Considering acquisitions, exits or succession

πŸ’°

Investors

Seeking differentiated opportunities in Southern Africa

πŸ›οΈ

Institutions

Seeking strategic and investment expertise

🌍

International Capital

Seeking access to African opportunities

Partner With Us β†’ Invest with Us β†’

Strengthening the Productive Economy

We focus on businesses that strengthen the productive economy.

We are particularly interested in opportunities that improve financial inclusion, increase productivity, strengthen supply chains, expand essential infrastructure and modernise commerce across Africa.

We believe strong economies are built by strong businesses.

Our objective is therefore not simply to finance businesses, but to help build enduring enterprises capable of creating employment, innovation, economic value and competitive advantage.

Partners Across Every Stage

M. LEWIS GROUP is designed to partner with businesses across their lifecycleβ€”from early-stage opportunity and strategic development to growth capital, acquisitions and long-term ownership.

We bring together advice, relationships and capital under one platform.

We advise. We build. We finance. We invest.
M. LEWIS GROUP

Building the businesses that power Africa's next economy.

🀝

Partner With Us

We work with entrepreneurs, companies, investors and institutions at critical moments of growth, transformation and investment.

M. Lewis Group is the umbrella brand and institutional platform where our broader philosophy lives and where strategic advisory sits.

We sit at the intersection of business, strategy and capital β€” working with business owners, entrepreneurs, corporates, investors, families, capital providers, and strategic partners.

Our Architecture

M. LEWIS GROUP

Strategic Advisory & Private Capital Platform

↓

M. Lewis Capital Partners

Family Capital & Private Investment Platform

Serves capital owners β€” families, family offices, HNW individuals, and private investors.

AfriLeap Capital

African Private Investment Platform

Deploys capital into exceptional African growth-ready businesses β€” building ownership positions and compounding capital.

↓
Co-Investments Investment Vehicles Portfolio Companies
1

M. Lewis Group

Strategic Advisory & Private Capital Platform

Role: Originate, advise, connect, and coordinate. It is the umbrella brand where broader philosophy lives and strategic advisory sits.

Works with: Business owners, entrepreneurs, corporates, investors, families, capital providers, strategic partners

Activities include: Corporate strategy, growth strategy, M&A advisory, capital strategy, business transformation, strategic partnerships, capital introductions, private capital advisory, investment origination

2

AfriLeap Capital

African Private Investment Platform

Role: Deploy capital into exceptional African growth-ready businesses, build ownership positions, and compound capital over the long term.

Investment activities: Direct investments, co-investments, growth capital, private equity, strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, permanent capital, investment holding vehicles, portfolio companies

3

M. Lewis Capital Partners

Family Capital & Private Investment Platform

Role: Represent and serve capital owners β€” entrepreneurial families, family offices, HNW individuals, business-owning families, and private investors.

Services include: Family capital advisory, investment opportunities, co-investment access, direct investment opportunities, strategic investment advice, family-business advisory, succession/ownership strategy, portfolio coordination, private-market opportunities

4

Basiwel Ventures

Venture Building & Early-Stage Investment Platform

Role: Build and back early-stage businesses, combining venture creation, early-stage capital and hands-on operating support to develop businesses into growth-ready enterprises.

Activities: Venture creation, venture building, early-stage investment, hands-on operating support, market validation, business model refinement, investor readiness, growth support

The Conceptual Distinction

M. Lewis Capital Partners

Represents and serves capital owners

AfriLeap Capital

Deploys investment capital

M. Lewis Group sits at the top β€” originating, advising, connecting, and coordinating at the intersection of business, strategy and capital.

At a Glance

Brand Primary Question Role
M. Lewis Group "What do you do?" Strategy + advisory + capital platform
M. Lewis Capital Partners "Who do you work with?" Families + private capital owners
AfriLeap Capital "Where does the capital go?" Investments + ownership + portfolio

M. Lewis Group operates through four connected platforms, each designed for a specific purpose and audience.

🏒

M. Lewis Group

β†’ Business

We work with business owners, entrepreneurs and companies navigating growth, strategic transformation, transactions and capital.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦

M. Lewis Capital Partners

β†’ Family

We work with entrepreneurial families, private investors and family offices seeking long-term capital strategies and access to select private investment opportunities.

πŸ’°

AfriLeap Capital

β†’ Investment

We partner with exceptional African growth-ready businesses, investors and strategic partners to build long-term value through private investment and ownership.

