Launch Africa Ventures

Octavia Carbon is the Global South's pioneering Direct Air Capture (DAC) company, focused on developing innovative technology to filter carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. By utilizing Kenya's abundant geothermal energy and geological resources, Octavia Carbon aims to significantly reduce the costs associated with DAC technology. The captured CO2 can be transformed into stable rock formations underground or repurposed as an industrial gas, providing a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. This approach not only addresses climate change but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

Paps is a transport and logistics company based in Dakar, Senegal, founded in 2016. It provides innovative distribution and delivery solutions for businesses and merchants through its e-commerce platform, which allows real-time scheduling and tracking of deliveries. Paps specializes in the transportation of documents and parcels, secure storage, and the insured delivery of packages either to relay points or through last-mile services. The company’s logistics application features live tracking, an intelligent address system, and automatic dispatch, ensuring a fully digitalized postal logistics service that facilitates timely movement of shipments. Additionally, Paps offers professional services, including cash on delivery management, courier provision, return management, collection, and periodic reporting, catering to a wide range of logistical needs.

Meditect is a social enterprise focused on enhancing the medicine supply chain in sub-Saharan Africa through innovative digital solutions. Operating in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon, the company aims to address the challenges of accessing quality medicines amidst a rapidly growing population. Meditect develops AI and blockchain-based software designed to track falsified medicines and improve the distribution of pharmaceuticals. By enabling pharmacists to verify the authenticity of medicines, the company strengthens the legal distribution network and combats the sale of counterfeit products, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes in developing countries.

Maad is a leading B2B marketplace based in Dakar, Senegal, focused on serving small retailers and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands in Francophone Africa. The company offers a technology-driven platform that allows retailers to efficiently order products from a centralized source. Maad enhances the purchasing experience by providing services such as mobile ordering, reliable delivery, and access to data on real-time product availability and market share. Additionally, the platform offers targeted promotional services and working capital loans, empowering businesses to strengthen their sales and operational capabilities. Through its innovative approach, Maad is positioned as a vital player in the region's e-commerce landscape.

The Daily Sale Shop is an online marketplace based in Zimbabwe that provides customers with access to a diverse selection of products. The company is committed to enhancing the shopping experience by offering free nationwide delivery, reliable customer support, and a seamless checkout process. This allows customers to shop conveniently from their homes and receive their orders with ease.

Zanifu is a regulated financial technology company that specializes in inventory financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company develops a microlending platform designed to enhance efficiency in supply chain operations, allowing small retailers and wholesalers to access working capital for inventory procurement. With a mobile-first approach, Zanifu's platform is tailored for environments with low internet penetration, enabling users to secure financing and pay suppliers at a later date. By facilitating access to necessary resources, Zanifu supports the growth and sustainability of MSMEs within the consumer goods value chain.

Termii is a Lagos-based company founded in 2014 that provides a cross-channel messaging and customer engagement platform tailored for African businesses. The platform facilitates communication with customers through SMS, email, voice, and instant messaging, enabling teams to secure repeat customers via personalized outreach. In addition to messaging services, Termii offers a suite of business applications that address various needs such as digital branding, sales, marketing, customer relationship management, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, and project management. This comprehensive approach allows clients to enhance their business operations and improve customer engagement across multiple channels.

Kredi is a neo bank building Africa's one-stop shop for digital financial services. Kredi is a platform that eliminates all the challenges of using multiple applications and allows users to manage all aspects of their financial lives. We are fully licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria. We provide access to digital financial services such as savings, credit, payment, investments, and insurance to all consumers in Nigeria in one place.

Shopmeaway is a logistics and e-commerce platform that facilitates access to international products for underserved markets in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Established in 2018 and initially operational in Senegal, the company addresses the challenges of limited availability and inflated prices for goods in less industrialized countries. By connecting global distributors with local consumers, Shopmeaway provides an integrated solution that includes order placement, payment processing, and optimized cross-border delivery services. In 2023, the company partnered with Amazon to distribute its entire catalog to clients, further enhancing its offerings. Shopmeaway has expanded its operations to Ivory Coast and has plans to enter the Nigerian and Moroccan markets within the next 12 to 16 months. The company aims for long-term growth by reaching additional regions in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.

Edves Limited is a company that specializes in developing school management software aimed at automating various educational processes. Founded in 2016 and based in Lagos, Nigeria, Edves provides a comprehensive platform that addresses enrollment, payment processing, e-learning, and performance analytics for K-12 schools. Serving over 1,700 schools across 11 countries in Africa, the software facilitates online learning through features such as e-books, video tutorials, and virtual classrooms. Additionally, it offers tools for school administrators to track fee defaulters, generate reports, and monitor student performance, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience and operational efficiency of institutions.

