Led by Silicon Badia, with participation from RZM Investment, Flat6Labs, and Saudi Angel Investors, this funding will fuel Roboost’s regional expansion ambitions.

Roboost has carved a niche with its game-changing SaaS solution and AI operations copilot.

The platform boasts a number of features like pre-delivery tech, precision auto-dispatching, and “smart routes” based on text addresses setting new standards in delivery automation.

The $3 million investment will fuel its expansion across the MENA region, capturing the vast potential of the delivery market.

Diversification is also on the horizon, with Roboost planning to venture into e-commerce and middle-mile solutions, offering tailor-made automation for businesses of all sizes.

Hossam Shafick, Investor at Silicon Badia, expressed his confidence:

“Our investment reflects our belief in Roboost’s vision and capabilities. We are thrilled to support their journey towards regional and global leadership.”

Roboost’s success story is a testament to the power of AI in revolutionizing logistics.

Founded in 2015, OfferZen connects actively job-seeking developers with tech companies, boasting over 2,000 companies on its platform.
In 2021, the company raised $5.1 million, and this latest funding round brings their total investment to over $9.4 million.

Recognizing the financial challenges faced by tech companies in 2023, OfferZen has introduced a new “fixed-fee unlimited hiring subscription” alongside their traditional per-hire charge. This aims to provide companies with more predictable costs and flexibility in their recruitment efforts.

“It’s always scary making a big change to your business, but fortunately Unlimited worked,” said OfferZen co-founder Philip Joubert.

“It’s easy to budget for, competitively priced, and we hoped it would relieve some of the pressure our customers were feeling. A significant number of our customers have moved to the subscription model over the last year.”

After three years leading the company, Joubert is stepping down as CEO and handing the reins to Matt Beck, previously OfferZen’s VP of marketing.

Beck expressed his excitement for the future, highlighting upcoming platform updates that leverage AI to enhance connections between candidates and companies.

With a revamped business model, new leadership, and plans for AI-powered advancements, OfferZen is aims to further connect top developers with tech companies in South Africa and beyond.

This initiative targets early-stage, impact-focused startups led by women, aiming to provide much-needed catalytic capital and propel their ventures forward.

Unlocking Opportunities for Impactful Businesses

The partnership recognizes the persistent challenges women entrepreneurs face in accessing funding compared to their male counterparts.

By dedicating resources to women-driven businesses tackling local and global issues, the initiative seeks to create a ripple effect, fostering economic growth and social impact.

Heather Matranga, Vice President of Impact Investments at Village Capital, expressed her enthusiasm:

“We’re thrilled to partner with Standard Chartered and support their vision of empowering women founders. Through this innovative financing facility, we aim to unlock more opportunities and capital for these impactful ventures, catering to their diverse needs across various markets.”

Investing in Promising Ventures

Marking a significant milestone, Village Capital announced its initial investments in two startups:

Bena Care: A Kenyan company delivering affordable clinical and supportive care to patients with life-limiting illnesses in their homes.
Mighty Finance: A Zambian fintech startup dedicated to providing accessible capital primarily to women-led businesses.

Each startup received $75,000, bringing the initial investment to $150,000.

Joyce Kibe, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered, emphasized the program’s significance saying:

“This partnership builds upon our successful Women in Tech program, which has equipped over 70 women-led businesses with valuable tools and support. We believe investing in women entrepreneurs fosters stronger, more resilient economies and addresses crucial needs often overlooked in the startup ecosystem.”

Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech program has empowered 64 women-led businesses through six cohorts, awarding grants totalling $7 million to 32 participants.

This new partnership signifies the bank’s and Village Capital’s unwavering commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the impact investing sphere.

This strategic partnership aims to expand access to efficient cold storage infrastructure across the continent, tackling food waste and empowering rural communities.

Only 5% of African fresh produce enters the cold chain compared to Europe’s 94%. This stark disparity results in devastating losses – 30-50% of food spoils before reaching consumers.