πŸ—οΈ

Basiwel Ventures

β†’ Venture Building + Early-Stage Investment

We build and back early-stage businesses β€” combining venture creation, early-stage capital and hands-on operating support to help promising businesses become growth-ready and scale.

One institution. Four doors.

M. Lewis Group β†’ Business M. Lewis Capital Partners β†’ Family AfriLeap Capital β†’ Investment Basiwel Ventures β†’ Venture Building + Early-Stage Investment

Not sure which door is right for you? We can help you find the right entry point.

Contact Our Team β†’

Seven Programmes. One Journey.

Each programme addresses a distinct stage of enterprise growth. Most clients engage more than one.

πŸ”Ž

Enterprise Diagnostic

Understand where you are and what you need next.

πŸ—οΈ

Build Programme

Build the enterprise required for your next stage of growth.

πŸ“ˆ

Growth & Capital Programme

Strengthen the enterprise and prepare it for growth capital.

πŸ’°

Capital Mandate

Mobilise the right capital for the right purpose.

πŸš€

Capital & Scale

Convert capital into measurable enterprise growth.

🌍

Africa Expansion Programme

Replicate your business across African markets.

🎯

Strategic Advisory

Ongoing strategic and corporate advisory for established enterprises.

From Business Ambition to Enterprise Value

BUILD

Strategy

Business Design

β†’
FUND

Financial Structuring

Investment Readiness

Capital

β†’
SCALE

Growth

Regional Expansion

Businesses can enter at any point. We determine the appropriate pathway based on your current position, ambition and requirements.

Six Stages, From Diagnosis to Scale

Every engagement follows a structured process. The depth of each stage depends on where the business is and where it needs to go.

1

DIAGNOSE

Where is the business today?

We Assess

  • Strategy
  • Financial performance
  • Business model
  • Organisation
  • Governance
  • Capital structure
  • Market position
  • Growth opportunities
↓
2

DEFINE

Where does the business need to go?

We Establish

  • Ambition
  • Growth thesis
  • Strategic priorities
  • Capital requirements
  • Expansion roadmap
↓
3

BUILD

What must change for the business to get there?

We Build

  • Operating model
  • Financial model
  • Governance
  • Systems
  • Management structure
  • Capital structure
↓
4

MOBILISE

What resources are required?

We Mobilise

  • Debt
  • Equity
  • Strategic capital
  • Partners
  • Management talent
  • Markets
↓
5

EXECUTE

How do we turn the plan into results?

We Support

  • Capital deployment
  • Growth initiatives
  • Performance management
  • M&A
  • Market entry
↓
6

SCALE

How do we turn one successful business into a regional enterprise?

We Drive

  • Replication
  • New markets
  • Partnerships
  • Acquisitions
  • Regional platforms

You may be here because…

"We have an idea but need to know if it is commercially viable."

β†’ BUILD

"We've started generating revenue but need to build the company properly."

β†’ BUILD

"We're growing but need capital to take the business to the next level."

β†’ GROWTH & CAPITAL

"We're profitable but can't seem to access institutional capital."

β†’ BUILD + FUND

"We know how much capital we need. We need help raising it."

β†’ CAPITAL

"We've raised capital but need help deploying it effectively."

β†’ SCALE

"Our domestic business works. We want to enter other African markets."

β†’ AFRICA EXPANSION

Enterprise Diagnostic

You don't have to know what service you need.

Tell us where your business is today and where you want to take it. Our Enterprise Diagnostic identifies the constraints, opportunities and capabilities required to move the enterprise to its next stage.

We examine six dimensions:

Commercial

Financial

Operational

Organisational

Institutional

Capital & Expansion

The Diagnostic determines:

Current Stage β†’ Gaps β†’ Priorities β†’ Intervention β†’ Capital β†’ Roadmap

Build Programme

Build the enterprise required for your next stage of growth.

Many promising businesses are held back not by lack of ambition, but by the absence of the commercial, financial and organisational architecture that makes growth possible β€” and makes a business investable.

The Build Programme works alongside founders and management teams to put that architecture in place.

Whether the goal is a stronger operating business, readiness for investment, or preparation for regional expansion, we help design and build the enterprise that the next stage requires.

Growth & Capital Programme

Strengthen the enterprise and prepare it for growth capital.

For businesses already generating revenue and demonstrating traction, the next stage typically requires both stronger enterprise foundations and access to growth capital.

