The Caribbean Venture Capital Fund (CVCF) invests in tech, tech-enabled and climate transactions. Its target areas are the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic with a combined population of approximately 30 million people. CVCF is the first VC fund launched in the region in 30 years to address the significant supply / demand gap in venture financing.
The region’s economic landscape includes an average GDP per capita of approximately US$7,550, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 51.3%. The GDP of the CARICOM is US$151.6B while that of the Dominican Republic is US$121.8B for a total of US$273B. The fund focuses on key sectors such as fintech, agritech, healthtech, logistics, energy and Climatetech.
Backed by a cohesive team with deep expertise in private equity, early-stage funding, artificial intelligence, and mergers and acquisitions, the fund employs a strategic approach centered on regional platform roll-ups. It has successfully concluded its first deal and has already identified its second investment opportunity.
The Fund will address some of the significant SME funding gaps within the Caribbean.
Mscale was selected and seeded with $4.9M by the Development Bank of Jamaica after a global RFP competition.
The fund intends to diversify its portfolio by investing in small and medium-sized enterprises across various sectors in Jamaica, CARICOM member territories, and the Dominican Republic, capitalizing on the region’s growth potential and the need for equity capital.
The Fund Manager will establish representative offices in Jamaica and Barbados with associate offices in
Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
The Fund is sector agnostic but places particular focus on the following sectors:
info@mscalellc.com
In Jamaica: 15 Oxford Road, Kingston 5
Technical Assistance Committee
Lisandra is an Executive Coach with a background in economics and investments. She is CEO of a professional development company and has in her career coached over 220 entrepreneurs.
She has MBA with honors from Harvard Business School, and a B.A. in Economics with honors from the University of Chicago
Technical Assistance Committee
Sandra is the Founder and Managing Director of BizTactics Limited, a consulting company dedicated to mentoring growth-aspiring firms and promoting best-in-class corporate governance in the Caribbean. She is an Angel Investor having personally invested in 11 local companies and is a Co-Founder of Jamaica’s first Angel Investor Network, FirstAngelsJA. She is the Founder of the Technology Innovation Centre, Jamaica’s first technology business Incubator, at the University of Technology, Jamaica. A graduate of the University of the West Indies, she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, with a specialisation in the Management of Technology.
Investment Committee
Sharon has strong marketing and business strategy design and execution. She offers strong experience in brand development, digital strategy and market research, investment thesis and strategy development.
Sharon holds a graduate Diploma in Business Studies and Finance from Suffolk College, University of East Anglia and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM).
Investment Committee
Dami has strong venture capital experience with several years of deal origination and investing in early-stage technology companies in West Africa.
She also has strong experience in transaction structuring and negotiation, investment analysis and market research, investment thesis and strategy development.
Michael Ezra de Jong, a successful entrepreneur from Amsterdam, has a background in development economics from the University of Manitoba and the University of Toronto. He began his entrepreneurial journey in the tourism and hospitality industry, founding The Placencia, a luxury resort, and TDA Global Cycling, which created the Tour d’Afrique, one of the world’s longest cycling expeditions. Later, he expanded into construction and real estate development by founding Meka Modular, a company specializing in high-quality, modular housing solutions. Under his leadership, Meka Modular has become a recognized innovator in prefabricated construction, providing sustainable building solutions across North America. With decades of experience, Michael has successfully scaled ventures in diverse industries. He continues to drive innovation, using his expertise to create impactful enterprises. Michael’s ventures are known for their commitment to quality and sustainability. His work remains a testament to his ability to lead and transform industries.
Vuyani Jones is an accomplished financial services executive with over 20 years of experience in investment management, wealth advisory, and business development. She has led high-performing teams, driving AUM growth and serving a wide range of clients, including institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. She previously served as Head of Key Clients & Family Office at Absa Wealth & Investment, focusing on ultra-high-net-worth portfolios and cross-border investments. A pioneer in blockchain technology, Vuyani made her first Bitcoin investment in 2012 and has since supported various crypto, NFT, and Web3 ventures, shifting her focus to decentralized finance (DeFi) in 2019. Vuyani co-founded Seriti Asset Management, which acquired Canon Asset Management, and played a key role in establishing Koomo Capital in Atlanta, focused on African investments. She is passionate about financial inclusion and works to empower African women in blockchain finance.
Chief Technology Officer
David Roberts is an experienced technology executive with over 30 years of experience leading the assessment, development, and delivery of cutting-edge technology systems. As CTO of Mscale LLC and CEO of Transform Affinity, David brings a powerful network of technology and business experts across the largest commercial companies, government agencies, and the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Chief Executive Officer
Ugo is a global investments executive with over 20 years of venture capital, private equity and impact investing experience for start-ups, early stage and mature companies. He has a wide network of strong relationships with the leadership of DFIs, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, banks, corporates in the US, UK and Africa. Ugo has a proven investment track record. His primary focus on all assignments is delivering superior results through innovation, project management, and building stakeholder alignment. He has been involved in the raising of 4 funds totaling over US$300 million.Regions he has covered in his career include Africa, North America, South America & Europe.