Launch Africa Ventures

Octavia Carbon is the first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company in the Global South, focused on filtering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The company designs, builds, and deploys patented technology that utilizes Kenya's geothermal energy and geological resources to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of DAC technology. By capturing CO2 directly from the air, Octavia Carbon enables the conversion of this greenhouse gas into stable underground rock formations or repurposes it as an industrial gas, helping to replace polluting fossil fuels. This innovative approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also supports industrial power users in East Africa, contributing to the fight against energy poverty in the region.

Paps is a transport and logistics company based in Dakar, Senegal, founded in 2016. It provides innovative distribution and delivery solutions tailored for companies and merchants. The company's e-commerce platform facilitates real-time scheduling and tracking of deliveries, enhancing the logistics process. Paps specializes in the distribution of documents and parcels, secure storage of goods, and insured delivery options, including last-mile and relay point services. Additionally, it offers professional services such as cash-on-delivery management, courier provision, returns management, and periodic reporting. The company’s on-demand logistics application features live tracking, an intelligent address system, and automatic dispatch, ensuring clients benefit from timely shipment movements.

Meditect is a social enterprise focused on digitizing the medicine supply chain in Africa, with operations in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Cameroon, and plans for expansion across sub-Saharan Africa. The company develops AI and blockchain-based software designed to track falsified medicines and enhance the integrity of drug distribution. By providing innovative solutions, Meditect aims to combat the sale of counterfeit medications and ensure the authenticity of medicines through a system that allows pharmacists to verify their products. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of access to quality medicines in the context of Africa's rapidly growing population, leveraging digital technology to improve healthcare delivery in developing countries.

Maad is a rapidly growing B2B marketplace located 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 facilitates mobile ordering and ensures reliable product delivery. Its services include providing data on product availability and market share, as well as targeted promotional offerings to help businesses enhance their sales. Additionally, Maad supports retailers by offering working capital loans, creating a comprehensive solution for their operational needs.

The Daily Sale Shop is an online marketplace that provides a diverse selection of products to customers in Zimbabwe. The platform emphasizes convenience by offering free delivery across the nation, allowing individuals to shop from the comfort of their homes. With a focus on customer satisfaction, The Daily Sale Shop also ensures reliable customer support and a seamless checkout experience, making it easier for customers to receive their orders efficiently.

Zanifu is a regulated financial technology company that focuses on providing inventory financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s platform facilitates access to working capital by enabling small retailers to procure inventory from suppliers with the option to pay later. Designed with a mobile-first approach, Zanifu's platform is tailored to function effectively in areas with limited internet connectivity, thereby enhancing efficiency in supply chain operations. By addressing the financing needs of MSMEs, Zanifu plays a crucial role in supporting the consumer goods value chain in the region.

Termii is an online platform based in Lagos, Nigeria, that assists African businesses in engaging with their customers through personalized communication via SMS, email, voice, and instant messaging channels. Founded in 2014, Termii offers a comprehensive suite of business applications that cater to various needs including digital branding, sales, marketing, customer relationship management, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, and project management. By providing these tools, Termii aims to enhance customer retention and improve business operations, making it easier for companies to secure repeat customers and foster effective communication.

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 connects global brands with underserved markets in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. The company addresses the challenges of limited access to goods in less industrialized countries, which often leads to inflated prices or unavailability. By integrating a cross-border logistics application with its e-commerce module, ShopMeAway enables consumers and businesses in these regions to order from international online stores efficiently. Since its establishment in 2018 in Senegal, the company has expanded its operations to Ivory Coast and partnered with Amazon to distribute its entire catalog to clients. Future expansion plans include entering the Nigerian and Moroccan markets within the next 12 to 16 months, with aspirations to extend its reach into Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia in the long term.

Edves Limited is a company based in Lagos, Nigeria, that specializes in designing and developing school management software aimed at automating various administrative and educational processes. Founded in 2016, Edves's platform serves over 1,700 K-12 schools across 11 African countries, streamlining enrollment, school fees payment, result processing, and online learning. The software offers features such as e-books, video tutorials, and virtual classrooms, facilitating a comprehensive digital learning environment. Additionally, it provides tools for school owners to manage fee defaulters and set reminders, while educators can generate annual reports to track student performance. By enhancing digital infrastructure for educational institutions, Edves aims to improve learning outcomes and optimize school operations.