This programme prepares the business for that capital β€” strengthening financial reporting, unit economics, governance and structure β€” while simultaneously developing the case and the relationships needed to raise it.

Capital Mandate

Mobilise the right capital for the right purpose.

When the enterprise is ready and the capital requirement is clearly defined, M. LEWIS works as a capital partner β€” structuring the transaction, preparing the investment case, and engaging the appropriate capital sources.

We do not approach capital as simply "how much money do you want?" Instead: what is the business trying to achieve, what capital does that require, and what financing structure best fits the enterprise?

The right capital. For the right purpose.

Working Capital

Trade finance / working-capital facilities

Equipment

Asset finance

Expansion

Growth capital β€” debt / equity / structured capital

Acquisition

Acquisition finance / equity

New Market Entry

Growth capital / strategic capital

Infrastructure

Project / structured finance

Our Capital Process:

Capital Requirement β†’ Financial Structuring β†’ Investment Readiness β†’ Capital Mandate β†’ Transaction

Capital & Scale

Capital is not the destination. Growth is.

Raising capital is only one part of the journey. M. LEWIS helps businesses deploy capital into productive assets, capabilities and opportunities that create measurable enterprise value.

Capital β†’ Capacity β†’ Revenue β†’ EBITDA β†’ Cash Flow β†’ Market Share β†’ Enterprise Value β†’ Jobs / Economic Impact

"…scale their impact across Africa's productive economy."

Africa Expansion Programme

From Local Enterprise to African Enterprise.

Regional expansion is not simply a matter of choosing a country and opening a branch. It requires country prioritisation, market assessment, capital strategy and β€” critically β€” the enterprise architecture required to operate across markets.

Regional expansion can involve:

Country prioritisation

Market assessment

Market-entry strategy

Distribution

Partnerships

Joint ventures

Acquisitions

Subsidiaries

Local financing

Integration

Performance management

Expansion Approach

HOME MARKET
↓
WAVE 1
↓
WAVE 2
↓
WAVE 3

We don't help businesses "expand into Africa." We help determine where, when, why and how they should expand β€” and build the architecture to do it successfully.

Strategic Advisory

Ongoing strategic and corporate advisory for established enterprises.

For established enterprises, strategy is not a one-off exercise. It is an ongoing discipline β€” the ability to make better decisions, navigate complexity and create long-term enterprise value.

M. LEWIS works alongside management and boards on growth strategy, market expansion, transformation, restructuring, capital strategy and strategic partnerships.

Are You Ready for Institutional Capital?

A short self-assessment for businesses considering raising institutional capital.

Do you have reliable management accounts?

Is your corporate structure clear?

Can you explain your unit economics?

Do you have a credible financial model?

Is your management team scalable?

Are contracts and licences in order?

Can you demonstrate how the capital will create returns?

Can the business absorb and deploy the capital?

Not ready? That's not necessarily a problem.

M. LEWIS can help build the enterprise required to become capital-ready. Most businesses we work with are not yet ready for institutional capital β€” that is precisely where the Build and Growth & Capital Programmes begin.

Start an Enterprise Diagnostic β†’
Our Partners

Speak Directly with
the Team

ML
ML

M. Lewis Capital Partners

Investment Banking & Advisory

AL

AfriLeap Capital

Private Investment Platform

BV

Basiwel Ventures

Venture Building & Early-Stage Investment

Office

Visit Us

πŸ“

Address

New Chalala
Plot No. 355, Off Shatumbu Road
Lusaka 10101, Zambia

βœ‰οΈ

General Enquiries

info@mlewisgroup.com
Send a Message

How Can We Help?

We aim to respond within two business days.

Connect with Us

M. Lewis Group is headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia, with reach across Sub-Saharan Africa. We welcome enquiries from businesses, investors, and institutions at any stage.

Partner With Us

Invest With Us

M. Lewis Partners is the firm that appears to work in boutique investment bankingβ€”helping companies raise money, find investors, structure deals, while advising startups or investors around fundraising, investment strategy, and venture deals.

