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SA Fintech Startup Stitch Announces $25m in Series A Extension Round

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SA Fintech Startup Stitch Announces $25m in Series A Extension Round

Stitch, a leading fintech startup in South Africa, has announced a $25 million Series A extension round led by Ribbit Capital.
 
The funding will be used to accelerate the company’s growth, expand its product offerings, and enter new markets.

Stitch was founded in 2021 and has quickly become one of the fastest-growing fintech startups in Africa.
 
The company provides a suite of API-based payment solutions that enable businesses to accept, manage, and disburse payments online and offline. 
 
“We’ve known the Ribbit team for a few years and have consistently been impressed with their knowledge of the space. In particular, they have a strong view of the global landscape, and their exceptional understanding of emerging markets has already proven to be immensely valuable,” said Stitch co-founder and CEO Kiaan Pillay.
 
Stitch’s clients include some of the largest companies in Africa, such as MTN, Multichoice, and Luno.

The Series A extension round is a significant milestone for Stitch and a testament to the company’s strong growth potential. 

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Peach Payments Secures $30M Funding Deal to Accelerate Growth in Africa

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Peach Payments Secures $30M Funding Deal to Accelerate Growth in Africa

Peach Payments, a leading South African digital payment service startup, has secured a $30 million funding deal led by Apis Growth Fund II and participation from Enza Capital.

The funding will accelerate the company’s growth in Africa, develop new products, and expand into new markets.

Peach Payments was founded in 2011 and has since grown to become one of the largest digital payment service providers in Africa.

The company offers various payment solutions to businesses of all sizes, including online payments, mobile payments, and point-of-sale payments.

Peach Payments is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, and has offices in Kenya, Mauritius, and Nigeria.

The funding deal is a sign of investor confidence in Peach Payments and the African digital payments market.

Africa is one of the fastest-growing digital payments markets in the world, and Peach Payments is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth.

Peach Payments CEO Rahul Jain emphasized the company’s commitment to simplifying the payment landscape for businesses expanding across Africa.

The fintech startup’s unique feature allows businesses to seamlessly transition into new African countries without having to find new payment partners.

With up to 12 different payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, instant EFTs, various buy-now-pay-later options, and electronic vouchers, Peach Payments offers a comprehensive solution to the fragmentation in payment methods that plagues many African markets.

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Ethiopia-based Micro-Insurance Startup Jamii.One Secures New Investment From Renew Capital

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Ethiopia-based Micro-Insurance Startup Jamii.One Secures New Investment From Renew Capital

Renew Capital, an impact-focused venture capital firm investing in early-stage African startups, has backed Ethiopia-based micro-insurance startup Jamii.one with a new investment.
 
The round also included participation from existing investors Blue Haven Ventures and angel investors.

Jamii.one is a digital micro-insurance platform that provides affordable and accessible insurance products to low-income individuals and communities in Ethiopia.
 
The company’s products include crop, livestock, and health insurance.

Renew Capital’s investment will be used to help Jamii.one expand its product offerings, reach new customers, and grow its team.
 
The company plans to launch new products, such as income protection insurance and funeral insurance, in the coming months.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and over 80% of the population lives in rural areas.
 
Access to insurance is very low, with only 1% of the population having any type of insurance policy.

Jamii.one is helping to address this gap by providing affordable and accessible insurance products to low-income individuals and communities.
 
The company’s products are designed to help people protect themselves from financial hardship caused by unexpected events such as crop failure, livestock death, or illness.

Jamii.one’s platform is easy to use and can be accessed via mobile phone or the internet.
 
The company offers a variety of payment options, including mobile money and cash.

Renew Capital’s investment in Jamii.one is a positive development for the Ethiopian insurance market.

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South African Insurtech Startup Root Secures $1.5M for Europe Expansion

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South African Insurtech Startup Root Secures $1.5M for Europe Expansion

Root, a South African insurtech startup, has secured $1.5 million in funding to accelerate its expansion plans in the UK and Europe.
 

