Vercel Acquires One of Our Portfolio Companies, Better Auth, to Accelerate Open Source Authentication
We are delighted to share a significant milestone from our portfolio.
Better Auth, one of our portfolio companies (PortCo’s), has been acquired by Vercel, the industry-leading decacorn.
Founded by a self-taught technical mind from Ethiopia, Better Auth has grown into a defining force in open-source authentication infrastructure—a clear reflection of the caliber of founders we back and the markets they choose to disrupt.
We extend our warmest congratulations to the Better Auth team, and we look forward to Vercel’s continued stewardship of this platform.
Full details on the acquisition are available here.
Congratulations to all Vellows (Vengel Fellows). More wins coming…🚀
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P.S.
Better Auth isn’t a one-off. It’s the kind of outcome we look for before we ever write a check. Our next round, The Ascension Cohort, is now open—and if this is the caliber of company you want early access to, this is where that starts…
If you want in before it closes, join the waitlist here.
Join a community of investors backing the startups that will define the next decade now.
Learn more below 👇👇👇
For decades, venture capital ran on one quiet rule: the biggest returns went to whoever already had the money and the connections to get in early.
A single startup investment could require tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars—a floor that kept everyday investors on the outside, reading about deals only after they’d made someone else rich, during exit events (like acquisitions and IPOs).
Vengel Fellows exists to change who gets to be “someone else.”
We give members direct, deal-by-deal access to vetted start-up investments—the same caliber of opportunities previously reserved for institutional funds and the ultra-wealthy—with no massive minimums and no gatekeeping.
No stress on your part. We handle the sourcing, vetting, and structuring.
This is what venture capital looks like when access depends on conviction, not net worth.
Download the Prospectus to see how it works and what’s currently open.
About Vengel Fellows
Vengel Fellows is a deal-by-deal venture capital syndicate.
In practice, that means: when we find startups worth backing, we open that specific deal to our members. You choose whether to invest, deal by deal, with no obligation to commit to every round we bring you.
This matters because of how VC has traditionally worked. Access to startup and pre-IPO investing has usually required minimums in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, restricted to institutional funds, family offices, and accredited insiders. Everyone else was priced out before they ever saw the deal.
Vengel Fellows removes that floor. We do the sourcing, the due diligence, and the deal structuring—the same rigor a traditional VC fund would apply—and open participation to members at a fraction of the traditional minimum.
Download the Prospectus for the full structure: how deals are sourced, how allocations work, and what it takes to become a Fellow.
Imagine investing in Uber, Tesla, Facebook, Amazon, or Google before the world knew their names. Or Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint, before they became Africa’s biggest fintech success stories.
Those opportunities existed. Most people simply never had access to them.
And that access gap is itself a symptom of a deeper problem: financial exclusion.
Across Africa, venture capital and early-stage investing have remained locked behind wealth, geography, and networks, leaving millions of capable, ambitious people permanently priced out of the very asset class that builds wealth.
Vengel Fellows exists to close that gap. We give everyday investors—not just the already-wealthy—the chance to invest alongside billionaires and leading venture capital funds, on the same terms, in the same deals, at the same stage they do.
We’ve built a streamlined, transparent platform for financial inclusion in venture capital: no industry connections required, no seven-figure minimums; no gender, income, or geography barriers.
Every startup we bring to our members has already been through detailed research and vetting, so participation comes with institutional-grade rigor.
We are especially committed to expanding economic opportunity for underserved groups, including women and youth, who remain significantly underrepresented as both founders and investors in venture capital across the continent.
By opening this asset class to a broader base of investors, we aim to contribute directly to poverty alleviation and the growth of a resilient African middle class.
Our Mission
To democratize startup investing and advance financial inclusion across Africa. Building a go-to launchpad for busy professionals, women, youth, and aspiring investors who have historically been shut out of venture capital, and equipping them to participate as intentional partners, not spectators.
Our Vision
- Ordinary citizens building a dependable asset base that generates sustainable wealth for them, their families, and future generations—a direct contribution to poverty alleviation and intergenerational economic mobility.
- Busy professionals, women, and youth retiring early, living off the income their investments generate, and achieving lasting financial empowerment.
- A true, strong, and economically inclusive middle class across Africa where access to wealth-building tools is a right, not a privilege reserved for a few.
Benefits
Here’s what you get when you join Vengel Fellows to co-invest in global start-ups that are changing the world:
✅ First Access to the Next Multi-Billion-Dollar Titans
Imagine getting in early on the companies destined to become the next Amazon, Tesla, Moniepoint, or OpenAI.
With this access, you’ll invest in high-growth start-ups before they hit the mainstream—positioning yourself for massive returns as they dominate their industries.
✅ Exclusive Membership in Africa’s Most Powerful VC Investment Syndicate
Powerful investors don’t walk alone. Gain insider access to Africa’s largest and most influential AI investment syndicate, where the world’s brightest minds are pooling capital into cutting-edge innovation.
