EchoVC Partners

Rivy is making it easier to finance small and medium sized businesses in Africa. There is a need for financing of $158 bn for SMEs in Nigeria alone. To start, Rivy o helps SMEs access and spend lender capital effectively. During their first full operational year in 2020, the Rivy o co--founders leveraged their domain expertise and founding experience to beat their 2020 goal by 50%.

Bettr is a digital banking platform founded by a group of creative entrepreneurs and fintech veterans, aimed at transforming the financial landscape for South African youth. The company addresses the lack of access to essential financial products for young individuals, providing them with the tools and confidence to manage their finances effectively. Bettr's platform allows users to open online accounts, obtain cards, and engage in virtual banking without incurring transaction fees. It focuses on nurturing users' financial worth by offering efficient technology and resources for transacting, saving, borrowing, and insuring. The company operates with a founder-funded and angel-backed model, fostering a community of creators who are collectively working to redefine the culture of money in Africa.

Wapi Pay is a Nairobi-based company, established in 2019, that provides a secure payments gateway to facilitate digital transactions between Africa and Asia. This platform enables users to make payments through various methods, including mobile money and bank accounts, and supports integration between different financial platforms. Wapi Pay's technology allows for bulk payments, making it suitable for organizations processing salaries and business purchases. The company offers a range of payment options—Bank to Bank, Wallet to Wallet, Bank to Wallet, and Wallet to Bank—catering to both individuals and businesses. It aims to provide a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional telegraphic transfers, allowing for instant liquidity and service completion within 24 hours. Wapi Pay's infrastructure ensures electronic compliance and due diligence for its partners, thus enhancing cross-border commerce in agricultural and manufactured products. The company also has locations in Singapore and Beijing, underscoring its commitment to facilitating international trade.

Bettr is a digital banking platform founded by a group of creative entrepreneurs and fintech veterans, aimed at transforming the financial landscape for South African youth. The company addresses the lack of access to essential financial products for young individuals, providing them with the tools and confidence to manage their finances effectively. Bettr's platform allows users to open online accounts, obtain cards, and engage in virtual banking without incurring transaction fees. It focuses on nurturing users' financial worth by offering efficient technology and resources for transacting, saving, borrowing, and insuring. The company operates with a founder-funded and angel-backed model, fostering a community of creators who are collectively working to redefine the culture of money in Africa.

MarketForce is a technology company headquartered in the United States, with operations in Kenya and Nigeria, focused on enhancing B2B commerce and fintech solutions for African merchants. Launched in 2018, the company has developed the "RejaReja" platform, which allows merchants to digitally source, order, and pay for inventory. In addition to these services, MarketForce offers access to financing, enables digital payment collection, and allows merchants to resell digital financial services like airtime and utility tokens. Operating in five markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, MarketForce has established a rapidly growing network that includes over 200,000 merchants and 50 consumer brands. The company employs an asset-light business model to drive efficiency and productivity in the distribution of goods, utilizing advanced technology to streamline operations for its users.

Lori Systems Corp. is a logistics platform founded in 2016 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with additional offices in Mombasa, Kampala, and Lagos. The company specializes in connecting cargo owners with vetted transporters, addressing the significant logistics costs that account for up to 75% of product expenses in Africa. By leveraging technology, Lori's platform enhances supply chain management through real-time cargo monitoring, electronic documentation, and automated payment processes, thereby improving operational efficiency. Since its launch in May 2017, Lori has achieved substantial growth, boasting a compounded monthly growth rate of 30%. The increasing demand for its tech-enabled logistics solutions reflects the company's success in providing transparency, flexibility, and cost savings to businesses across the continent.

PayJoy Inc. is a consumer financing company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in providing smartphone-enabled financing solutions, primarily targeting underbanked individuals in emerging markets. By leveraging mobile security technology, PayJoy allows customers to select a smartphone, make an initial deposit, and choose a flexible payment plan. The financed smartphone serves as collateral, unlocking its full functionality once the purchase is complete. PayJoy's mission is to enhance access to credit for underserved populations, helping them navigate financial challenges and improve their economic standing. The company has successfully reached over 10 million customers across various countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and South Africa, and continues to show solid profitability and growth.