At M. Lewis Partners, our core areas of expertise include:

  • Corporate Finance Advisory
  • Venture Advisory
  • Restructuring & Strategic Advisory
  • Private Capital Raising

Service I β€” Corporate Finance Advisory

Service lines:

Capital Raising

  • Equity raising
  • Debt raising
  • Growth capital
  • Structured finance
  • Private placements
  • Strategic investors
  • Development finance

Corporate Finance

  • Valuation
  • Financial modelling
  • Capital structure
  • Corporate restructuring
  • Strategic finance

Transaction Preparation

  • Investment memorandum
  • Information memorandum
  • Financial model
  • Due diligence preparation
  • Data room
  • Investor strategy
  • Transaction positioning

Project / Development Finance

Particularly relevant for:

  • Agriculture
  • Mining services
  • Logistics

Service II β€” Capital Partners

We don't just help businesses find capital. We seek to be a source and organiser of capital.

M. Lewis Partners is the connector between quality opportunities and appropriate capital.

Our specific Capital Partners activities

  • Investor origination
  • Investment opportunities
  • Growth capital through AfriLeap Capital

We identify, prepare, structure and connect qualified opportunities with appropriate sources of capital.

Service III β€” Venture Advisory

We help promising businesses become investable, scalable and institutionally ready.

Service lines

Venture Building

  • Business-model refinement
  • Commercialisation
  • Market validation

Investor Readiness

  • Investment thesis
  • Pitch materials
  • Financial modelling
  • Valuation
  • Data-room preparation
  • Corporate structuring
  • Governance
  • Investor targeting

Growth Advisory

  • Fundraising strategy
  • Revenue growth
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Market expansion
  • Management systems
  • KPI development

Capital Advisory

  • Seed capital
  • Pre-Series A
  • Growth capital
  • Venture debt
  • Strategic investors
  • Institutional investors

Service IV β€” Strategic Advisory

We help CEOs, founders, investors and institutions make important decisions.

Service lines

  • Corporate strategy
  • Growth strategy
  • Corporate restructuring
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Investment strategy

As a boutique investment bank, M. Lewis Partners combines independent advice, deep market knowledge, and strong investor relationships to help businesses prepare for growth, attract investment, execute strategic transactions, and create long-term value.

We work with businesses at defining moments β€” whether scaling operations, raising capital, pursuing acquisitions, restructuring for growth, or preparing for investment.

πŸ“§ Email: capital@mlewisgroup.com
πŸ“ Focus Markets: Southern Africa (Zambia, SADC)
πŸ’Ό Services: Corporate Finance β€’ Venture Advisory β€’ Capital Partners β€’ Strategic Advisory

M. Lewis Capital Partners is an investor-focused private-market platform sourcing, evaluating and curating investment opportunities across Africa.

We give family offices, private investors and institutional capital access to opportunities they may not otherwise discover.

Through local market knowledge, trusted relationships and disciplined opportunity evaluation, we identify selected private-market opportunities and connect them with sophisticated investors seeking differentiated exposure to Africa.

Relationships, Local Knowledge and Disciplined Sourcing

We believe exceptional private-market opportunities are often found through relationships, local knowledge and disciplined sourcingβ€”not simply through traditional investment channels.

M. Lewis Capital Partners focuses on identifying opportunities with the potential to create meaningful long-term value.

Our approach is built around

Source

We develop relationships across African markets to identify compelling private investment opportunities.

Evaluate

We assess opportunities through commercial, financial, strategic and risk considerations to determine whether they merit investor attention.

Curate

We select and present opportunities that align with the interests and investment objectives of our investor network.

Connect

We facilitate access between selected opportunities and appropriate family offices, private investors and institutional capital.

Capital Providers

Our primary focus is on capital providers seeking access to carefully selected private-market opportunities across Africa, including:

Family offices

High-net-worth individuals

Private investors

Institutional investors

Strategic corporate investors

Development-finance and impact-oriented investors

Selected Opportunities Across Africa's Private Markets

We are interested in selected opportunities across Africa's private markets, including:

Private equity and growth investments

Private companies seeking expansion capital

Strategic acquisitions and transactions

Private credit and structured opportunities

Infrastructure and real assets

Agribusiness and other productive sectors

Co-investment opportunities

Our focus is not on volume. We focus on quality, selectivity and the potential for long-term value creation.

M. Lewis Capital Partners is being built with a clear long-term ambition:

To become a leading African family office and private equity firm.

Our initial platform allows us to build the relationships, market intelligence, investment discipline and proprietary opportunity pipeline required to develop these capabilities over time.

As the platform evolves, our ambition is to move from providing investors with curated access to opportunities to selectively deploying capital ourselvesβ€”building long-term investment portfolios through our family-office and private-equity capabilities.

