Planet42
Venture Round in 2024
Planet42 is a company focused on enhancing access to personal vehicles for individuals who are often overlooked by traditional banking systems. It operates by purchasing second-hand cars from a network of motor dealers and offering them to customers through a subscription model. This innovative approach allows clients to rent vehicles without the need to pay the full financing cost upfront. Planet42 employs technology to assess customers' validation documents, such as identity papers and financial statements, ensuring a streamlined process that eliminates the necessity for in-person interactions. By providing affordable rent-to-buy options, Planet42 aims to facilitate financial inclusion and democratize mobility for a broader audience.
Naked Insurance
Series B in 2023
Naked Insurance, founded in 2016 and based in Johannesburg, South Africa, specializes in short-term retail insurance products. The company aims to provide a modern approach to insurance by emphasizing effortless, transparent, and sincere service. Through its innovative offerings, Naked Insurance seeks to enhance the customer experience in the insurance sector.
SweepSouth
Series B in 2022
SweepSouth is an online home services platform that connects homeowners with trusted service professionals, offering a variety of services including home cleaning, gardening, pool cleaning, and maintenance. The company aims to modernize the home services industry in Africa by leveraging technology to simplify the booking process. Users can conveniently schedule services through the platform via their phone, tablet, or computer, finding suitable pre-vetted professionals in minutes. With a network of over seven thousand service providers and thousands of satisfied customers across four countries, SweepSouth is positioned to expand further within a largely untapped market. The company is dedicated to creating happy homes while providing dignified, flexible work opportunities with decent pay for its service providers.
Abela is a mobile payments platform that allows the underserved to make and receive payments.
Welo Health is a Healthtech company focused on delivering at-home health services designed to improve healthcare accessibility for corporate clients and health insurers. The company operates a platform that allows employers to conveniently book a range of services, including remote counseling, financial wellness assessments, virtual consultations, and on-demand nursing. Additionally, Welo Health provides real-time health monitoring dashboards for employees, enabling organizations to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance with health standards. By offering these comprehensive healthcare solutions, Welo Health aims to facilitate affordable medical care and promote better health outcomes for employees.
Sizanani is the first WhatsApp-first stokvel solution because believes that technology is fundamentally meant to create value, not apps.
BriefCo is South Africa's pioneering legal cost consultancy that utilizes technology to enhance the efficiency of legal cost management. The company operates a secure online platform that facilitates the digital delivery and storage of legal documents. By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, BriefCo automates the preparation and opposition of bills of costs, significantly reducing expenses related to printing, delivery, and file preparation. This innovative approach enables clients to streamline their legal cost consulting processes, making it a valuable resource in the legal industry.
Vocalysd is a customer-centric, AI-powered insights tool. Vocalysd unlocks usable, easy-to-digest insights from your conversational data. These insights are key to optimising client interactions and enhancing your customers' experience.
LifeCheq is a startup that provides digitized and holistic personal finance solutions. It operates as a financial advisory firm focused on supporting financial decision-making for individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs. The company offers personalized financial advice and a range of services, including access to personal advisors and comprehensive financial planning support. By leveraging technology, LifeCheq aims to empower its clients to make informed financial choices and effectively manage their finances with expert guidance.
Nile.ag
Seed Round in 2022
Nile.ag operates a food trading e-commerce platform that facilitates the exchange of fresh produce among farmers across various African countries. By connecting buyers and sellers, Nile.ag aims to enhance the accessibility of nutritious food while addressing challenges in the food trading process. The platform offers solutions for price discovery, quality verification, payments, and traceability, ensuring that clients can trade safely and efficiently. Through its digital offerings, Nile.ag seeks to streamline food trading and improve the overall transparency of transactions, benefiting both producers and consumers.
Carscan
Venture Round in 2022
Carscan is a company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, that specializes in developing an augmented reality mobile application designed to document and monitor the visible condition of motor vehicles throughout their life cycle. The application utilizes embedded artificial intelligence and visual recognition technology to create a traceable digital record for each vehicle. This digital record enhances the automotive ecosystem by facilitating processes such as buying, selling, renting, servicing, insuring, financing, and auctioning cars with increased confidence, while also helping to mitigate fraud and reduce industry risks. Additionally, Carscan offers a complementary mobile app called cARtag, which provides near real-time quotes and validation of car conditions from industry experts.
Ctrl is a South Africa’s first independent car and household insurance advice app. But let’s backtrack a bit. Before we became Ctrl, we were just a few friends who noticed the frustrations people had with their insurance and the uncertainty about what they were covered for and what not. We thought, surely there must be a better, simpler way. There must be a way to have more say and be less dependent on call centre agents, or brokers who expect you to fill out endless forms. That’s when we formed Ctrl and started building an app that would give consumers more control – an app that would create a convenient short-cut to getting decent short-term insurance and solid advice to go with it.