The funding round was led by Invenfin, the venture capital arm of Remgro Limited.

Root was founded in 2016 by Louw Hopley and provides an end-to-end insurance platform that enables companies to build, sell, and manage digital insurance products.

The company’s platform is low-code and API-first, making it easy for businesses to develop and deploy custom insurance solutions.

Root has already established a presence in the UK and Europe, and its platform is being used by a number of leading insurers and fintech companies.

The fresh funding will allow Root to expand its team and further develop its platform to meet the growing demand for embedded insurance.

Embedded insurance is a new way to distribute insurance products, in which insurance is embedded into other products and services.

For example, a car rental company might offer embedded insurance to its customers to protect them against accidental damage.

Embedded insurance is a rapidly growing market, and Root is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth.

The company’s platform makes it easy for businesses to offer embedded insurance products, and Root has a strong track record of working with leading insurers and fintech companies.

Root’s new funding round is a significant milestone for the company and for the African insurtech ecosystem.

It is a testament to the growing interest in investing in African startups and to the potential of Root to make a positive impact on the global insurance industry.

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Techstars Toronto Accelerator Program Backs 10 African Startups in 2023 Cohort

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Techstars Toronto Accelerator Program Backs 10 African Startups in 2023 Cohort

Techstars Toronto, a renowned accelerator program, has announced its 2023 summer cohort.

The cohort features ten promising African startups among a total of 24 companies.
 

This selection underscores Techstars’ continuous commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship on the African continent and its recognition of the region’s burgeoning tech talents.

The 10 African startups selected for the 2023 Techstars Toronto summer cohort are:

 
  • CatalyzU (South Africa): A digital platform that vets, trains, & places Africa’s leading talent at global startups.
  • MPOST (Kenya): The startup empowers individuals in the developing world with virtual addresses.
  • Seso (Ghana): The startup is on a mission to bring transparency in Africa’s real estate sector.
  • Ladder (Ghana): Ladder is providing personalized financial advisory and accountancy services.
  • Payfi (Nigeria): A buy now, pay later startup that provides international students access to affordable housing.
  • Cutstruct (Nigeria): The startup provides a platform for a building material marketplace, driving efficiency in construction in Africa.
  • Chimoney (Nigeria): A fintech startup that provides digital financial services to Nigerians living abroad.
  • Reeple.ai (Nigeria): A fintech startup helping helping African immigrants in the Diaspora access seamless financial services.
  • Oval (Nigeria): A fintech startup that provides customers with DeFi-enabled products. 
  • Hulugram (Ethiopia): The Ethiopian startup is enabling social engagement for over 30 million internet users in the country via a chat-based platform.
The Techstars Toronto accelerator program is a three-month intensive program that provides startups with mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to help them grow and scale their businesses.
 

The program concludes with a Demo Day, where startups pitch their businesses to investors and potential partners.

The selection of 10 African startups for the 2023 Techstars Toronto summer cohort is a testament to the growing dynamism and innovation of the African tech ecosystem.

 
These startups are poised to play a leading role in shaping the future of Africa and the world.

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VC Firm Enza Capital Closes $58m Fund II to Support Next Generation of African Entrepreneurs

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VC Firm Enza Capital Closes $58m Fund II to Support Next Generation of African Entrepreneurs

Enza Capital, a Pan-African venture capital firm, has closed its second fund at $58 million.

The fund will be used to invest in early-stage startups that are “organizing the offline online” and “digitizing key African industries.”

Enza Capital was founded in 2019 by Niyi Ajao and Wale Ayeni, two experienced venture capitalists with a deep understanding of the African startup market.

The firm has already invested in a number of successful startups, including fintech company Flutterwave, logistics company Kobo360, and healthcare company Lifebank.

The closing of Fund II is a significant milestone for Enza Capital and for the African startup ecosystem as a whole.

It is one of the largest early-stage funds ever raised in Africa, and it is a testament to the growing interest from global investors in the continent’s startup scene.