NextCounsel Limited is a technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2017. It specializes in designing and developing innovative solutions to streamline operations and enhance productivity for law firms and organizations. The company's primary offering is a comprehensive practice management solution that includes modules for case management, time and billing, document profiling and assembling, accounting, and human resource information systems. Additionally, NextCounsel provides contract management and company secretarial solutions, aiming to foster efficiency across the legal ecosystem.

Hotels.ng is an online travel agency based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in hotel bookings throughout the country. Founded in 2012, the platform enables clients to book hotel rooms online with ease. It offers comprehensive support and assistance, along with hotel recommendations and reviews, ensuring that customers have access to quality accommodations. By focusing on user experience, Hotels.ng aims to facilitate a smooth booking process, helping travelers find good, clean, and safe hotels across Nigeria.

SystemOne Technologies, Inc., established in 2012, is a healthcare technology company based in Springfield, Massachusetts, with an additional office in Johannesburg, South Africa. It specializes in developing data-driven solutions for infectious disease surveillance and response. The company's core product, GxAlert, is a software platform that aggregates and analyzes pertinent health data, providing real-time insights into disease patterns, treatment outcomes, and clinical diagnosis. This platform facilitates rapid decision-making by enabling users to track and manage infectious diseases more effectively, ensuring that every positive diagnosis is linked to a patient and treatment is confirmed.

Cellulant Corporation is a prominent multinational payments company headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on digitizing payments across Africa's major economies. Founded in 2004, Cellulant offers a comprehensive mobile payments platform that connects businesses and governments, facilitating various consumer payment solutions. Its key products include Mula, a versatile payment platform; Agrikore, a blockchain-based tool designed for the agriculture sector that streamlines contracting and digital payments; and Tingg, which enables users to manage card, bank, and bill payments seamlessly. By providing locally relevant payment solutions, Cellulant addresses the intricate needs of global, regional, and local merchants, making it easier for them to collect and make payments in multiple currencies.

Easyshop Easycook Services Limited is a Nigerian online grocery delivery platform founded in 2006 and based in Lagos. The company specializes in providing a marketplace for both suppliers and buyers, focusing on the retail of grocery items including fresh food, perishables, non-perishables, household items, and office supplies. Catering primarily to working professionals, homes, offices, and restaurants, Easyshop Easycook aims to offer convenient shopping solutions for customers who face time constraints due to their busy schedules. By delivering quality products directly to customers' doorsteps, the company enhances the grocery shopping experience with an emphasis on affordability and accessibility.

Frontier Car Group is a Berlin-based startup focused on developing and operating used automotive marketplaces in emerging markets, including Nigeria, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The company aims to simplify the process of buying and selling used cars through its online platform, which features a digital quote engine that provides instant pricing for vehicles. This technology not only enhances the efficiency of transactions but also facilitates quick vehicle inspections at designated locations. By leveraging innovative business models and infrastructure, Frontier Car Group is able to create value for all stakeholders involved in the used car market. Additionally, the company is engaged in joint ventures with OLX in India and Poland, further expanding its reach and impact in the automotive sector.

MyPadi is a leading real estate platform in Nigeria that specializes in connecting students with off-campus hostels and potential roommates. The platform provides a comprehensive array of resources, including photographs, video tours, pricing details, and roommate profiles, all sourced from verified landlords. By offering this information, MyPadi enables students to make informed decisions about their housing options near their educational institutions, streamlining the search process for suitable accommodation.

LifeBank is a healthcare platform based in Lagos, Nigeria, focused on delivering essential medical supplies such as blood, oxygen, and medical consumables to hospitals and blood banks across Africa. Founded in 2015, the company operates an intuitive application that serves as a marketplace, allowing healthcare facilities to efficiently source the blood and medical products needed for patient care. The platform also includes a blood donor database that encourages community participation in blood donation, thereby enhancing the availability of life-saving resources. LifeBank employs a nimble logistics system to ensure timely delivery of products, supported by a straightforward payment system for its clients.