DX Digital Africa
Non Equity Assistance in 2021
DX Digital Africa, established in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, specializes in automotive intelligence. It operates an online platform that provides competitive quotes for vehicle body parts, utilizing uploaded damage pictures and offering free towing services and real-time progress updates. The company's platform is designed to optimize repair processes and reduce maintenance costs throughout a vehicle's lifecycle, benefiting individuals, small businesses, and large fleets alike.
Aerobotics
Series B in 2020
Aerobotics is a data analytics company specializing in providing insights for tree and fruit management through the use of drone imagery and artificial intelligence. The company's technology combines satellite and drone imagery with machine learning algorithms to offer actionable data to farmers. This includes tools for orchard management, identifying problem trees, managing pests and diseases, and optimizing yield. By enabling farmers to scan their farms and analyze captured information, Aerobotics helps reduce costs and increase agricultural productivity.
Oyi Medical Card
Grant in 2020
Oyi is a prepaid card solution to help those who would otherwise not be able to access the medical care that they should be able to afford.
Valenture Institute
Venture Round in 2020
Valenture Institute is a private online high school founded in 2019 and based in London, United Kingdom. It offers a globally recognized curriculum designed to meet the standards of leading universities. The institution provides live, interactive classes supported by mentors, ensuring a personalized learning experience. In addition to its online offerings, Valenture Institute features boutique campuses that facilitate a blend of virtual learning and in-person engagement. This approach aims to equip students with essential skills and confidence, preparing them for future career advancements.
Guidepost
Venture Round in 2020
Guidepost is a health coaching platform focused on assisting individuals in managing diabetes through personalized support. The company connects patients with coaches who provide guidance on medication, diet, and coping strategies for the psychological effects of the illness. Utilizing voice-over-internet-protocol technology and user-updated biometric data, Guidepost creates a comprehensive support system that helps bridge the gap between patients and knowledgeable caregivers. By fostering meaningful connections, the platform aims to reduce the costs and risks associated with diabetes management, addressing the social isolation commonly linked with the condition. Through its innovative approach, Guidepost enhances the healthcare experience for those living with diabetes, regardless of geographical or language barriers.
Guidepost
Venture Round in 2019
Guidepost is a health coaching platform focused on assisting individuals in managing diabetes through personalized support. The company connects patients with coaches who provide guidance on medication, diet, and coping strategies for the psychological effects of the illness. Utilizing voice-over-internet-protocol technology and user-updated biometric data, Guidepost creates a comprehensive support system that helps bridge the gap between patients and knowledgeable caregivers. By fostering meaningful connections, the platform aims to reduce the costs and risks associated with diabetes management, addressing the social isolation commonly linked with the condition. Through its innovative approach, Guidepost enhances the healthcare experience for those living with diabetes, regardless of geographical or language barriers.
Jamii de-risks tenant rent default by offering tenants incentive-based discounts on food and transport and bolt-on retrenchment cover.
Bright On Capital
Debt Financing in 2019
Bright On Capital is an online enterprise-lending platform designed to facilitate peer-to-peer lending for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By creating an accessible marketplace, the company enables SMEs to quickly secure working capital from a diverse group of traditional and non-traditional lenders, including development funding institutions, corporate enterprise development funds, and institutional investors. Additionally, Bright On has established partnerships with several South African corporations and government entities to assist their SME suppliers in obtaining affordable working capital against their invoices. The platform offers a streamlined experience, featuring rapid credit screening, quick decision-making, and efficient disbursement of funds, thus empowering SMEs to confidently pursue larger orders and growth opportunities.
Livestock Wealth
Debt Financing in 2019
Livestock Wealth is a crowdfarming company that enables individuals to invest in livestock, specifically cattle, through a mobile-based platform. This innovative approach allows users to share the facilities of a commercial livestock farm, where experts manage the day-to-day care of the cows. By participating in this model, individuals can become organic beef farmers and benefit from profit-sharing arrangements associated with owning cattle. The platform offers features such as membership, calf buying and raising, replacement of cows, and comprehensive financial reports, providing users with transparency and insight into their investments. Livestock Wealth taps into the cultural significance of cattle as a symbol of wealth in Africa, presenting a tangible opportunity for individuals to earn income from the sale of cattle offspring.
Zande Africa
Debt Financing in 2019
Zande operates a trade finance platform designed to assist small businesses by providing access to inventory and purchase order financing. Its platform connects users to a business network and offers credit solutions for contracts and purchase orders, as well as discounts on invoices for early settlement from debtors. This enables businesses to effectively manage their orders, sales, products, and inventory, ultimately helping them achieve optimal operational performance. Zande does not control external websites linked through its platform and disclaims responsibility for their content or accessibility.
