More Information About UTF II – University Technology (A) Partnership II

The University Technology Fund II (UTF II) is a pioneering venture capital fund on the African continent, established to build on the commercial success and foundational infrastructure of UTF Fund I. With a mission to scale the commercialisation of intellectual property and technologies originating from South African universities, and to invest in technology start-ups founded by alumni of South African universities, UTF II aims to solidify deep-tech university spinouts as a recognised and valuable asset class both locally and globally, while backing world-class technology companies founded by alumni from South African universities.

UTF II is managed by Stocks & Strauss Fund Manager (Pty) Ltd, a registered Financial Services Provider (FSP 51853), and is supported by a well-established Investment Committee with international fund experience and a sector-seasoned team.

The Investment Thesis

  • Global Pattern: Leading innovation hubs are anchored by top universities – Boston (MIT, Harvard), Silicon Valley (Stanford, UC Berkeley), Oxford & Cambridge.
  • Knowledge to Impact: Universities generate breakthrough research, patents, and high-skilled talent – the raw material for deep tech and disruptive startups.
  • VC Magnet: Proximity to cutting-edge research attracts venture capital, creating clusters of high-growth companies.
  • Ecosystem Multiplier: University-linked startups drive job creation, economic growth, and reinvestment into the innovation cycle.
  • The Gap in Africa: South Africa has world-class universities but limited commercialisation of intellectual property at scale.
  • The Opportunity: UTF is unlocking this underutilised asset base to create Africa’s leading university-driven VC ecosystem.

The UTF II capitalises on this by investing in university spinouts and alumni founded ventures.

Fund Mission and Objectives

The primary mission of UTF II is to scale the commercialisation of university-originated technologies and support technology ventures founded by alumni, while retaining value and skills in South Africa.

Key Objectives:

  • Deliver commercial returns to UTF II investors.
  • Prove that university IP is a viable and sustainable asset class.
  • Support Alumni founders to achieve word class success.
  • Attract and retain talent in South Africa’s academic and tech ecosystem.
  • Promote job creation and skills development.
  • Elevate the global reputation of South African universities both as research institutions and as creators of word class entrepreneurs.

Investment Mandate

UTF II targets early-stage technology companies in the following investment phases:

Pipeline development

UTF II benefits from an extensive and proprietary pipeline, developed through a multi-channel sourcing approach that ensures a consistent flow of high-quality, university-originated opportunities. These include:

  • UTF Fund I (proprietary pipeline): Portfolio extensions and network spinouts that have been vetted and supported under UTF I.
  • UTF Seed Fund (proprietary): A structured Seed Funding facility designed to derisk early-stage opportunities before UTF II investment.
  • South African university technology transfer offices: Access to spinouts and IP commercialisation projects from all 26 public universities.
  • University alumni networks: Technologies and ventures initiated by alumni of South African universities with strong ties to their institutions.
  • Strategic partnerships: Collaborations with university ecosystem incubators, accelerators, and business builders.
  • Founder-led seminars: UTF founder-hosted seminars that have engaged over 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and researchers.
  • Established UTF I and Fund Manager relationships: Deep institutional knowledge and trusted partnerships within the university ecosystem enable early access to emerging opportunities.

This pipeline architecture ensures that UTF II receives early exposure to innovation while reducing risk and maximising impact.

Commercialisation & Venture Growth

(Series A & Series B)

  • UTF II invests in entities with initial market traction requiring equity capital to scale.
  • Investments include spinouts and alumni-founded companies from South African universities.

Geographic and Sector Scope

  • South Africa-focused, with a 25% offshore allocation.
  • Sector-agnostic, with a focus on high-impact innovation.

Why UTF II

Backed by a proven Fund Manager and a successful UTF I track record

Access to a derisked investment pipeline via the UTF Seed Fund and UTF I

Supported by a strong university network and trusted advisory partners

Positioned for strong valuation arbitrage vs international peers

Fund Manager & General Partner

The University Technology Fund is managed by Stocks & Strauss Fund Manager (Pty) Ltd, a registered Financial Services Provider (FSP 51853).
Stocks & Strauss General Partners (Pty) Ltd acts as the General Partner.