✅ Invest at Discounted Rates in the Biggest Empires of the Future
Artificial Intelligence. Biotechnology. Deep Tech. The industries shaping the next trillion-dollar opportunities are already in motion. As a Vengel Fellow, you won’t just invest in them—you’ll get in at preferential rates, maximizing your upside.
✅ Trans-Boarder Portfolio Diversification
✅ Your Money is Fortified Against Inflation & Currency Devaluation
While others watch their wealth shrink under inflation and currency devaluation, you’ll be safeguarding and growing yours—investing in high-value assets that thrive regardless of economic turbulence.
🔥 Up to $1000 Worth of Bonuses
✅ Master the Art of Investing with Complimentary Elite Trainings
Even the best investors sharpen their edge. Your membership includes FREE access to a world class personal finance & investment courses:
👉 Investment & Portfolio Management Programme, arming you with the strategies, tools, and insights used by the world’s top investors.
👉 Living Off Dividends All Year (LODAY)
As a Vengel Fellow, you will gain free lifetime membership of the LODAY conclave, where you learn how to capitalize in the vast opportunities in the global stock markets to build a passive income stream and live off dividends all year.
👉 1 FREE Membership by Introduction slot into the Elite LODAY Conclave
Opportunity to give free lifetime access to your bestie or family member that you want to create wealth with.
👉 2% Off Vengel Robo-Advisory Services
👉 FREE Admission into the Vengel Trading Room (1 Year)
👉 FREE Admission into Vengel CopyTrader (1 Year)
The question is: Will you be a spectator—or a winner in this new financial era and wealth transfer?
Secure your seat today. The future won’t wait.
Own a stake in the startups reshaping the global economy—before the world catches on.
We’re excited to bring you Vengel Fellows a community-led VC in partnership with top VCs, titan funds, family offices, etc and we invite you to join the community now.
We are led by a team with decades of experience advising, investing and consulting in private equity and venture capital.
Our team of analysts, researchers, advisors and consultants work hard to bring you the most exclusive alternative asset classes opportunities.
Click here to request the prospectus to learn more about how you can co-invest and become a part owner of these exclusive investment opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1️⃣ How much can I start investing in start-ups with?
Investing in the lucrative start-up asset class has been an exclusive preserve for the top wealthiest persons in the world, and family offices.
You need to have tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars and be an accredited investor to be able to get your feet in the door.
Enters Vengel Fellows, VF.
We have gate-crashed the VC asset class investing giving the ordinary individual in the streets of Africa unfettered access to co-invest in top start-ups starting with as little as $350.
2️⃣ What are the benefits of VC investing through Vengel Fellows instead of directly investing via a big VC like BlackRock or Sequoia?
Investing through Vengel Fellows provides access to exclusive venture deals with lower capital requirements than direct top VCs.
Our VC syndicates allow investors to pool resources, reducing individual risk while still participating in high-growth opportunities.
Another key advantage is that many venture capital firms require investors to be accredited investors.
By investing through Vengel Fellows, you can gain exposure to these opportunities even if you do not meet the accreditation requirements individually.
Through our syndicate model, we provide a structured pathway for ordinary individuals to participate in top-tier deals.
Additionally, we conduct in-depth research, due diligence, and strategic analysis to help you make informed investment decisions.
3️⃣ How viable is this investment opportunity?
Every start-up investment opportunity presented through our syndicate undergoes rigorous vetting by experienced venture capitalists and industry experts.
However, as with any investment, there are inherent risks. We provide comprehensive deal analyses, market insights, and due diligence reports to help you make informed decisions.
We also encourage investors to conduct their own research on our partner VC syndicates before committing funds.
4️⃣ What is the expected ROI in start-ups investing?
Returns in start-up investing are measured in multiples at exit. Industry data shows that even after accounting for dilution, successful start-ups can generate outsized gains.
For example, Y Combinator reports that start-ups reaching unicorn status (valued at $1 billion or more) typically face 40–55% dilution by the time of exit.
To put this in perspective: an investment of $10,000 in a start-up of $30 million initial valuation that eventually becomes a unicorn, even with a 40% dilution rate, could yield around a 20x return.
That said, not every start-up reaches unicorn status—some may deliver more modest multiples, while others may fail. This is why diversification across multiple vetted deals, as offered through Vengel Fellows, is key to capturing those few winners that can make the defining difference in your journey to building lasting wealth.
5️⃣ How can I verify the authenticity of the investment; and how I deposit my capital?
Upon registration (a non-refundable fee of $100), you will gain access to the deal flow board, where the start-up investment opportunities are listed.
Additionally, you can independently verify our partner VC syndicates.
You can send in your your capital to Vengel or directly to our syndicate if you wish (you will need to indicate Vengel Fellows in the transaction details).