Shopstar operates an online shopping platform designed to assist South African businesses in selling their products online. Its comprehensive platform provides essential e-commerce tools, enabling entrepreneurs to create and manage their own online stores effectively. Additionally, Shopstar features a built-in drop shipping network and offers professional design and marketing services. By facilitating access to these resources, the company aims to empower local entrepreneurs to expand their reach and grow their businesses in the digital marketplace.

Zuri Health is a telemedicine company based in Nairobi, Kenya, established in 2020. It offers affordable and accessible healthcare solutions through a mobile app, website, and SMS services, catering to patients without smartphones and those in rural areas. Users can schedule lab and diagnostic tests, consult with doctors, purchase medications from pharmacies, and arrange home visits with qualified medical professionals. The platform also features an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to enhance user experience and provide first-level medical consultations. Zuri Health aims to create a universally accessible healthcare experience for all individuals, regardless of their location or resources.

DigsConnect is a leading student accommodation marketplace based in Cape Town, South Africa, established in 2017. The platform facilitates connections between property owners and student tenants, as well as between students seeking roommates. By providing a user-friendly interface, DigsConnect enables students to find affordable and safe accommodation options near educational institutions. The company aims to foster a community where individuals can discover suitable living arrangements while building lasting friendships. With a focus on real-time accommodation searches, DigsConnect is committed to addressing the specific needs of its users, ensuring a streamlined experience in the often challenging process of finding student housing.

Elevate Pay is a financial technology company that offers a digital banking platform. This platform enables users to open bank accounts online, obtain fee-free Sudanese Pound (SDG) and US Dollar (USD) accounts, receive a free USD Mastercard, make free transfers within Sudan, and receive free international transfers from various countries. The company aims to provide innovative, fair, responsible, and inclusive financial products, improving access to financial services for its consumers.

cARscan is a South Africa-based company that specializes in developing an augmented reality mobile application aimed at tracking the visual condition of vehicles throughout their life cycle. The app utilizes embedded visual recognition AI to create a traceable digital record of each car, facilitating a more transparent automotive ecosystem. cARscan's technology enables users to document the condition of their vehicles and receive real-time quotes and validation from industry experts. This innovative approach not only enhances the buying, selling, renting, servicing, insuring, financing, and auctioning of cars but also helps to mitigate fraud and reduce risks within the automotive industry.

Amitruck is a logistics platform based in Nairobi, Kenya, that connects cargo owners with trucking professionals through a mobile and web application. Founded in 2018, the platform allows customers to easily book deliveries and access a network of available trucks. It features a driver application that facilitates communication between clients and transporters, ensuring timely updates on shipments. Amitruck's user-friendly interface enables clients to receive instant quotes and track their deliveries in real-time, offering complete visibility throughout the delivery process.

Zanifu is a regulated financial technology company that focuses on providing inventory financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s platform facilitates access to working capital by enabling small retailers to procure inventory from suppliers with the option to pay later. Designed with a mobile-first approach, Zanifu's platform is tailored to function effectively in areas with limited internet connectivity, thereby enhancing efficiency in supply chain operations. By addressing the financing needs of MSMEs, Zanifu plays a crucial role in supporting the consumer goods value chain in the region.

Numida Technologies is a digital financial institution based in Kampala, Uganda, focused on serving micro, small, and medium enterprises in East Africa. Founded in 2015, Numida provides an application software that enables small businesses to maintain accurate digital financial records, allowing them to monitor their performance effectively. The company specializes in offering unsecured growth and working capital loans, leveraging a proprietary credit scoring system to assess borrowers' creditworthiness. By improving access to financing, Numida aims to foster a thriving small business sector that can create secure employment, enhance tax revenues for local governments, and uplift the living standards of entrepreneurs and their communities. Its platform not only helps businesses make informed financial decisions but also assists lending institutions in reducing risk and costs, ultimately leading to better lending terms for borrowers.

Maad is a rapidly growing B2B marketplace located 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 facilitates mobile ordering and ensures reliable product delivery. Its services include providing data on product availability and market share, as well as targeted promotional offerings to help businesses enhance their sales. Additionally, Maad supports retailers by offering working capital loans, creating a comprehensive solution for their operational needs.

Kwara GmbH is a technology company that specializes in developing a digital banking platform tailored for savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs). Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with an additional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwara aims to modernize credit unions by providing a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The platform facilitates loan application servicing and approval for members, while also offering integration services, customer support, real-time financial tracking, and compliance assistance. Kwara's offerings include Kwara Pronto, a tool for managing loans. Currently, the company serves over 200 SACCOs across Kenya, South Africa, and the Philippines, enabling these financial institutions to enhance their operations and improve access to formal financial services.