Built in Africa. Focused on Opportunity. Long-Term in Perspective.

M. Lewis Capital Partners is founded on the belief that Africa's private markets offer significant opportunities for investors who have the right access, local relationships and investment discipline.

We seek to be a trusted partner to investors looking beyond conventional markets and seeking carefully selected opportunities across the continent.

M. Lewis Capital Partners

Curated Access to Africa's Private Markets.

πŸ“§ Email: capital@mlewisgroup.com
πŸ“ Focus: African Private Markets

As part of the M. LEWIS GROUP portfolio of enterprises, AfriLeap Capital is a Zambia-based investment firm focused on the missing middle of African enterprise.

We back growth-ready businesses seeking approximately US$25,000 to US$5 million in capital β€” businesses that are often too large for microfinance and traditional startup support, yet too early, too small or too risky for conventional institutional finance.

Our focus is on businesses with strong founders, proven or emerging market demand, sound commercial fundamentals and the potential to scale.

But capital alone is rarely enough. AfriLeap partners with founders to strengthen the businesses behind the investment β€” providing strategic support, financial discipline, governance, networks and access to follow-on capital.

We exist to help promising businesses cross the gap from potential to scale.

Investment Criteria

  • Strong Founders – Founders with a clear vision, resilience, and the ability to execute
  • Market Demand – Proven or emerging market demand with clear growth potential
  • Commercial Fundamentals – Sound financials, clear unit economics, and a viable business model
  • Scalable Potential – Businesses with the potential to scale across markets and sectors

Investment Range: US$25,000 – US$5 million

How We Partner

Capital alone is rarely enough. We partner with founders to strengthen the businesses behind the investment by providing:

  • Strategic Support – Business strategy, market positioning, and growth planning
  • Financial Discipline – Financial modelling, budgeting, and operational efficiency
  • Governance – Board advisory, corporate structuring, and oversight
  • Networks – Access to partners, customers, and industry connections
  • Follow-On Capital – Access to larger pools of institutional capital for scaling

Our Mission

We exist to help promising businesses cross the gap from potential to scale.

By investing early, partnering closely and taking a long-term view, AfriLeap aims to build a pipeline of stronger, more scalable African businesses that can ultimately attract larger pools of institutional capital.

Connect With Us

πŸ“§ Email: info@afrileapcapital.com
πŸ“ Focus: Zambia & Southern Africa
πŸ’° Investment Range: US$25,000 – US$5 million

AfriCarbon

ESG Advisory

Reports & Insights

AI Advisory

Basiwel is a venture-building platform of M. LEWIS GROUP, partnering with entrepreneurs and businesses from idea to growth, meeting them at their stage of development and providing the capabilities, resources, networks, and execution support required to build viable, scalable, and investment-ready ventures.

We work with ventures across the lifecycle β€” from idea, validation and build, through launch and funding, to scale.

Whether it is a promising idea, a registered but pre-launch business, a newly launched venture, or an existing business ready to scale, Basiwel identifies what is needed to move the venture forward and works alongside founders to make it happen.

We don't just advise ventures. We help build them.

View Our Programmes β†’

Six Stages. One Platform.

IDEA β†’ VALIDATE β†’ BUILD β†’ LAUNCH β†’ FUND β†’ SCALE

Ventures enter the platform at any point. We determine what is required and build from there.

You don't have to be investment-ready before coming to Basiwel.

You can come with an idea. You can have a registered company with nothing built. You can have a launched business struggling to gain traction. Or you can already have revenue and need help scaling.

Basiwel meets you where you are, determines what the venture needs, and helps build it toward investment readiness and scale.

A Venture-Building Ecosystem, Not a Consultancy

Different people enter through different doors. Everyone receives the same platform.

Scenario 01

Founder has an idea

Basiwel Venture Building

  • Validate
  • Build
  • Pilot
  • Launch
Venture Discovery Programme β†’

Scenario 02

Registered but pre-launch

Basiwel Venture Building

  • Assess
  • Build missing capabilities
  • Validate
  • Launch
  • Prepare for capital
Venture Build Programme β†’

Scenario 03

Founder has a growing business

Basiwel Growth

  • Diagnose
  • Strengthen
  • Fund
  • Scale
Venture Growth Programme β†’

Scenario 04

Investor

Basiwel Ventures

  • Access investment-ready ventures
Investment Readiness Programme β†’

Scenario 05

Corporate / Institution

Basiwel Venture Partnerships

  • Co-create and develop new ventures
Venture Partnership β†’

Four Doors Under One Roof

Basiwel is the umbrella. Different audiences enter through different doors β€” all supported by the same venture-building engine.

