Lireas Holdings

Lireas Holdings (Pty) Ltd. is an investment company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, specializing in private equity and venture capital, particularly within the insurance and insurance technology sectors. The firm engages in both direct investments, which include startups, acquisitions, and growth capital for mature businesses, and fund of fund investments in private equity and venture capital funds. Lireas Holdings primarily targets companies based in South Africa and typically seeks to acquire majority stakes in its investments. The company utilizes its own capital and balance sheet to finance its ventures, as well as dividends from previous investments. Established on March 24, 1972, Lireas Holdings has developed a strong focus on traditional insurance businesses and insurance underwriting agencies.

Valerie Hayter

Managing Director

Past deals in South Africa

Pineapple

Series B in 2023
In short, Pineapple see the traditional insurance model, user journey and products as lacking and set out to remedy these by doing the following: 1) Changing the business model to align incentives, show people how premiums are used and award members leftover premium back 2) Making insuring as easy as snapping a picture where AI does the rest and cover is issued in under 60 seconds 3) Allowing per-item insurance and new product innovation to address cover not currently offered or accessible to many Pineapple launched in South Africa in 2018 with their "My Stuff" per-item insurance and have since launched their auto offering "My Ride". They have also partnered with Travelers in the US and have white-labeled their platform in the US.

Pineapple

Series A in 2021
In short, Pineapple see the traditional insurance model, user journey and products as lacking and set out to remedy these by doing the following: 1) Changing the business model to align incentives, show people how premiums are used and award members leftover premium back 2) Making insuring as easy as snapping a picture where AI does the rest and cover is issued in under 60 seconds 3) Allowing per-item insurance and new product innovation to address cover not currently offered or accessible to many Pineapple launched in South Africa in 2018 with their "My Stuff" per-item insurance and have since launched their auto offering "My Ride". They have also partnered with Travelers in the US and have white-labeled their platform in the US.

Lumkani

Seed Round in 2018
Lumkani is a South Africa-based company established in 2014, focused on addressing the challenges posed by fires in informal settlements. The company has developed an innovative early-warning IoT heat sensor designed specifically for urban slum environments, enabling community-wide alerts to limit fire damage. This award-winning technology is currently deployed in over 50,000 homes in South Africa, as well as in Bangladesh and Kenya. Lumkani also offers a unique fire detection and insurance bundle in partnership with Hollard Insurance, providing financial support to help individuals recover after a fire disaster. By building a platform that serves underserved customers lacking access to affordable insurance products, Lumkani aims to tackle the broader protection gap in the market. As the company expands its distribution and services, it continues to launch additional relevant products to enhance community resilience and support low-income households.

Pineapple

Seed Round in 2017
In short, Pineapple see the traditional insurance model, user journey and products as lacking and set out to remedy these by doing the following: 1) Changing the business model to align incentives, show people how premiums are used and award members leftover premium back 2) Making insuring as easy as snapping a picture where AI does the rest and cover is issued in under 60 seconds 3) Allowing per-item insurance and new product innovation to address cover not currently offered or accessible to many Pineapple launched in South Africa in 2018 with their "My Stuff" per-item insurance and have since launched their auto offering "My Ride". They have also partnered with Travelers in the US and have white-labeled their platform in the US.
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