Helios Investment Partners

Zola Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions focused on the African market, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Founded in 2012 and based in Arusha, Tanzania, with an office in San Francisco, the company specializes in renewable energy systems that leverage advanced solar, battery, and power electronics technology. Zola Electric offers solar home kits through a leasing or purchase model, enabling households and businesses to access clean and affordable energy. The company employs a pay-as-you-go micro-finance system that accommodates varying energy needs and income levels, powering over 180,000 homes and businesses. Recognized for its innovative approach, Zola Electric has received several awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and is included in the Global Cleantech 100.

Africell, established in 2001, is a prominent mobile telecommunications provider in Africa, focusing on connecting and empowering local communities. The company has achieved significant growth, becoming the leading operator in Gambia and Sierra Leone, while expanding its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where it acquired Orange Uganda. Africell Holdings maintains full ownership of its operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, and holds a majority stake in Uganda. As of the end of 2016, Africell had approximately 11 million active subscribers. The company offers a range of services, including 2G and 3G voice and data services, and is in the process of deploying LTE services, which are already available in Kampala, Uganda.

Taptap Send is a financial platform that enables immigrants to send money back home to African countries quickly and at low costs. Launched in the summer of 2018, the app has facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars and serves hundreds of thousands of customers. It operates in seven European countries and supports payments to various nations, including Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Vietnam, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with plans to expand to more countries. The platform allows users to make fast transfers to mobile money wallets by simply using a debit card, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for physical deposits.

Africell, established in 2001, is a prominent mobile telecommunications provider in Africa, focusing on connecting and empowering local communities. The company has achieved significant growth, becoming the leading operator in Gambia and Sierra Leone, while expanding its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where it acquired Orange Uganda. Africell Holdings maintains full ownership of its operations in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, and holds a majority stake in Uganda. As of the end of 2016, Africell had approximately 11 million active subscribers. The company offers a range of services, including 2G and 3G voice and data services, and is in the process of deploying LTE services, which are already available in Kampala, Uganda.

Zola Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions focused on the African market, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Founded in 2012 and based in Arusha, Tanzania, with an office in San Francisco, the company specializes in renewable energy systems that leverage advanced solar, battery, and power electronics technology. Zola Electric offers solar home kits through a leasing or purchase model, enabling households and businesses to access clean and affordable energy. The company employs a pay-as-you-go micro-finance system that accommodates varying energy needs and income levels, powering over 180,000 homes and businesses. Recognized for its innovative approach, Zola Electric has received several awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and is included in the Global Cleantech 100.

Zola Electric is a provider of off-grid solar solutions focused on the African market, specifically operating in Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Founded in 2012 and based in Arusha, Tanzania, with an office in San Francisco, the company specializes in renewable energy systems that leverage advanced solar, battery, and power electronics technology. Zola Electric offers solar home kits through a leasing or purchase model, enabling households and businesses to access clean and affordable energy. The company employs a pay-as-you-go micro-finance system that accommodates varying energy needs and income levels, powering over 180,000 homes and businesses. Recognized for its innovative approach, Zola Electric has received several awards, including the UN Momentum for Change Award and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and is included in the Global Cleantech 100.

Helios Towers Africa has operations in Ghana, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and a sister company in Nigeria. The number of mobile subscribers in Africa has increased from just 16 million people in 2000 to over 500 million today. Based on these growth levels and without an increase in the sharing of telecoms tower facilities, the number of towers in Africa will need to double from the current number of 75,000, a significant environmental impact.