Launch Africa Ventures

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.

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.

Afrikamart is a West African distribution platform focused on fresh produce, serving as a vital link between producers and customers, including retailers, hotels, and restaurants. The company utilizes digital technology and its expertise in the food value chain to facilitate effective communication regarding pricing, product availability, and market forecasts. Afrikamart organizes comprehensive logistics through a network of transporters, ensuring efficient financial and product flows tailored to various purchasing and payment terms. By leveraging artificial intelligence and innovative algorithms, Afrikamart enhances the efficiency, accessibility, and profitability of agribusiness, enabling farmers to engage in fair trade practices. Additionally, the company is committed to empowering underprivileged women and young people, creating economic opportunities while addressing inefficiencies within the food value chain in West Africa.

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.

Afrikamart is a West African distribution platform focused on fresh produce, serving as a vital link between producers and customers, including retailers, hotels, and restaurants. The company utilizes digital technology and its expertise in the food value chain to facilitate effective communication regarding pricing, product availability, and market forecasts. Afrikamart organizes comprehensive logistics through a network of transporters, ensuring efficient financial and product flows tailored to various purchasing and payment terms. By leveraging artificial intelligence and innovative algorithms, Afrikamart enhances the efficiency, accessibility, and profitability of agribusiness, enabling farmers to engage in fair trade practices. Additionally, the company is committed to empowering underprivileged women and young people, creating economic opportunities while addressing inefficiencies within the food value chain in West Africa.

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%.

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.

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.