500 Labs

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.

Amjad Ahmad

General Partner

Chandini Ammineni

Partner

André Marcel Bally

Investor Relations Associate

Timothy Chae

Managing Partner

Amal Enan

Partner

Max Fram-Schwartz

Venture Partner

Christine Herron

Advisor

Twwo Pun Jaruthassanakul

Investment Associate

Yolanda Kim

Principal

Matt Lerner

Partner

Jon Li

Director, Investor Relations

Jasmine Liew

Investment Manager

Robert Neivert

Venture Partner

Khailee Ng

Managing Partner

Krating Poonpol Ph.D

Partner

Ruangroj Poonpol

Venture Partner

Natavudh Pungcharoenpong

Partner

Mameaw Sapprasert

Partner

Reena Sharma

Investor Relations Associate

Mike Sigal

Partner, FinTech

Sanjay Singhal

Partner, Canada

Tanya Soman

Venture Partner

Paulina Szyrmer

Head of Global Education

Pat Naranpat Thitipattakul

Investor

Christine Tsai

Co-Founder, Partner & Chief Executive Officer

Tony Wang

Managing Partner

Bedy Yang

Managing Partner

Paul Yoo

Chief Financial Officer

Past deals in Sub Saharan Africa

BetaStore

Seed Round in 2022
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.

Stax

Seed Round in 2022
Stax is all of your bank accounts, mobile wallets, crypto in a single app that works without mobile data.

Pariti

Seed Round in 2020
Pariti is a money management application platform. Their free app connects to your different bank accounts and credit cards to provide a simplified view of where you stand and a plan for improvement. They automatically forecast your upcoming income and bills to calculate how much you can afford to spend each week and provide proactive warnings to help you stay on track.

Printivo

Seed Round in 2019
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

Seed Round in 2019
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.

ThriveAgric

Seed Round in 2018
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 Biotechnologies

Seed Round in 2018
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.

Payment24

Seed Round in 2018
Payment24 Pty Ltd. is a payment solutions provider based in Cape Town, South Africa, with additional operations in Berlin. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in developing and operating a card and mobile payment platform that focuses on fleet fuel management. Payment24 offers technology solutions that include fleet card systems for oil companies and auto dealerships, as well as various mobile and retail payment solutions. The company's innovations aim to enhance efficiency in fuel management, combat fuel fraud, and provide advanced payment options for clients. With a global reach, Payment24 is positioned as a key player in the international fuel payment solutions market.

Asaak

Seed Round in 2018
Asaak Financial Services Limited is a Uganda-based company founded in 2016 that operates a platform designed to connect borrowers with lenders. The platform primarily focuses on providing micro financing to clients who require funds to grow their businesses. By facilitating these financial transactions, Asaak aims to enhance access to capital for individuals and small enterprises in emerging markets, thereby contributing to economic development in the region.

Aella

Seed Round in 2017
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.

Payment24

Seed Round in 2017
Payment24 Pty Ltd. is a payment solutions provider based in Cape Town, South Africa, with additional operations in Berlin. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in developing and operating a card and mobile payment platform that focuses on fleet fuel management. Payment24 offers technology solutions that include fleet card systems for oil companies and auto dealerships, as well as various mobile and retail payment solutions. The company's innovations aim to enhance efficiency in fuel management, combat fuel fraud, and provide advanced payment options for clients. With a global reach, Payment24 is positioned as a key player in the international fuel payment solutions market.

Printivo

Seed Round in 2017
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

Seed Round in 2016
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.

TalentBase

Seed Round in 2016
TalentBase is an affordable payroll solution enabling African SMEs to simplify and organize their HR processes.

SureGroup

Seed Round in 2016
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.

SweepSouth

Seed Round in 2015
SweepSouth is a cleaning service company that connects clients to on-demand domestic cleaners via an online booking platform. It was founded by Aisha R. Pandor and Alen Ribic in 2014 and is based in Sandown, England.

Cardplanet Solutions

Seed Round in 2014
Cardplanet Solutions Limited is a Nairobi-based company specializing in cloud-based personal information solutions. Established in 2011, it develops innovative products that enhance efficiency and security in various sectors, including health, identity, payments, and loyalty. Among its key offerings is InstAid, a platform that allows organizations to create, manage, and distribute medical and nutritional e-vouchers through mobile technology. The company also provides PesaCard, an electronic wallet designed for children and youth receiving cash transfers, and CampoCard, an official identification and access card for university students and staff that facilitates on-campus purchases. Additionally, Cardplanet Solutions offers a unique Fuel and Loyalty Card program, which rewards users with points and discounts for everyday activities such as shopping, dining, and travel.