But despite their best intentions, there is a lingering question about sustainability of venture funds offering grants given that they primarily exist to make equity investments. Meghan Curran, West Africa director at Acumen, argues that the “moderated return expectations” that come with grants “meets the moment in terms of uncertainty.” Yet, it’s not a sentiment that enough venture capital firms are echoing.

Indeed, as Ventures Platform, Acumen, and LoftyInc attempt to get more investors on board, they are increasingly being confronted by that dissonance. While Curran says the first few batches of grants will be disbursed from the program’s existing funds, she also admits that continuity will require more collaborators. “It will be reliant on others coming in, who share our interest in preserving some form of pipeline for the ecosystem, and have the flexibility to forego a return of investment in this instance given the circumstances,” she tells Quartz Africa. So far however, conversations in that regard are yet to bear fruit.

In winning over more partners, Aina is betting on investors being able to picture the upside the pandemic will have on user behavior and preferences which will offer opportunities to investors in the long-term. “Covid-19 is many bad things but it is also an accelerant for digital adoption,” Aina says. “We expect that we’ll see a shift in patronage [of technology platforms]—but that’s only if the companies don’t go under.”

Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech, and innovation in your inbox

📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief

Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning.