Jibu
Venture Round in 2021
Jibu is a company focused on addressing the critical issue of safe drinking water access in East Africa, where approximately 450 million people lack reliable sources. Operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, Jibu provides local entrepreneurs with the resources and support needed to establish their own businesses that treat and package water in reusable bottles. By offering a comprehensive start-up package, including seed financing, Jibu empowers these entrepreneurs to create franchises that deliver safe drinking water at a cost that is significantly lower than traditional bottled options, while also providing the convenience of door-to-door delivery. The company aims to expand its impact to neighboring countries, fostering a network of locally owned businesses that promote affordable access to essential resources for communities.
Wapi Pay
Pre Seed Round in 2021
Wapi Pay is a Nairobi-based company, established in 2019, that provides a secure payments gateway to facilitate digital transactions between Africa and Asia. This platform enables users to make payments through various methods, including mobile money and bank accounts, and supports integration between different financial platforms. Wapi Pay's technology allows for bulk payments, making it suitable for organizations processing salaries and business purchases. The company offers a range of payment options—Bank to Bank, Wallet to Wallet, Bank to Wallet, and Wallet to Bank—catering to both individuals and businesses. It aims to provide a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional telegraphic transfers, allowing for instant liquidity and service completion within 24 hours. Wapi Pay's infrastructure ensures electronic compliance and due diligence for its partners, thus enhancing cross-border commerce in agricultural and manufactured products. The company also has locations in Singapore and Beijing, underscoring its commitment to facilitating international trade.
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.
Sanergy
Funding Round in 2020
Sanergy, Inc. focuses on enhancing sanitation infrastructure in urban slums, particularly in Nairobi, Kenya. Established in 2010, the company builds a network of low-cost sanitation centers equipped with essential facilities such as toilets and showers. These centers are then franchised to local entrepreneurs, with financial support from microfinance institutions. Sanergy not only provides access to hygienic sanitation but also collects human waste daily for processing. This waste is converted into valuable byproducts, including organic fertilizers and renewable energy through a biogas generation process. The organic fertilizers are sold to both commercial farms and smallholder farmers, while the generated biogas is used to produce electricity for sale. Sanergy's mission is to promote public health and environmental sustainability by creating an efficient and equitable sanitation system that addresses the needs of underserved urban communities.
Mobius Motors
Venture Round in 2020
Mobius Motors Ltd. is a vehicle manufacturer based in Nairobi, Kenya, established in 2011. The company focuses on designing, producing, and selling affordable vehicles tailored for the African mass market, specifically addressing the needs of consumers in developing regions. Mobius Motors' vehicles are engineered for durability and functionality, making them suitable for transporting heavy cargo, navigating rough and degraded terrains, and serving public transport and goods delivery needs. The company's mission is to enhance connectivity and improve the livelihoods of rural African communities by providing appropriate transportation solutions.
PayGo Energy
Venture Round in 2018
PayGo Energy is a Kenyan company founded in 2014 that develops and manufactures metering systems for pre-paid cooking gas. Its innovative technology allows customers to monitor their gas consumption and predict when their supply will run low, facilitating timely refills. By utilizing a pay-as-you-go model, the company enables households to purchase clean cooking fuel within their budget through mobile money transactions. This approach addresses the significant environmental and health issues associated with traditional cooking methods that rely on biomass fuels, which affect underserved communities globally. The company's system links gas cylinders with a cloud service and mobile connectivity, thereby enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of clean energy solutions for everyday cooking needs.