500 Global, formerly known as 500 Startups, is a venture capital firm and incubator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in seed investments, primarily focusing on early-stage technology and financial services startups across various sectors, including biotech, e-commerce, fintech, and digital healthcare. 500 Global operates a four-month accelerator program, where it typically invests between $0.05 million and $1 million for a 5 to 10 percent equity stake in companies with at least $100,000 in monthly revenue. The firm targets a global market, with particular emphasis on regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Since its inception, it has invested in over 2,200 startups and supports the growth of innovation ecosystems through educational programs and partnerships. 500 Global also prioritizes investments in companies led by minority founders, reflecting its commitment to diverse entrepreneurial leadership.
BetaStore is a business-to-business marketplace that connects informal retailers in Africa directly with wholesalers and manufacturers, facilitating access to a wide range of fast-moving consumer goods at wholesale prices. By delivering these goods directly to retailers' stores, BetaStore eliminates the need for retailers to visit multiple suppliers in open markets, thus saving time and reducing transaction costs. The platform also offers working capital support and tailored payment facilities, allowing for more accurate risk assessments and improving access to commercial lenders. With the wholesale and retail market in Africa valued at $270 billion and predominantly operating through informal channels, BetaStore plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and profitability of small retailers.
Printivo Ltd. provides online printing services to startups and SMEs in Nigeria. The company prints banners, business cards, custom mugs, envelopes, flyers and handbills, greeting cards, letterheads, notepads and jotters, paper bags, stickers, wedding stationery, roll up banners, imitations, flash drives, and key rings. It provides an online platform that allows users to browse, select, and customize templates; edit tastes, change and upload images, and insert logos and images; and order. Printivo Ltd. was founded in 2013 and is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
EZFarming is a digital marketplace designed to connect small farmers with investors, facilitating financing and the sale of agricultural products. The platform aims to transform small farms into commercially viable operations, thereby addressing youth unemployment and enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa. By targeting at least 1% of African diaspora remittances for agricultural investments, EZFarming seeks to improve food security and create one million job opportunities in the sector by 2024. The company has established partnerships with manufacturing and food processing firms to ensure guaranteed markets for farm produce. Utilizing modern technology, effective supply chain management, and good agricultural practices, EZFarming offers risk-mitigated investment packages that empower the next generation of farmers. Founded by Adewale Oparinde, the company is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria.
Thrive Agric Limited is a technology-driven agricultural platform based in Abuja, Nigeria, established in 2016. The company connects farmers with funding and premium markets, facilitating crowdfunding through its online platform. Users can subscribe to farms, choose investment quantities, and pay subscription fees, which support farmers with quality inputs, expertise, and machinery. Thrive Agric also provides multimedia updates on farm activities and offers agricultural products for sale online. By lowering barriers to capital access and employing data-driven best practices, Thrive Agric aims to improve agricultural yields and establish connections between farmers and local as well as global markets. The company partners with significant offtakers, including major food corporations, to enhance market access for farmers. Thrive Agric's mission focuses on empowering African farmers and contributing to food security in Africa and beyond.
Fyodor is a privately held medical device company whose mission is to develop and commercialize novel medical diagnostic tests that address unmet needs in Nigeria and emerging economies. In response to the large proportion of malaria that is managed at home and in all healthcare settings, Fyodor has developed the Urine Malaria TestTM (UMT) – the first ever non-blood (one-step, no blood, no reagents, no equipment, visually read) rapid test that tells in 25 minutes or less if a fever is due to malaria or not. It removes the complexity, pain and risks associated with a blood test.
Aella Credit provides instant credit solutions that eliminates the hassle of standard loan applications and enables employee to borrow at competitive and fair rates through their employers. Individuals can download the application through Android devices. Benefits of the platform are offered to employees, companies, and investors. The offices of the company are located across the United States and Nigeria.
Printivo Ltd. provides online printing services to startups and SMEs in Nigeria. The company prints banners, business cards, custom mugs, envelopes, flyers and handbills, greeting cards, letterheads, notepads and jotters, paper bags, stickers, wedding stationery, roll up banners, imitations, flash drives, and key rings. It provides an online platform that allows users to browse, select, and customize templates; edit tastes, change and upload images, and insert logos and images; and order. Printivo Ltd. was founded in 2013 and is based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Aella Credit provides instant credit solutions that eliminates the hassle of standard loan applications and enables employee to borrow at competitive and fair rates through their employers. Individuals can download the application through Android devices. Benefits of the platform are offered to employees, companies, and investors. The offices of the company are located across the United States and Nigeria.
Commerce in Africa is deeply facilitated by cash, but cash-based transactions are expensive, unsafe, and difficult to track. Suregifts identified an opportunity to take advantage of the growth and adoption of the internet and all things digital in Africa by creating a simple, yet safe alternative currency to be utilised for specific purposes; Vouchers. At the core of what SureGifts does, is selling and maintaining an inventory of vouchers, which can be exchanged between two or more parties, and spent at a closed but extensive network of merchants across Africa for a near-unlimited assortment of goods and services.