6️⃣ Will there be any proof of my ownership in the start-up?
Absolutely. Your investment through Vengel Fellows is not informal or undocumented. Upon completing your investment in any deal, you will receive formal documentation confirming your ownership interest. This may take the form of:
- A SAFE note (Simple Agreement for Future Equity)
- An equity certificate or share allocation document
- A syndicate membership agreement detailing your pro-rata ownership within the Vengel Fellows syndicate vehicle
7️⃣ How will I know how many shares I have and the value?
Transparency is a cornerstone of how Vengel Fellows operates. Your ownership is specific to each deal cycle you participate in, and every start-up investment within that cycle is housed in its own dedicated vehicle—so your stake in each company is always clearly defined and never diluted by investors joining future cycles.
Vengel Fellows runs at least two investment cycles per year, with each cycle comprising multiple curated start-up deals.
Once your investment in a cycle is confirmed and closed, you will receive a detailed investment summary for each start-up in that cycle, clearly outlining:
- The number of shares or units allocated to you in each deal’s SPV
- Your percentage ownership in each SPV, which holds the syndicate’s stake in the respective start-up
- The implied valuation of your stake in each company at the time of investment
As each portfolio company grows and raises subsequent funding rounds, we will provide periodic valuation updates on a deal-by-deal basis, reflecting changes in each company’s estimated worth and what that means for your specific stake.
All of this information will be accessible through your investor profile on the Vengel Fellows deal flow board, giving you a clear, deal-by-deal view of every position you hold across all cycles you have participated in, their current estimated values, and their individual progress toward exit.
Your investment, your stakes, your returns — clearly tracked, every step of the way.
8️⃣ How and when do exits happen?
An exit is the event through which investors realize their returns. In venture capital, exits typically happen in one of the following ways:
- Acquisition: — A larger company buys the start-up, and investors receive a payout proportional to their ownership stake.
- Initial Public Offering (IPO): — The start-up lists on a public stock exchange, allowing investors to sell their shares on the open market.
- Secondary Sale: — Shares are sold to another private investor or fund before a full IPO or acquisition.
- Merger: — The start-up merges with another entity, often triggering a liquidity event for early investors.
Exits typically occur 5 to 10 years after the initial investment, though some high-growth companies may reach exit-readiness sooner. (For instance, Better Auth was acquired by Vercel in just about 3 months after we invested.
Vengel Fellows keeps all investors informed of material developments in each portfolio company, including any emerging exit opportunities, through regular updates on our investor dashboard/community.
9️⃣ What happens in the event of the demise of an investor (Vengel Fellows LP)?
In the unfortunate event of an investor’s demise, their ownership interest in the VC syndicate (such as shares, equity, or tokens depending on structure) will be treated like any other part of their estate.
The investment would be passed on to their legal heirs or beneficiaries, as dictated by their will or local inheritance laws.
These documents are legally binding and constitute your proof of ownership. All investments are structured through our registered syndicate entity, ensuring your rights as a limited partner (LP) are protected under the applicable legal framework in the US and Nigeria.
We strongly encourage all investors to:
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Include their investment in their estate planning documents.
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Inform us of their nominated next of kin or legal representative, so we can ensure a smooth transfer of rights and communication if ever needed.
🔟 What happens to investors’ funds in an event of the demise of the General Partner (VC syndicate)?
The demise of the set man (lead GP or founder) does not affect the legal structure or the assets of the syndicate, as the syndicate is established as a separate legal entity (LLP) in the US and in Nigeria.
The funds and investments remain intact and under the management of the syndicate entity.
Some of Our General Partner VCs
Tekedia Capital, a venture capital firm founded by Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, funds the foundations of the NEXT African economy through entrepreneurial capitalism.
Through Tekedia Capital, hundreds of global citizens, Africans in diasporas and homelands, companies, investment clubs, angel clubs, etc, have invested in some of the leading start-ups in Africa and beyond.
Some of these companies have later joined Y Combinator and Techstars as well as raised millions of US dollars in follow-up funds.
Tekedia Capital invests in mainly technology-anchored companies and is sector-agnostic, which means those companies could be operating in any industry, including finance, real estate, education, health, logistics, manufacturing, etc.
Tekedia Capital has dozens of companies in its portfolios, including Touch and Pay (Lagos Cowry Card, YC alum), Mecho Autotech (YC alum), RemySec (YC alum), OurPass (Techstars alum), TradeGrid (leading downstream oil trader), Cinderbuild (Africa’s #1 construction and building material marketplace), Bitmama/Changera (category-king in currency swap), Egoras (digital manufacturer), and Zeeh Africa (winner of BusinessDay App of the Year), and dozens of others. Learn more.
Accolades:
- Best VC/Angel Fund (Nigeria)
- Global Well Respected CEO in Investment Award (Singapore).
