Who We Are

Zidicircle was founded by Fridah Ntarangwi, a Kenyan turned diasporan in Europe. Her personal journey highlights the obstacles diasporans encounter when establishing businesses. Local business incubators did not align with her specific needs or the communities she aspired to impact, and fundraising proved to be a formidable challenge. Motivated by these experiences, she resolved to Zidicircle with the aim of providing diverse entrepreneurs and investors with comprehensive resources, incubation support, coaching, and streamlined access to funding.

Since 2016, Zidicircle has continuously worked with development partners, private sector, governments, diaspora organisations and diasporans themselves to participate in entrepreneurship and investment activities in their host and home countries.

Our mission

We facilitate diaspora-led development in host and home countries through entrepreneurship and angel investing in two ways:

1. By supporting and training high potential entrepreneurs and investors through group and self-paced courses, incubation and investment channels
2. By catalysing and pooling diaspora angel investments

Our vision

We aim to be the global leader for diaspora entrepreneurship and angel investment capacity-building and the getaway angel investment vehicle

Why a focus on the diaspora?

We define diasporans as migrants or descendants of migrants, whose identity and sense of belonging are attached to a home country, but who live outside of it (host country).

Diasporans play an integral role in supporting the economies of both their home and host countries, contributing through labor, skills transfer, financial capital, and enriching cultural diversity. Remarkably, diasporans contribute significantly to global remittances, playing a pivotal role in sustaining economies across borders. According to recent statistics, diaspora remittances reached an estimated $831 billion in 2022, highlighting the immense financial influence of diasporan communities worldwide. However, first and second-generation diasporans, particularly those from visible, ethnic and linguistic minority communities, grapple with significant challenges when initiating businesses or investing in both their home and host countries.

Our three Pillars

Our experience has illuminated the following key challenges:

• Limited Access to Traditional Capital: Diasporans often face hurdles in accessing traditional capital due to factors such as a limited credit history, lack of collateral, and exclusion from mainstream financial systems. This restriction hampers their ability to secure necessary funds for investments and entrepreneurship.
• Disparities in Educational and Employment Opportunities: Disparities in educational and employment opportunities can impact disposable income, creating obstacles to realizing full investment potential. This challenge further underscores the need for tailored support and opportunities for pooled investment opportunities.
• Cultural and Regulatory Complexities: Navigating cultural and regulatory complexities poses significant hurdles for diasporans seeking to engage in entrepreneurship or investments in their home and host countries. Overcoming these challenges requires specialized knowledge and support.
• Challenges in Finding Incubators: Locating incubators adapted to the unique needs of diasporans is a challenge. This includes navigating cultural nuances and gaining access to tailored support services, hindering the effective development of their business ideas.
• Limited Transformation of Remittances: Despite their significant volume, remittances predominantly retain a personal nature, presenting a challenge in channeling them into sustained long-term investments. The inherent difficulty lies in transforming these transfers from personal support and investments into avenues for broader economic development.

How Zidi adresses these challenges

Entrepreneurship Training Service Offer

Zidi addresses barriers to entrepreneurship and investment by providing comprehensive training services. Through self-paced and group training, we empower diasporans with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate entrepreneurial and investment ecosystems. Our investment matchmaking services connect aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors and investors who understand and appreciate their potential, facilitating fundraising opportunities and valuable networks that break through exclusionary practices.

Zidi Angel Investor training  Offer

For those willing to offer an alternative source of capital, there is a lack of know-how to navigate the angel investment ecosystems- many diaspora often ask, where do I start? How will I do it and who can I trust? Our diaspora angel investment fellowship offers a learning opportunity for first time diaspora angel investors

Investing Approach: Zidi Coop Investment Vehicle

To address limited access to traditional capital and a general lack of investment infrastructure, Zidi introduces the Coop Investment Vehicle. This innovative platform enables diasporans to pool their resources, overcoming financial constraints and empowering even those with smaller denominations of investments to make a substantial impact. By leveraging the power of pooling, Zidi transforms the investment landscape, providing an accessible and inclusive platform for diasporans to invest in SMEs in their home and host countries. 

Our Team

Our team consists of a group of enthusiastic and driven individuals that are dedicated to helping diaspora entrepreneurs.