Vuyo Mpako, managing director of Next176, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2025 Powerlist.

Vuyo Mpako 2025 Powerlist

Africa remains on the periphery of the tech scene from a global standpoint, but there is plenty of activity at the startup level, particularly in financial technology, where South Africa-based financial services group Old Mutual has carved out a corporate VC niche under Vuyo Mpako.

Old Mutual’s Next176 invests in fintech, as well as health, education, HR and sustainability technology, and it does so in several markets across Africa. But Mpako sees his biggest strength not in investing but in change management, balancing the needs of the startup with the corporate.

Part of that is investing in the right companies and giving them the best support.

“But we also invest knowing where opportunities for strategic optionality in the corporate business are going to be in the future,” he says. “Just understanding the corporate, the pain points and the key strategic shifts is a key part of this.”

“We invest knowing where opportunities for strategic optionality in the corporate business are going to be in the future. Just understanding the corporate, the pain points and the key strategic shifts is a key part”

Next176 also stands out because it does not just operate as a venture fund, it runs a venture studio scheme that has produced nearly 20 startups. One of them recently brought the unit its first exit when it was acquired by Old Mutual.

Mpako says the venture studio is important because there is a funding gap at growth stage for African startups, as well as a dearth of sizeable IPO or M&A exits. Being able to participate at the very earliest stages helps to de-risk its activity as an investor.

Together with a burgeoning partnership programme that has attracted the likes of telecoms firm Vodacom and fellow corporate venture unit SC Ventures, it adds up to an organisation that is well equipped to make a splash in Africa’s startup scene.

“The Next176 platform that we have built has only been in existence for three and a half years and we have built a super powerful platform,” Mpako says.

“The commitment the group had made was sufficient to start the programme, but in the past year it doubled from R300m to R600m ($32m). For that to have happened, our board and the group must have seen value in what we are doing, which we are very excited about.”


The Global Corporate Venturing Powerlist represents the 100 individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry.

These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession.

See the full 2025 Powerlist here.