In 2023, with $3.5 billion raised from 547 deals, African venture capital (VC) experienced a significant downturn. Year-on-year, total funding and deal count declined by 46 percent and 28 percent respectively. Due diligence represents a critical phase in the investment process, where investors examine various aspects of a startup to ascertain its investment readiness. Doing it correctly means startups are well on their way to a crucial cash injection for the venture.