WhereIsMyTransport Ltd is an urban transportation technology company based in London, United Kingdom, with a presence in Cape Town, South Africa. The company specializes in providing comprehensive public transport data for emerging-market megacities, focusing on regions in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Europe, and South and Southeast Asia. By digitalizing network information from various modes of public transport, WhereIsMyTransport ensures data accuracy amidst the dynamic changes of these systems. Their platform offers a data collection framework for mapping both formal and informal transport networks, equipping businesses, municipalities, and citizens with essential information to enhance infrastructure and navigate urban environments effectively. Through its innovative products and data services, WhereIsMyTransport aims to improve the public transport experience for users and support industry stakeholders in their operational needs.

Frontier Car Group is a Berlin-based startup focused on developing and operating used automotive marketplaces in emerging markets, including Nigeria, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The company aims to simplify the process of buying and selling used cars through its online platform, which features a digital quote engine that provides instant pricing for vehicles. This technology not only enhances the efficiency of transactions but also facilitates quick vehicle inspections at designated locations. By leveraging innovative business models and infrastructure, Frontier Car Group is able to create value for all stakeholders involved in the used car market. Additionally, the company is engaged in joint ventures with OLX in India and Poland, further expanding its reach and impact in the automotive sector.

Cars45 is an online platform based in Nigeria that transforms the buying and selling of pre-owned vehicles. The process begins with vehicle owners providing their car details online for a complimentary quote, followed by an appointment at one of the company's 13 inspection centers. Each vehicle undergoes a comprehensive multi-point evaluation, which assesses critical components like the engine, brakes, and tires, along with a road test. If the owner accepts the offer made by Cars45, the company guarantees a wire payment to their bank account within 45 minutes. Additionally, Cars45 generates a digital service history for the acquired vehicles and sells them to a private network of buyers, ensuring a streamlined and efficient transaction process.

Riby is a financial technology company based in Lagos, Nigeria, that specializes in providing a finance management platform tailored for cooperatives, trade groups, associations, and micro and small businesses. The company's platform enables users to efficiently manage their finances by automating savings processes, facilitating high-interest investments, and offering various payment options. Riby collaborates with banks and payment processing companies to assist clients, particularly those in low to middle-income brackets, in creating and managing bank or mobile money accounts. Additionally, the platform provides access to collateral-free loans, enhancing the financial capabilities of its users and promoting overall economic growth within these communities.

Ma3Route is a company based in Ngong, Kenya, that operates a platform designed to improve transportation experiences in developing countries. Launched in 2011, Ma3Route utilizes mobile, web, and SMS technologies to crowd-source real-time transport data. The platform collects information on traffic conditions, matatu (minibus) routes, and driving reports, which is then moderated using natural language processing algorithms and a small team. This data is disseminated back to users through various channels, including social media and mobile applications. By providing timely and accurate transport information, Ma3Route aims to enhance mobility in emerging cities, support city planning, and inform transport regulation.

Printivo Ltd., founded in 2013 and based in Lagos, Nigeria, offers online printing services tailored for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company provides a wide array of printed materials including banners, business cards, custom mugs, envelopes, flyers, greeting cards, letterheads, notepads, paper bags, stickers, wedding stationery, roll-up banners, flash drives, and key rings. Printivo's online platform allows users to browse, select, and customize templates, edit text, change images, insert logos, and place orders efficiently. The company aims to simplify the process of printing marketing and business materials for Nigerian businesses through its user-friendly interface and extensive range of design templates created by local designers.

Hotels.ng is an online travel agency based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in hotel bookings throughout the country. Founded in 2012, the platform enables clients to book hotel rooms online with ease. It offers comprehensive support and assistance, along with hotel recommendations and reviews, ensuring that customers have access to quality accommodations. By focusing on user experience, Hotels.ng aims to facilitate a smooth booking process, helping travelers find good, clean, and safe hotels across Nigeria.