Osborne Clarke advises Founders Factory on the launch of its first international location

International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised Founders Factory on the launch of Founders Factory Africa.

Founders Factory will be bringing its model to Johannesburg to build and scale technology start-ups in sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with a number of corporate investors. Standard Bank, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest bank, will be the initial and cornerstone investor, and Standard Bank is committed to helping Founders Factory champion local entrepreneurs and to create new jobs and opportunities at scale.

Roo Rogers, a former partner at renowned design agency fuse project and leader of the US & UK government backed Spring accelerator, is to be CEO of Founders Factory Africa. Founders Factory Africa will build out a 40 strong-team over the next year to scale operations and announce additional corporate investors.

Founders Factory is a longstanding and valued client of Osborne Clarke. The firm has previously advised Founders Factory on a number of ventures including investments from (amongst others) Guardian Media Group, L'Oréal, easyJet, Aviva and Holtzbrinck Publishing and a partnership with M&S.

Corporate Partner Mathias Loertscher and Associate Director Ken Wilkinson from Osborne Clarke advised Founders Factory, working in partnership with South African firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Inc.

Osborne Clarke’s corporate team is considered the go-to practice for many businesses in the technology sector, working with leading global businesses, fast-growth start-ups and market challengers. The team advises at every stage of company development across all corporate areas, from equity and debt fundraising to M&A, IPOs and JVs.

Pictured Henry Lane Fox (Founders Factory), Zweli Manyathi (Standard Bank) and Roo Rogers (Founders Factory Africa) at the launch event in Johannesburg.