Pargo
Venture Round in 2024
Pargo is a logistics company based in Cape Town, South Africa, founded in 2014. It provides a convenient solution for parcel collection and return through a network of local stores known as Pargo parcel points. Customers can collect parcels purchased from retailers at these designated locations, which enhances accessibility and convenience. Pargo notifies users via SMS or email when their parcels arrive, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. The company leverages a technology platform to facilitate the delivery and collection of parcels, allowing clients to choose their preferred local store for an affordable and user-friendly experience.
Paymob is a regional digital payments enabler that provides payments infrastructure technologies to expand access to financial services in the MEA region. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, the company focuses on bridging the financial inclusion gap by enabling businesses of all sizes to accept and process electronic payments and money transfers. Its online payments software converts cash into electronic value through integrated services while reducing fraud, loss, theft, and costs associated with cash handling and printing. By offering adaptable payment solutions, Paymob aims to empower customers with diverse electronic payment options and faster money circulation across communities and markets.
Tamara is a prominent shopping and payments platform based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and serves the GCC region. Founded in September 2020 by Abdulmajeed Alsukhan and his partners, the company aims to revolutionize shopping, payment, and banking experiences. With a workforce of over 350 employees, Tamara operates additional offices in the UAE, Egypt, Germany, and Vietnam. The platform empowers merchants by providing flexible payment solutions, including installment options, through its application programming interfaces and plugins. This functionality enhances customer experiences and boosts sales for merchants. Tamara has established a robust customer base of 6 million and collaborates with over 15,000 partner merchants, which include both leading global brands and local small and medium enterprises. The company has successfully raised significant funding, highlighting its strong market presence and growth potential.
Noon Academy
Series B in 2023
Noon Academy is a prominent edtech company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with additional offices in Cairo, Egypt, and Bengaluru, India. Established in 2013, it operates an online learning platform that has served over 12 million students across the Middle East. The platform facilitates collaborative learning by allowing students to study in groups, compete with peers, and access on-demand tutoring. It offers a range of educational content, including free resources and subscription-based services for advanced materials and private tutoring. Noon Academy aims to enhance the learning experience by blending technology with peer-to-peer interactions, making education more engaging and accessible, especially for exam preparation. The company is committed to connecting students with the best teachers, regardless of location, thus expanding its impact in the region and beyond.
Grinta is a pharmaceutical supply chain company focused on modernizing the distribution of medical products across Africa. It operates a managed marketplace that integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning to empower independent pharmacies and enhance their operational efficiency. By collaborating with various stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers, Grinta aims to create a data-driven and reliable supply chain. This platform provides pharmacies with a user-friendly experience, allowing them to access a comprehensive range of traceable and trackable pharmaceutical and medical products from multiple vendors. Through its innovative approach, Grinta seeks to improve the overall effectiveness of the pharmaceutical value chain.
54gene
Convertible Note in 2022
54gene is a biotechnology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Lagos, Nigeria. The company focuses on unlocking the potential of the African genome to enhance genetic research and development, addressing a significant gap in the global genomics market where a majority of genetic data is derived from individuals of Caucasian descent. By developing a pan-African biobank, 54gene aims to identify new drug targets and create diagnostics and treatments for various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to its research initiatives, the company offers genetic testing and molecular diagnostics services to patients and healthcare providers, ensuring compliance with international data privacy laws. Through its efforts, 54gene seeks to contribute to the discovery of medical advancements that can benefit diverse populations.
Talk360
Seed Round in 2022
Talk360 is a Dutch-based company specializing in affordable long-distance telecommunication services. It offers an easy-to-use mobile application for both business and private individuals to make international calls to any mobile or landline number, even without an internet connection.
Tamara is a prominent shopping and payments platform based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and serves the GCC region. Founded in September 2020 by Abdulmajeed Alsukhan and his partners, the company aims to revolutionize shopping, payment, and banking experiences. With a workforce of over 350 employees, Tamara operates additional offices in the UAE, Egypt, Germany, and Vietnam. The platform empowers merchants by providing flexible payment solutions, including installment options, through its application programming interfaces and plugins. This functionality enhances customer experiences and boosts sales for merchants. Tamara has established a robust customer base of 6 million and collaborates with over 15,000 partner merchants, which include both leading global brands and local small and medium enterprises. The company has successfully raised significant funding, highlighting its strong market presence and growth potential.
MFS Africa Limited is a leading provider of mobile money interoperability in Africa, facilitating seamless money transfers and payments across the continent. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the company connects mobile network operators through a unified API, enabling a range of services including remittances, merchant and bulk payments, as well as bank-to-wallet transfers. MFS Africa serves various stakeholders, including money transfer operators, banks, and mobile money operators, by offering alternatives for remittances, micro-lending, micro-insurance, and micro-savings. With additional offices in key African cities and London, MFS Africa plays a crucial role in enhancing financial connectivity and promoting financial inclusion across the region.
