Knife Capital Backs Sticitt and Optique in New Series A Deals

STARTUP VENTURE CAPITALJuly 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM UTC

TLDR

South African venture capital firm Knife Capital has announced new Series A investments in fintech startup Sticitt and optometry business Optique
Knife Capital, founded in 2010, invests in innovation-driven businesses across Africa, with offices in Cape Town, London, and Jersey
Co-founder Keet van Zyl said the new investments reflect Knife’s focus on startups that solve real-world problems

South African venture capital firm Knife Capital has announced new Series A investments in fintech startup Sticitt and optometry business Optique, marking its 15th anniversary. The investments were made through Knife Capital’s KNF Fund II.

Sticitt, founded in 2018, provides a digital platform for school-related financial transactions and currently serves 841 schools with over 75,700 users. Knife Capital initially backed the company through its Grindstone accelerator and Grindstone Ventures.

Founded in 2017, Optique operates 19 franchise optometry branches in South Africa and an online store. The startup combines affordability and digital convenience to increase access to eye care services.

Knife Capital, founded in 2010, invests in innovation-driven businesses across Africa, with offices in Cape Town, London, and Jersey. The firm also manages KNF I and Knife Fund III.

Co-founder Keet van Zyl said the new investments reflect Knife’s focus on startups that solve real-world problems with execution discipline and scalable business models.

Daba is Africa's leading investment platform for private and public markets. Download here

Key Takeaways

Knife Capital’s latest investments in Sticitt and Optique reflect a broader trend in African venture capital: a return to fundamentals. In a risk-sensitive market environment, Series A capital is increasingly flowing to businesses with measurable traction and sector-specific innovation. Sticitt targets South Africa’s education sector with a clear digitization use case, while Optique combines tech-enabled service delivery with franchising to increase healthcare access. Knife Capital’s model—incubating companies through Grindstone, then scaling them via follow-on funding—offers a structured growth path for startups in a market where capital efficiency matters. The fund’s cross-border presence also supports potential expansion routes beyond South Africa. As more African VCs adapt to tougher funding climates, Knife Capital’s dual emphasis on performance and purpose may become a regional benchmark for post-seed investment strategies.

Venture Capital

Knife Capital

Startups

Sticitt

Optique