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Basiwel Venture Building

For founders with an idea or a pre-launch company. Validate, build, and prepare for launch and capital.

Explore Programmes β†’
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Basiwel Growth

For businesses with traction. Diagnose, strengthen, fund, and scale into the next stage of growth.

Explore Programmes β†’
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Basiwel Ventures

For investors seeking access to investment-ready ventures built within the platform.

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Basiwel Venture Partnerships

For corporates and institutions. Co-create and develop new ventures within a structured venture-building framework.

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The Basiwel Identity

Master Brand

BASIWEL

Descriptor

VENTURE BUILDING

Positioning

A venture-building platform

Promise

We build investment-ready ventures.

Lifecycle

IDEA β†’ VALIDATE β†’ BUILD β†’ LAUNCH β†’ FUND β†’ SCALE

Legal Identity

Basiwel Holistic Ventures Ltd

Connect With Basiwel

Whether you are starting with an idea or scaling a growing business, we welcome the conversation.

πŸ“§ Email: info@basiwelventures.com
πŸ“ Focus: Zambia & selected SADC markets
🎯 Stage: Idea to scale

01 β€” VENTURE DISCOVERY

From Idea to a Viable Opportunity

For: Founders with an idea, concept, or identified business opportunity.

Before investing heavily in a venture, we help you determine whether the opportunity is commercially worth pursuing.

Includes

  • Founder and venture assessment
  • Problem and customer definition
  • Market and competitor assessment
  • Value proposition
  • Business model
  • Revenue model
  • Initial financial assessment
  • Opportunity and risk analysis
  • Venture roadmap

Duration

2–4 weeks

Investment

From ZMW 6,550 / USD 350

Deliverable

Venture Opportunity Report + Venture Roadmap

Best for

"I have an idea. I need to know whether and how to build it."

02 β€” VENTURE BUILD

From Opportunity to a Market-Ready Venture

For: Validated ideas, registered but pre-launch companies, and ventures requiring significant development before entering the market.

This is our core venture-building programme.

Includes

  • Business model refinement
  • Product/service development
  • MVP development planning
  • Customer validation
  • Brand and positioning
  • Financial model
  • Pricing strategy
  • Operating model
  • Go-to-market strategy
  • Pilot preparation
  • Business systems
  • Key performance indicators

Duration

8–16 weeks

Investment

From ZMW 26,600 / USD 1,400

Typical engagement: ZMW 35,000–100,000

For technology, manufacturing, regulated or otherwise complex ventures, the investment is determined following assessment.

Deliverable

A commercially structured and market-ready venture with a defined path to launch and investment readiness.

Best for

"I have a company or business concept, but the venture still needs to be built."

03 β€” VENTURE LAUNCH

From Market-Ready to Market Traction

For: Ventures with a functioning product or service that are ready to enter or expand in the market.

Includes

  • Go-to-market execution
  • Customer acquisition strategy
  • Sales systems
  • Marketing activation
  • Brand launch
  • Distribution strategy
  • Partnership development
  • Customer onboarding
  • Sales pipeline development
  • Performance tracking
  • Early-stage growth support

Duration

8–12 weeks

Investment

From ZMW 15,000/month ~ USD 750/month

Typical engagement: ZMW 20,000–50,000

Deliverable

A structured market-entry and customer-acquisition engine designed to generate measurable traction.

Best for

"We have built the product. Now we need customers and traction."

04 β€” INVESTMENT READINESS

From Business to Investable Opportunity

For: Ventures preparing to raise external capital.

We don't simply prepare pitch decks. We strengthen the underlying business and investment proposition.

Includes

  • Investment-readiness assessment
  • Business model review
  • Financial projections
  • Unit economics
  • Capital requirement analysis
  • Use-of-funds strategy
  • Valuation preparation
  • Investment narrative
  • Investor presentation
  • Investment memorandum
  • Data-room preparation
  • Governance readiness
  • Investor engagement preparation

Duration

4–8 weeks

Investment

From ZMW 17,000 / USD 990

Typical engagement: ZMW 20,000–40,000

Deliverable

Investor-ready business and investment package.

Important

Basiwel prepares and strengthens the venture for investment but does not guarantee that funding will be secured.