Instabug, Inc. is a mobile observability platform that assists developers in enhancing the quality and performance of their applications. Founded in 2012 and based in Giza, Egypt, Instabug offers advanced tools for crash and bug reporting, application performance monitoring, and user feedback collection. The platform supports over 4 billion devices worldwide and provides real-time contextual insights throughout the application lifecycle, enabling mobile teams to identify and resolve issues effectively. By delivering these capabilities, Instabug empowers developers and enterprises to optimize app performance and improve user experiences, ultimately contributing to sustained mobile growth.
Apollo Agriculture
Series B in 2022
Apollo Agriculture is an agtech company that provides smallholder farmers with access to high-quality inputs, credit, and advisory services. Using agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology, it assesses farmer credit risk and tailors each package to a farm’s location by integrating satellite data, soil information, farmer behavior, and crop yield models. The company delivers a bundled offer that includes financing for inputs such as fertilizer and seed, crop insurance, and ongoing consulting to improve farming decisions. Originating in Kenya with operations anchored in Nairobi, Apollo aims to expand to emerging markets and help farmers boost yields and profitability through customized credit, inputs, and advice. The approach combines modern data analytics with practical agronomy to enable farmers to adopt advanced farming methods.
Clickatell
Series C in 2022
Clickatell is a technology company that enables chat-based commerce and mobile messaging for businesses. Its platform supports real-time notifications, marketing campaigns, two-factor authentication, customer relationship management, and mobile payments, allowing brands to engage customers via SMS, chat, and other channels. It also offers on-device prepaid top-up services and USSD-based self-service banking features, along with security tools such as multi-factor authentication and a digital contact center solution for real-time agent support. Clickatell’s Chat Commerce Platform facilitates creating and growing customer relationships through chat, engagement, and payment solutions, enabling organizations to manage millions of conversations and transactions without apps or cash. The company serves enterprises, government, and developers worldwide, with offices in the United States, South Africa, and Nigeria. Founded in 2000, Clickatell focuses on connecting brands with customers through chat and mobile messaging across global markets.
TradeDepot
Series B in 2021
Founded in 2016, TradeDepot is a SaaS platform that connects FMCG distributors, wholesalers, and retailers across Africa. It leverages real-time stock level tracking, predictive trade intelligence, and automated sales promotions to boost sales and improve distribution efficiency.
Founded in 2017, Yassir is a leading super app offering on-demand ride-hailing, last-mile delivery, payment services, and financial solutions. Operating across multiple countries with over $150 million in funding, the company aims to digitize daily services while promoting social values.
MFS Africa Limited is a leading provider of mobile money interoperability in Africa, facilitating seamless money transfers and payments across the continent. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the company connects mobile network operators through a unified API, enabling a range of services including remittances, merchant and bulk payments, as well as bank-to-wallet transfers. MFS Africa serves various stakeholders, including money transfer operators, banks, and mobile money operators, by offering alternatives for remittances, micro-lending, micro-insurance, and micro-savings. With additional offices in key African cities and London, MFS Africa plays a crucial role in enhancing financial connectivity and promoting financial inclusion across the region.
Twiga Foods
Series C in 2021
Twiga Foods Ltd. is a mobile-based supply platform that caters to retail outlets, kiosks, and market stalls across Africa. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company facilitates a cashless, business-to-business supply chain that connects small and medium-sized vendors with essential agricultural products. Twiga Foods enables vendors to order a variety of supplies, including bananas, pineapples, and tomatoes, through its innovative platform, streamlining the distribution process in urban markets. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also supports local businesses by improving access to quality produce.
54gene is a biotechnology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Lagos, Nigeria. The company focuses on unlocking the potential of the African genome to enhance genetic research and development, addressing a significant gap in the global genomics market where a majority of genetic data is derived from individuals of Caucasian descent. By developing a pan-African biobank, 54gene aims to identify new drug targets and create diagnostics and treatments for various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to its research initiatives, the company offers genetic testing and molecular diagnostics services to patients and healthcare providers, ensuring compliance with international data privacy laws. Through its efforts, 54gene seeks to contribute to the discovery of medical advancements that can benefit diverse populations.
Halan
Venture Round in 2021
Halan is an Egyptian technology company established in 2017, operating a mobile application that caters to various consumer needs through a single platform. The app offers ride-hailing services for two and three-wheeler vehicles, on-demand logistics solutions, food delivery, and goods transportation via motorbikes or cargo tricycles. Halan also facilitates e-payments and microfinance services for its users. It has partnered with prominent fast-food chains in Egypt to provide last-mile delivery services using smart-tech integrated systems. The company aims to enhance convenience and safety for customers while offering incremental business opportunities for drivers, supporting both large organizations and small businesses in their distribution needs.
MaxAB is a B2B e-commerce platform based in Cairo, Egypt, founded in 2018, that connects food and grocery retailers with suppliers in underserved areas. The company focuses on re-engineering the informal grocery and food market by utilizing innovative technologies and supply chain solutions tailored to the specific needs of retailers. MaxAB's mobile platform facilitates an e-marketplace and provides logistics services for efficient distribution of goods. By streamlining procurement and grocery delivery processes, MaxAB aims to empower retailers with access to a diverse range of products, premium service, and operational support, ultimately enhancing their ability to manage their businesses effectively.