Level Finance
Grant in 2019
Level Finance is a customizable employee benefits platform focused on enhancing the financial wellness of employees. The company enables businesses to meet their human resources objectives while allowing employees to select benefits tailored to their individual needs. Through its platform, employees can access their daily salary, which provides them the ability to access wages when needed, rather than waiting until the end of the month. This approach not only supports immediate financial needs but also encourages employees to build wealth through savings and automated budgeting tools. By integrating these financial resources, Level Finance aims to empower employees and improve their overall financial health.
Oyi Medical Card
Grant in 2019
Oyi is a prepaid card solution to help those who would otherwise not be able to access the medical care that they should be able to afford.
Spoon Money is an online stokvel management platform designed to enhance transparency, security, and accountability in the traditional practice of community savings groups, known as stokvels. The company focuses on creating solutions that cater to the specific needs of its users, fostering a community-driven approach to product development. Spoon Money's system facilitates safe access to loans and offers savings and credit solutions aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods and financial resilience. Additionally, it captures valuable data to support a proprietary credit scoring methodology, which helps users to improve their financial standing and incentivizes positive saving behaviors.
Olova offers a single payment platform for public transport systems. The lack of integration and interoperability between public transport systems is problematic and this what Olova aims to fix.
IsiDuli is a financial services provider focused on the housing industry, specifically targeting the development of backyard rental properties in townships. The company aims to address the lack of access to development finance for property owners in these areas, where there is also a significant shortage of affordable rental options for consumers. IsiDuli offers backyard developmental credit, enabling homeowners who may be unemployed, retired, or low-income earners to create new income opportunities through property development. Additionally, the company provides a comprehensive range of services, including financing, construction, and property management, facilitating the entire process for township homeowners looking to develop rental units.
Mari is A digitised layby platform which allows for digital payments and savings. Customers should be able to make a layby purchase without incurring the cost of travelling to and from the store to make payments. Mari also allows people to create credit scores for themselves through an already existing payment structure without a bank account.
okGo.live, on-demand vehicle insurance targeted at out-of-warranty vehicle owners.
Budgie is a free interactive application, that facilitates and assists spending based on a user’s created budget. From alleviating financial stress, to boosting financial freedom and control.
Luno is a prominent cryptocurrency marketplace that facilitates buying and selling transactions for various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. With its headquarters in London, the company operates in over 40 countries, including Indonesia, where it is officially registered as the largest exchange. Luno serves a global customer base of more than 2 million individuals and employs over 250 staff members. The platform offers features such as a digital wallet for secure storage and transactions, currency conversion, and tools for trading analysis. In addition to its trading services, Luno aims to educate users about cryptocurrencies, helping them make informed investment decisions and promoting a more accessible financial system.
Entersekt
Series C in 2017
Entersekt Pty Ltd. is an international software development company headquartered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, with additional offices in Utrecht, Netherlands, and other locations in North America and Europe. Established in 2008, the company specializes in mobile-first fintech solutions, offering online push-based authentication and application security services tailored for banks and enterprises. Its product portfolio includes transakt, interakt, and connekt, which facilitate secure online and mobile banking, as well as card-not-present authentication. Entersekt's patented mobile identity system is designed to enhance security while delivering convenient digital experiences across various service channels, making it a reliable partner for financial service providers and other enterprises.
Prodigy Finance
Series C in 2017
Prodigy Finance Limited is an online platform headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that facilitates education loans for international postgraduate and MBA students. Established in 2006, the company connects student borrowers with a community of lenders, including alumni, institutional investors, and qualified private investors. Prodigy Finance specifically targets students pursuing master's degrees across 18 countries, aiming to enhance access to higher education for those who may lack traditional financing options. In addition to its loan services, the company offers a mobile app that allows users to manage and access their loan information conveniently. Through its community funding model, Prodigy Finance addresses the financial barriers that students face, making it easier for them to pursue their academic aspirations at premium business schools.
Stokfella
Seed Round in 2017
StokFella is a financial technology company focused on modernizing the management of stokvels, traditional savings groups prevalent in South Africa. Established in 2016 after two years of research and development, StokFella aims to empower ordinary citizens by providing them with tools for informed financial management. The company's platform enables stokvel members to efficiently organize and manage their funds online, facilitating tasks such as tracking contributions and payouts, creating budgets, and generating reports. By streamlining the administration of stokvels, StokFella seeks to enhance members' financial well-being and promote inclusive economic growth within their communities. The company's mission is to help stokvels operate in a more professional manner, ultimately guiding their members towards achieving financial freedom and a richer future.
Investment Managers Group
Seed Round in 2017
Investment Managers Group is a company that supports boutique investment managers by providing seed capital and operational infrastructure. It specializes in asset management, retail investments, and alternative investments, helping its clients enhance their investment performance.