Invenfin
Invenfin (Pty), Ltd. is a venture capital firm based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, focused on early-stage investments, particularly in the food and beverages sub-sector and intellectual property. Established in 2008 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Remgro Ltd, Invenfin seeks to support entrepreneurs by providing growth capital, typically in exchange for a significant minority stake of 26 to 49 percent. The firm aims to fund ventures characterized by unique intellectual property and is open to various types of innovations, including new products, processes, and technologies. Beyond financial support, Invenfin offers strategic guidance and leverages Remgro's extensive global business network to enhance the commercialization prospects of its investees. The firm has made investments in five companies to date and remains optimistic about the potential of the venture capital sector to drive economic growth, despite the challenges it has faced.
Root drives the digital transformation of financial services by empowering software developers to build the future of banking and insurance. We package all the difficult things behind easy to use APIs. The existing world of financial services is murky, inaccessible and dominated by cumbersome businesses that struggle to innovate. We’re building programmable banking and insurance.
Sokowatch revolutionizes access to essential goods and services by connecting small shops to the digital economy. Through individual agents equipped with proprietary mobile data-collection tools, Sokowatch increases sales and market coverage for companies in emerging markets. It enables informal retailers to order products at any time via SMS or mobile app, and receive free same-day delivery to their store. This makes it easier for shopkeepers to source goods and helps manufacturers ensure that their products are consistently available to consumers. Sokowatch evaluates retailers to provide them with access to credit and other financial services typically not available to informal businesses. Sokowatch's systems track real-time sales and orders across thousands of stores. Access to market trends and purchasing habits enables manufacturers to tailor their marketing strategies and allows Sokowatch to offer personalized promotions and business insights to individual retailers.
De Villiers Artisan Chocolate, founded in 2009 by Pieter de Villiers in Paarl, South Africa, specializes in bean-to-bar artisanal chocolate. The company sources organic cocoa beans directly from farmers in Africa and South America, producing UTZ-certified, single-origin chocolates. De Villiers Chocolate operates both online and through retail channels, with its products available in Woolworths stores across South Africa. The flagship retail store is located at the Spice Route wine farm in Paarl, and the brand is expanding its reach to international markets. In addition to chocolate, the company also offers confectionery and coffee products, all crafted to provide customers with authentic South African flavors.
Wyzetalk Pty. Ltd. provides a social business platform that allows users to communicate, collaborate, and innovate with colleagues, employees, customers, and suppliers in Africa. Its platform also allows users to embed RSS feeds, Google analytics, Hellopeter, and other external systems into their sites, which in turn triggers conversations automatically. The company offers its solution as a Web service, as well as a desktop, mobile, and tablet application. Wyzetalk Pty. Ltd. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
ArcAqua (Pty) Ltd develops ozone based sanitization equipment which destroys bacteria using tap water. The company delivers the sanitizer directly to food and food contact surfaces without effecting taste or leaving any residues. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
BOS Brands is a brand building, marketing, and sales company in the beverage market. The company offers its clients with its core product called BOS ice tea. BOS Brands aims to provide an open, fun, non-hierarchical, inclusive, team-centric working environment where hard work will be rewarded with professional growth, personal achievement, and wonderful working experiences.
ChessCube (Pty) Ltd. operates as an online community dedicated to chess enthusiasts. Founded in 2006 and based in Milnerton, South Africa, the platform allows users to play chess, watch live games, and interact with friends in a social environment. ChessCube also provides educational resources, including chess training videos and lectures, aimed at enhancing players' skills. Additionally, the company offers a feature known as ChessCube Cinema, which enables users to view instructional videos purchased from the ChessCube Shop. This combination of gaming and educational tools positions ChessCube as a comprehensive resource for both casual and serious chess players.
Ad Dynamo International (Pty) Ltd., an advertising marketplace, provides digital advertising services. It focuses on digital media sales and technology development. The company also develops Blue Robot, a Twitter focused technology interface between brands and their audiences on social media. It serves customers in South Africa and internationally. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Cape Town, South Africa with additional locations in Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and London, United Kingdom.