Yobanté Express is a logistics technology startup focused on transforming cross-border and last-mile parcel delivery in key African markets. The company utilizes a fully digitized platform that ensures full traceability and exceptional customer support, minimizing merchandise loss and damage. By leveraging an asset-light model, Yobanté Express operates a cost-efficient network of relay points and independent carriers, facilitating fast and affordable delivery across cities and borders. Its platform connects local carriers with commerce, enabling efficient same-day delivery services, particularly in Senegal. This proven success has positioned Yobanté Express for expansion into other high-growth African markets.

Edves Limited is a company based in Lagos, Nigeria, that specializes in designing and developing school management software aimed at automating various administrative and educational processes. Founded in 2016, Edves's platform serves over 1,700 K-12 schools across 11 African countries, streamlining enrollment, school fees payment, result processing, and online learning. The software offers features such as e-books, video tutorials, and virtual classrooms, facilitating a comprehensive digital learning environment. Additionally, it provides tools for school owners to manage fee defaulters and set reminders, while educators can generate annual reports to track student performance. By enhancing digital infrastructure for educational institutions, Edves aims to improve learning outcomes and optimize school operations.

Releaf is a Nigerian company founded in 2017 that operates as an online marketplace connecting agribusiness buyers and sellers. It focuses on sourcing ingredients for African food factories, including cassava, palm oil, ginger, and maize, among others. Releaf aims to create climate-adaptive supply chains in response to the continent's growing population. The firm provides extension services to smallholder farmers, acting as a buyer and streamlining the conversion of raw materials into factory-grade inputs for vegetable oil production. By leveraging digital technologies such as USSD and open banking, along with proprietary machinery, Releaf collaborates with over 2,000 smallholder farmers, facilitating the supply of high-quality palm kernel nuts to food factories. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency for food manufacturers but also supports the economic development of small agricultural startups.

Omnibiz is a B2B e-commerce platform based in Lagos, Nigeria, that focuses on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Founded in 2019, the company aims to support local businesses by digitizing the supply chain and enhancing operational efficiency. Its unified distribution platform offers tools that improve reliability, visibility, and financial capabilities for businesses. Key features include order tracking and integrated payment options, all designed to facilitate a seamless supply chain experience. By providing these resources, Omnibiz helps local enterprises navigate the complexities of the modern market and achieve their business objectives effectively.

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%.

Pawame Limited is a company that develops off-grid solar home systems aimed at electrifying households in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Pawame produces solar kits that include solar panels, LED lights, wall switches, flashlights, radios, and phone chargers. The company employs a pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) model, allowing customers to make affordable monthly payments through a mobile money platform. This model not only provides access to reliable electricity but also enables the company to gather data that supports the offering of additional products and services, including electrical appliances, micro-insurance, education loans, and remote health services. Pawame's mission is to enhance the quality of life for off-grid communities by providing energy access, which serves as a gateway to financial empowerment and opportunities, contributing to the alleviation of poverty in the region.

Alpha Direct is a Botswana-based insurtech company focused on providing affordable and accessible insurance products to Africa's underserved consumer market. The company leverages cloud technology, big data, and artificial intelligence to develop innovative insurance solutions. In less than five years, Alpha Direct has become the fifth largest short-term insurance underwriter in Botswana and is now pursuing regional expansion across Africa, including plans to enter the long-term insurance sector. Its product offerings encompass a range of insurance types, such as car, business, bus, workers, and travel insurance, aimed particularly at low-income groups. The company has gained recognition for its innovative "insurance in a box" product, which is sold through retail outlets and features a cloud-based activation and policy management platform. This has enabled Alpha Direct to rapidly acquire thousands of customers. Over the next five years, the company intends to expand its offerings to include long-term insurance and extend its reach into South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria, as well as license its products and technology in ten additional African countries.

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.

Ramani is a Tanzanian company founded in 2020, specializing in software development for sales operations. The company's application enables salespeople to effectively track inventory, register customers, and record sales transactions in real time. By providing a financial infrastructure platform, Ramani helps organizations capture essential supply chain data, enhancing sales visibility and supporting resellers in accessing financial services. This functionality allows clients to improve their revenue and expand their market share. Based in Dar es Salaam, Ramani aims to streamline sales processes for businesses across various sectors.

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.