Best for

"We have a credible business. We need to become investment-ready."

05 β€” VENTURE GROWTH

From Traction to Scale

For: Existing ventures and SMEs with customers, revenue, or demonstrated market demand.

Includes

  • Growth strategy
  • Revenue growth
  • Sales optimisation
  • Customer acquisition
  • Market expansion
  • Operational improvement
  • Financial management
  • Management systems
  • Strategic partnerships
  • New product opportunities
  • Capital planning
  • Expansion strategy

Duration

3–12 months

Investment

Growth Advisory: From ZMW 15,000/month ~ USD 789

Growth Partnership: From ZMW 21,000/month ~ USD 1,100

Final pricing depends on team involvement, complexity and scope.

Deliverable

A practical growth programme with measurable commercial and operational objectives.

Best for

"The business works. Now we want to make it significantly bigger."

06 β€” VENTURE PARTNERSHIP

Build With Us

For: Selected high-potential ventures where Basiwel can create substantial value through deeper involvement.

This is not a standard consulting engagement.

Basiwel may contribute

β†’ Venture strategy

β†’ Product development

β†’ Technology

β†’ Capital

β†’ Talent

β†’ Brand

β†’ Market access

β†’ Business development

β†’ Operational capabilities

β†’ Investor networks

β†’ Growth expertise

Commercial Structure

Depending on the opportunity:

Cash + Equity

Reduced Fees + Equity

Equity / Investment Partnership

The structure is individually negotiated following due diligence and agreement on the contributions, responsibilities, risks and expected value creation of each party.

Duration

6–36 months

Investment

Custom / Selected Ventures

Best for

"We want Basiwel to become a genuine co-builder of this venture."

SPECIAL PROGRAMME

Venture Readiness Sprint

For Founders Who Say: "I Need Funding."

Many ventures are not yet ready for investmentβ€”even when the founder believes they are.

Our Venture Readiness Sprint determines exactly what stands between your venture and investment readiness.

We assess

  • Business model
  • Market
  • Product/service
  • Customers
  • Revenue potential
  • Team
  • Operations
  • Financial model
  • Capital requirement
  • Investment proposition
  • Key risks

Duration

2 weeks

Investment

ZMW 6,650 / USD 350

Outcome

A Venture Readiness Scorecard identifying:

  • Where your venture is today
  • Critical gaps
  • What needs to be built
  • Capital required
  • Recommended next programme
  • Milestones required before seeking investment

Particularly suitable for

Registered companies with an idea but no product, customers or revenue.

Instead of immediately trying to raise capital, Basiwel helps determine what should be built first and what capital is actually required to reach the next value-creation milestone.

Three Engagement Models

Basiwel uses three principal engagement models. The right one depends on the venture, the founder's objectives, and Basiwel's expected contribution.

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1. BUILD β€” Fee-Based

The client pays Basiwel for defined venture-building work.

Best for

Founders who want to retain maximum ownership.

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2. BUILD + PARTNER β€” Fee + Equity

The client contributes a reduced cash fee and Basiwel participates through an agreed equity position.

Best for

Promising early-stage ventures where Basiwel expects to contribute substantial execution value.

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3. VENTURE PARTNERSHIP β€” Equity / Investment

Basiwel becomes a deeper strategic and execution partner in selected ventures.

Best for

High-potential opportunities with significant long-term value creation potential.

Find Your Pathway

Where you are Basiwel programme
I have an idea Venture Discovery
I have an idea but need to prove it Venture Discovery / Readiness Sprint
I have registered a company but nothing built Venture Readiness β†’ Venture Build
I have a product but no meaningful traction Venture Build / Venture Launch
I am ready to enter the market Venture Launch
I have customers and revenue Venture Growth
I need to prepare for investors Investment Readiness
I want Basiwel as a long-term partner Venture Partnership

We meet you where you are.

We don't force every venture through the same programme.

ASSESS β†’ VALIDATE β†’ BUILD β†’ LAUNCH β†’ FUND β†’ SCALE

Our first step is always to understand the venture, identify its gaps and determine the most appropriate pathway.

We don't just advise ventures.

We help build them.

BASIWEL

VENTURE BUILDING

We build investment-ready ventures.

Start the Conversation

Tell us where your venture is today. We'll help determine the right programme.

πŸ“§ Email: info@basiwelventures.com
πŸ“ Focus: Zambia & selected SADC markets
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