SA’s OneBio Secures USD 1.16 M Grant To Scale African Biotech Venture Studio

South Africa’s OneBio Venture Studio has secured a ZAR 20 M (USD 1.16 M) grant to accelerate its mission of commercialising African biotech research.

Founded in Cape Town and led by Michael Fichardt, Nick Walker, and Gian-Marco Melfi, OneBio operates a hybrid model combining venture capital with hands-on startup creation. Since launching in 2018, it has backed 16 ventures with eight exits, though six have shut down, underscoring the high-risk nature of deep tech in Africa.

Despite infrastructure and funding constraints, portfolio companies like LifeQ and CapeBio show commercial promise. The funding will support new venture creation as OneBio expands into key African markets.