Our Firm
We are a multi-strategy investment firm with a singular focus on investing in Africa for growth with impact.
Helios today
Award-winning partner of choice in Africa
Since 2004, Helios has sought and created compelling opportunities to invest in Africa’s high-growth and under-penetrated markets.
Across four distinct strategies, we invest behind Africa’s megatrends of demographics and urbanization, technology and innovation. We apply our proven Helios platform of world-class investment capabilities, an entrepreneurial business-building approach and unparalleled local and global connectivity to generate globally competitive returns and impact.
The team
The Helios team
As the leading Africa-focused investment firm, we are proud to be partner of choice for a broad range of the world’s leading investors. Our diverse LP base includes sovereign wealth funds, corporate and public pension funds, endowments and foundations, funds of funds, family offices and development finance institutions across the US, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Our predominantly African team of experienced investment specialists works closely with our investors, portfolio companies and networks from offices in London, Lagos, Nairobi and Paris.
Impact
Our Four Impact Priorities
Driving positive impact and the highest ESG standards is central to our firm and our investment process. Our four impact priorities aim to improve lives and create value across our portfolio through meaningful action on jobs, climate, diversity and financial and digital access.
Value creation is also core to our ESG approach. As a certified B Corp, we are proud of our commitment to the highest ESG standards beyond our portfolio, complemented by our active corporate social responsibility program.
Why Helios
We believe the African investment platform we have built and refined since 2004 makes us uniquely well-placed to capitalize on Africa’s megatrends and seek to generate globally competitive returns for investors with lasting, positive impact on African development.
$3B+
capital raised
20
year track record in Africa
35+
African countries
4
pioneering strategies
5
consecutive years as PE International Firm of the Year in Africa
40+
team of Africa investment experts
Our history
Since Helios was founded by Tope Lawani and Babatunde Soyoye in 2004, we have grown into the largest Africa-focused private investment firm. Over the years, we have raised three private equity funds and developed into a multi-strategy business.
Key milestones in our journey include founding Africa’s first two independent telecom tower companies in 2005 and 2009, which between them now operate over 14,500 towers across Africa and the Middle East.
In 2020, a transaction between Helios Holdings Limited and Fairfax Africa Holdings Corporation created the premier pan Africa-focused alternative investment manager, Helios Fairfax Partners (HFP).
2025
AFIS Fund of the Year award
PEA Innovative Fund Strategies award
PEA Creative Capital award - for the Professional Fighters League investment
2024
PEA Decade Award – Large Cap Exits & IPOs
2023
Won Firm of the Year in Africa award
2020
Created HeliosFairfax Partners
2014
Helios Investors III: $1.1 Billion
2010
Helios Investors II: $908 Million
Helios Tower Africa: $275 Million
2007
Fully exited Modern Africa Fund
2006
Helios Investors I: $305 million
2004
Established Helios Investment Partners