Venture Capital Projects
What is Venture Capital? [expander_maker id=”8″ more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]
Venture capital (VC) is a form of private equity and a type of financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses that are believed to have long-term growth potential. Venture capital generally comes from well-off investors, investment banks, and any other financial institutions. However, it does not always take a monetary form; it can also be provided in the form of technical or managerial expertise. Venture capital is typically allocated to small companies with exceptional growth potential, or to companies that have grown quickly and appear poised to continue to expand.
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*To use the map, please hover over the red circles and click to view a detailed breakdown of that specific projects section.
Ruzawi’s “Vision 2020 and Beyond” included consideration of a variety of projects/additional income streams in order to:-
- Better utilise the school’s land holdings (both the agricultural and institutional zoned properties)
- Supplement the efforts in raising money through benefactor funding for the school’s future development.
With the above in mind, the Board of Governors approved and fully supported the possibility of 6 projects on the Ruzawi Estate:-
Gum plantation (281 ha)
This is an existing project that has been very successfully managed by Curverid over the last 10 years. The current lease expires February 2023 where the school looks forward to re-negotiating with Curverid to ensure that the project continues to bring full value to both parties.
Cattle project
This project is well underway and the “Ruzawi herd” has settled well into a fenced area on the Ruzawi estate utilising all the grazing areas of the property. Ruzawi is working closely with a current parent and local farmer who has helped ensure that this project has become a reality. It will take time for the herd to grow but there is much potential in the next few years for this to benefit the school in a wide variety of areas
Sale of Ruzawi Estate Land – Education Matters (93 ha)
The sale of the land was considered and fully endorsed by the Board of Governors as the work of Education Matters is fully aligned to the principles and ethos of our founders. Education Matters is a non-profit organization that identifies Zimbabwean “gifted children” whose families do not have the financial means to educate them. They are educated for their A’ Level years in Zimbabwe and then the vast majority are placed into red-brick universities in the USA with the aim for them to return to Zimbabwe to give back into the community.
Solar Park (7 ha)
This 5MW project, in partnership with New Sahara Ventures, is well underway with all the necessary assessments and approvals being granted so far such as feasibility report, GIA, SPV registration, geotechnical and topographical studies have been completed. With construction aimed to be complete by end of 2022, major steps ahead include:-
- Application for Prescribed Asset Status
- Capital Raise Phase
Lease hire commercial agricultural/horticulture type project (40 – 50 ha)
An area within the Ruzawi Estate has been identified for a possible horticulture-based project and although certain partners have been approached and shown interest, Ruzawi is actively looking for the best possible investing partner and export crop (eg blueberries, pecans, etc) for this identified area.
Residential estate and/or staff retirement village type project (up to 50 ha)
This potential project (which has many obvious advantages) has been kick-started again this year putting together some conceptual plans at this stage.