Shopstar is an online shopping platform designed to assist South African businesses in establishing and expanding their e-commerce presence. The company provides a comprehensive suite of e-commerce tools that enable entrepreneurs to create and manage their online stores effectively. In addition to essential store setup features, Shopstar offers a built-in drop shipping network and professional design and marketing services. By facilitating access to these resources, Shopstar empowers local businesses to reach a broader customer base, thereby supporting their growth and success in the digital marketplace.

Zuri Health is a telemedicine company based in Nairobi, Kenya, established in 2020. It aims to provide affordable and accessible healthcare solutions through its app, website, and SMS services. The platform allows patients to schedule lab and diagnostic tests, consult with doctors via chat, purchase medications from pharmacies, and arrange home visits with qualified medical professionals. Zuri Health also employs an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to enhance user experience. By catering to individuals without smartphones and those in rural or underserved areas, the company strives to ensure that healthcare is universally accessible, thereby addressing gaps in the traditional healthcare system.

DigsConnect is a leading student accommodation marketplace based in Cape Town, South Africa, established in 2017. The platform facilitates connections between property owners and student tenants, as well as between students seeking roommates. By providing a user-friendly interface, DigsConnect enables students to find affordable and safe accommodation options near educational institutions. The company aims to foster a community where individuals can discover suitable living arrangements while building lasting friendships. With a focus on real-time accommodation searches, DigsConnect is committed to addressing the specific needs of its users, ensuring a streamlined experience in the often challenging process of finding student housing.

Elevate Pay is a financial technology company that specializes in providing digital banking services and products. The company has developed a digital banking application that allows users to open bank accounts online and access fee-free accounts in both local currency and US dollars. Additionally, Elevate Pay offers free remittance services, enabling users to receive international transfers from various countries without incurring fees. The company also issues a free USD Mastercard, facilitating seamless transactions. Through these offerings, Elevate Pay aims to deliver regulated banking services that are innovative, fair, and accessible, ultimately enhancing the financial well-being of its consumers.

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.

Amitruck Limited is a logistics platform that connects cargo owners with trucking logistics professionals, streamlining the delivery process. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company offers a mobile and web-based application that allows customers to easily book deliveries for their loads. Amitruck also provides a driver application, enabling transporters to access clients and communicate effectively. The platform enhances user experience by allowing clients to track their deliveries in real-time, receive timely updates, and obtain instant quotes while ensuring access to the nearest available trucks. Through its intuitive interface, Amitruck aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of the logistics process.

Zanifu is a regulated financial technology company that specializes in inventory financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company develops a microlending platform designed to enhance efficiency in supply chain operations, allowing small retailers and wholesalers to access working capital for inventory procurement. With a mobile-first approach, Zanifu's platform is tailored for environments with low internet penetration, enabling users to secure financing and pay suppliers at a later date. By facilitating access to necessary resources, Zanifu supports the growth and sustainability of MSMEs within the consumer goods value chain.

Numida Technologies is a digital financial institution based in Kampala, Uganda, founded in 2015. The company specializes in serving micro- and small businesses in East Africa by offering application software that helps these enterprises maintain up-to-date digital financial records. Numida's proprietary credit scoring system enables it to provide unsecured growth and working capital loans to businesses, which not only results in high portfolio yields but also significantly impacts the livelihoods of borrowers. The platform aims to lower risks and costs for lending institutions, leading to improved lending terms for borrowers and fostering a thriving small business sector that creates employment, increases tax revenues, and enhances living standards for entrepreneurs and their staff.

Maad is a leading B2B marketplace based in Dakar, Senegal, focused on serving small retailers and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands in Francophone Africa. The company offers a technology-driven platform that allows retailers to efficiently order products from a centralized source. Maad enhances the purchasing experience by providing services such as mobile ordering, reliable delivery, and access to data on real-time product availability and market share. Additionally, the platform offers targeted promotional services and working capital loans, empowering businesses to strengthen their sales and operational capabilities. Through its innovative approach, Maad is positioned as a vital player in the region's e-commerce landscape.

Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

Yobanté Express (YES) is a logistics technology startup focused on transforming cross-border and last mile parcel delivery in key African markets. By utilizing a fully digitized platform, the company ensures full traceability of deliveries, exceptional customer support, and minimal loss or damage to merchandise. YES operates a flexible and cost-efficient network that connects independent carriers and relay points, facilitating fast and affordable deliveries within cities and across borders. Its successful operations in Senegal serve as a foundation for expanding its innovative delivery model to other high-growth regions in Africa. Through its platform, Yobanté Express optimizes domestic delivery by efficiently linking local carriers with businesses and individuals, enabling same-day delivery services that are both reliable and economical.