TeamApt is a financial technology company that develops digital banking and payment platform for financial transactions. It offers an end-to-end omnichannel digital banking service called Moneytor Digital Banking, enabling banks to offer retail, merchant, and corporate banking services through digital channels, Aptpay for automation of digital banking business operations, settlements, reconciliations, and tracks digital transformation processes with web and mobile interfaces.
TeamApt was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
Swvl
Venture Round in 2020
Founded in 2017, Swvl is a mobility company that offers an app for booking fixed-rate rides on shared buses and vans during peak commute hours. It operates in Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, serving both individual commuters and corporate clients.
Vezeeta is a digital healthcare platform based in Heliopolis, Egypt, established in 2011. It facilitates connections between patients and healthcare providers across the Middle East and Africa, specifically in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Lebanon. The platform allows patients to search for, compare, and book appointments with doctors, leveraging over 200,000 verified reviews to enhance decision-making. In addition to patient-facing services, Vezeeta offers innovative software solutions for healthcare providers, including clinic management tools that streamline operations and improve patient experiences. The platform also supports features such as live scheduling, automated medication reminders, and options for in-clinic, virtual, or at-home consultations, thereby empowering millions of patients to access and manage their healthcare efficiently.
Copia Global
Series B in 2019
Copia Global Inc. is an e-commerce company based in Nairobi, Kenya, founded in 2013. It provides an innovative application that allows users to browse and order products from local shopkeepers, facilitating access to a wide range of quality goods for consumers in the developing world. The platform is designed to empower middle to low-income Africans by enabling them to make purchases without needing direct internet access. Copia Global leverages mobile technologies and a network of local agents to serve as distribution points, ensuring efficient delivery of products at consumers' convenience. The application also incorporates a mobile payment system, allowing shopkeepers to fulfill customer orders seamlessly.
Lori Systems
Series A in 2019
Founded in 2016, Lori Systems operates a logistics platform that connects transporters with cargo owners. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, with offices in Mombasa, Kampala, and Lagos, the company uses technology to improve transparency, flexibility, reliability, and cost savings (up to 18%) in Africa's $180 billion annual haulage market.
Founded in 2017, Swvl is a mobility company that offers an app for booking fixed-rate rides on shared buses and vans during peak commute hours. It operates in Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, serving both individual commuters and corporate clients.
Property Finder
Private Equity Round in 2018
Founded in 2005 by Michael Lahyani, Property Finder is a pioneering property portal operating across the Middle East and North Africa. It facilitates over 14 million monthly visits, offering real estate listings and services for buying, selling, leasing, and renting properties. The company is renowned for its innovation in proptech, having launched tools such as PF Flex, Super Agent, and Data Guru. Property Finder operates a web and app platform across five countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Cellulant
Series C in 2018
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.
Entersekt
Series C in 2017
Entersekt Pty Ltd. is an international software development company headquartered in Stellenbosch, South Africa, with additional offices in Utrecht, Netherlands, and other locations in North America and Europe. Established in 2008, the company specializes in mobile-first fintech solutions, offering online push-based authentication and application security services tailored for banks and enterprises. Its product portfolio includes transakt, interakt, and connekt, which facilitate secure online and mobile banking, as well as card-not-present authentication. Entersekt's patented mobile identity system is designed to enhance security while delivering convenient digital experiences across various service channels, making it a reliable partner for financial service providers and other enterprises.
Vezeeta is a digital healthcare platform based in Heliopolis, Egypt, established in 2011. It facilitates connections between patients and healthcare providers across the Middle East and Africa, specifically in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Lebanon. The platform allows patients to search for, compare, and book appointments with doctors, leveraging over 200,000 verified reviews to enhance decision-making. In addition to patient-facing services, Vezeeta offers innovative software solutions for healthcare providers, including clinic management tools that streamline operations and improve patient experiences. The platform also supports features such as live scheduling, automated medication reminders, and options for in-clinic, virtual, or at-home consultations, thereby empowering millions of patients to access and manage their healthcare efficiently.
Thndr is a financial services company established in 2020 by Seif Amr in Cairo, Egypt. It operates an app-based investment platform designed to facilitate commission-free trading for investors. The platform offers a range of features, including no account minimums, real-time market data, and easy account setup and funding processes. Users can also access the latest financial news and educational tools, empowering them to make informed investment decisions. Thndr aims to simplify the investing process and enhance financial literacy among its users.
dLocal is a payments technology platform that enables global merchants to process cross-border and local payments in emerging markets. Founded in 2016 and based in Montevideo, Uruguay, the company provides access to hundreds of local payment methods across multiple countries, helping merchants reach consumers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its One dLocal platform supports pay-in and pay-out flows, serving enterprise clients with a focus on reducing complexity and enabling safe, efficient online payments. The company generates revenue from processing fees charged to merchants for cross-border and local transactions, with Brazil a major market in Latin America.