InspiraFarms Cooling has stepped in with its innovative precooling and cold chain technology, tailored for African markets. From cold rooms and pre-coolers to packhouses and long-term storage facilities, their solutions offer:

• Reduced food loss: Extending shelf life and minimizing spoilage.
• Lower energy costs: Utilizing renewable energy options for sustainable operation.
• Market access: Equipping producers to meet stringent export standards.
  Economic empowerment: Generating high-quality rural jobs and boosting incomes.
• Beyond Profit: CEI Africa’s investment recognizes InspiraFarms Cooling’s commitment to both economic and environmental impact. Their solutions not only combat food waste but also:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Food loss accounts for 3.7% of global GHGs, and minimizing it plays a crucial role in climate change mitigation.
  – Promote renewable energy: Their designs prioritize compatibility with clean energy sources.

InspiraFarms Cooling’s journey embodies the potential of technology to drive positive change.

With CEI Africa’s backing, they are poised to revolutionize Africa’s cold chain landscape, ensuring a future where food loss is minimized, rural communities thrive, and sustainability reigns supreme.

This capital injection will enable the company to empower more small-scale farmers with the tools and resources they need to increase their profits, adopt sustainable practices, and boost food security.

Apollo Agriculture leverages cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and automation to address the unique challenges faced by smallholder farmers.

Their platform provides access to top-quality farm inputs, optimized financing and digital advice.

Since its inception, Apollo Agriculture has already made a significant impact, reaching over 350,000 farmers in Kenya and Zambia.

The new investment will allow the company to expand its reach further within Kenya, empowering even more farmers with the digital tools and financial resources they need to thrive.

The funding will not only enhance productivity and profitability but also play a crucial role in promoting sustainable farming practices.

By equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources to adapt to climate change, Apollo Agriculture is contributing to long-term food security across the continent.

Eli Pollak, CEO of Apollo Agriculture, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating:

“This partnership with Swedfund and ImpactConnect is a significant milestone for Apollo Agriculture. The investment positions us to rapidly scale our operations, enabling more farmers to access the essential products and financial services they need to feed their families and communities and adapt to climate change.”

“This funding unlocks the potential to serve 400,000 additional farmers during the loan’s term, accelerating Apollo’s growth. We are grateful for the trust and confidence that both Swedfund and ImpactConnect have placed in our vision, and we look forward to achieving transformative growth together.”

The investment round was led by prominent regional investors Shorooq Partners and Algebra Ventures, with participation from existing backer Dubai Future District Fund.

This fresh capital injection will fuel DXwand’s research and development efforts in key areas like knowledge mining, generative AI, and omnichannel conversational AI.

The company’s AI-powered software automates text and voice interactions between businesses, employees, customers, and even government services, available across platforms like call centers, social media, SMS, and websites.

Founded in 2018, DXwand initially focused on building custom chatbots for small businesses.

However, recognizing the need for broader solutions, the company pivoted in 2021 towards corporations and enterprises, offering advanced knowledge mining and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) capabilities.

“Our initial goal was to overcome the challenge of developing AI that understands Arabic dialects,” shares Mahmoud, CEO of DXwand. “But success led us to refine our business model, targeting a wider market and achieving profitability.”

Today, DXwand boasts over 200 clients across diverse sectors like healthcare, e-commerce, fintech, and government, with its chatbot serving over 40 businesses in the MENA region.

The company facilitates over five million monthly conversations and generates annual recurring revenue exceeding $5 million, demonstrating impressive 2x year-over-year growth.

The funding was led by the 212Founders program and backed by Kima Ventures and others.

Founded in 2021, Crealo aims to ease the often bureaucratic process of managing artistic rights.

Their online platform caters to institutions of all sizes, from prominent galleries like Palais de Tokyo to smaller publishers. Features like streamlined royalty distribution and frequent settlements.

This funding round is more than just a financial win as it will fuel Crealo’s ambition to become the go-to solution for Europe’s cultural and creative sector.

The company plans to use the money to upgrade its platform, forge strategic partnerships, and expand its team.

The 212Founders program, a dedicated supporter of Moroccan entrepreneurs, played a key role in securing the funding. Their investment of 4.9 million dirhams reflects their commitment to nurturing innovation and driving economic growth in the country.