Edves Limited is a company that specializes in developing school management software aimed at automating various educational processes. Founded in 2016 and based in Lagos, Nigeria, Edves provides a comprehensive platform that addresses enrollment, payment processing, e-learning, and performance analytics for K-12 schools. Serving over 1,700 schools across 11 countries in Africa, the software facilitates online learning through features such as e-books, video tutorials, and virtual classrooms. Additionally, it offers tools for school administrators to track fee defaulters, generate reports, and monitor student performance, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience and operational efficiency of institutions.

Releaf is a Nigerian supply chain technology firm established in 2017 that operates as an online marketplace connecting agribusiness buyers and sellers. The company focuses on sourcing ingredients for African food factories, particularly targeting crops such as cassava, palm oil, ginger, cashew nuts, fish, maize, cocoa, kola nuts, yam, and sesame seeds. By utilizing digital technologies, including USSD and open banking, Releaf engages with over 2,000 smallholder farmers, facilitating the supply of high-quality palm kernel nuts to food manufacturers. The firm also provides extension services to these farmers and converts raw materials into factory-grade inputs for the vegetable oil sector. With a vision to create climate-adaptive supply chains in response to Africa's growing population, Releaf aims to enhance efficiency in food production and support the agricultural ecosystem.

Omnibiz is a B2B e-commerce platform based in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2019. It specializes in serving FMCG manufacturers, distributors, and retailers by digitizing the supply chain to enhance operational efficiency. The platform offers tools that improve reliability, visibility, and financial capability for local businesses. Its software features order tracking and integrated payment options, enabling seamless transactions and helping businesses navigate the complexities of the modern market. Omnibiz is dedicated to supporting local enterprises in achieving their goals through an optimized supply chain framework.

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.

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%.

Pawame Limited is a company focused on providing off-grid solar home systems to households in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Pawame develops solar kits that include essential components such as solar panels, LED lights, wall switches, flashlights, radios, and phone chargers. The company employs a pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) model, allowing customers to access electricity through an affordable monthly subscription. This innovative approach not only facilitates energy access but also enables the provision of additional products and services, including electrical appliances, micro-insurance, education loans, and remote health services. By leveraging customer relationships and data, Pawame aims to enhance the quality of life for off-grid communities and contribute to poverty alleviation in the region.

Alpha Direct is a Botswana-based insurtech company focused on revolutionizing the insurance landscape in Africa through innovative use of cloud technology, big data, and artificial intelligence. With an emphasis on affordability and accessibility, Alpha Direct aims to make insurance products available to the broader population, particularly targeting low-income groups who have historically found insurance to be unattainable. In less than five years, the company has emerged as the fifth largest short-term insurance underwriter in Botswana and is actively pursuing regional expansion across Africa. Alpha Direct offers a variety of insurance products, including car, business, bus, workers, and travel insurance, and has gained recognition for its "insurance in a box" product, which is sold through retail outlets and features a cloud-based activation and policy management platform. The company plans to diversify its offerings to include long-term insurance products and seeks to license its technology across ten additional African countries, aiming to enhance its presence in key markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria.

Trove Technologies Limited operates an online platform designed to facilitate investment in a range of securities, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and cryptocurrencies. Based in Lekki, Nigeria, Trove aims to simplify the investment process for beginners by providing an accessible application that allows users to easily find and select investment opportunities. The platform features a user-friendly KYC process, brokerage services, and a personalized news feed related to the assets traded. Trove enables investors to participate in both local and international markets, offering access to Nigerian stocks, government bonds, and a selection of cryptocurrency assets. Through its seamless approach to micro-investing, Trove empowers users to engage with the financial markets with ease.

Ramani is a software development company based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, founded in 2020. It specializes in creating applications that assist salespeople in tracking inventory, registering customers, and recording sales transactions. The platform facilitates real-time management of sales operations, enabling organizations to capture supply chain data and enhance sales visibility. Additionally, Ramani supports resellers in accessing financial services, ultimately helping clients to boost their revenue and expand their market share.

WellaHealth is a startup focused on improving healthcare access for low-income individuals and families in Nigeria. The company has developed a digital triage bot that provides guidance based on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control guidelines, allowing users to log their health responses for potential follow-up by public health authorities. In addition to this innovative tool, WellaHealth offers micro-health insurance plans that target prevalent diseases, providing affordable coverage for treatments and medications. Their platform connects users to a network of pharmacies and healthcare professionals, enabling them to manage their health needs without facing significant financial strain.