The fund will focus on investing in startups in the following sectors:

  • Fintech
  • Logistics
  • Healthcare
  • Human capital
  • Climate tech

Enza Capital is particularly interested in startups that are using technology to bridge the gap between the online and offline worlds and to digitize key African industries.

The firm is also known for its innovative approach to venture capital. In addition to providing capital, Enza Capital also provides its startups with access to a network of mentors, advisors, and resources.

The closing of Fund II is a positive development for the African startup ecosystem. It shows that there is growing interest from global investors in the continent’s startups, and it provides Enza Capital with the resources it needs to continue to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

Analysis

The closing of Enza Capital’s Fund II is a significant event for the African startup ecosystem. It is one of the largest early-stage funds ever raised in Africa, and it is a testament to the growing interest from global investors in the continent’s startup scene.

The fund is also notable for its focus on investing in startups that are “organizing the offline online” and “digitizing key African industries.” This is a critical area of investment, as Africa is still rapidly urbanizing and its economy is becoming increasingly digital.

Enza Capital’s innovative approach to venture capital is also worth noting. The firm provides its startups with access to a network of mentors, advisors, and resources, in addition to capital. This is important, as startups in Africa often face unique challenges that require specialized support.

Overall, the closing of Enza Capital’s Fund II is a positive development for the African startup ecosystem. It provides a strong signal to global investors that Africa is a place where they can find attractive investment opportunities.

It also gives Enza Capital the resources it needs to continue to support the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

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Cleantech Investor Gaia Impact Raises New $42M Fund to Invest in African Startups

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Cleantech Investor Gaia Impact Raises New $42M Fund to Invest in African Startups

Gaia Impact, a cleantech investment firm focused on Africa, has raised a new $42 million fund to support early-stage startups developing sustainable solutions for the continent.
 
Gaia Energy Impact Fund II had the backing of Schneider Electric, Capital Croissance, and Investisseurs & Partenaires – I&P.

The fund will be used to invest in startups that are developing innovative solutions to Africa’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.
 
These include climate change, energy access, water scarcity, and pollution. The fund will also focus on supporting startups led by women and entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups.

Gaia Impact’s portfolio of companies includes several successful African startups, such as M-KOPA Solar, a solar energy company that provides pay-as-you-go solar systems to households in East Africa, and Afribon, a waste management company that converts organic waste into biogas and fertilizer.

The fund comes when there is growing investor interest in African cleantech startups.
 
The growth of the African cleantech sector is being driven by a number of factors, including the continent’s rapid urbanization, its growing population, and its abundant natural resources.
 
Africa is also home to some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, making the continent one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

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South African Fintech Startup Revio Raises $5.2M to Revolutionize African Payments

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South African Fintech Startup Revio Raises $5.2M to Revolutionize African Payments

Revio, a South African fintech startup, has raised $5.2 million in a seed round led by QED Investors and Partech.

The funding will be used to expand Revio’s team, launch new products, and enter new markets across Africa.

Revio provides businesses with a payment orchestration platform that makes it easy to accept payments from customers all over Africa.

The platform supports a wide range of payment methods, including mobile money, bank cards, and local payment schemes.

Revio’s platform is particularly useful for businesses that sell products and services to customers in multiple African countries.

The fintech startup is already working with a number of leading businesses in Africa, including MTN, Airtel, and Uber.

The company plans to use its new funding to expand its reach and help more businesses streamline their payment processes.

Revio’s latest investment is a sign of the growing interest in fintech in Africa.

Africa has a large and growing population, but many people do not have access to traditional banking services.

Fintech startups like Revio are making it easier for people to access financial services and make payments.

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South African VC Firm Secha Capital Closes $15.8 Million Fund to Invest in Early-Stage Startups

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South African VC Firm Secha Capital Closes $15.8 Million Fund to Invest in Early-Stage Startups

Secha Capital, a South African venture capital firm, has announced that it has raised $15.8 million in new funding.

The firm plans to use the funds to invest in early-stage startups in South Africa and other African countries.

Secha Capital was founded in 2020 by Rushil Valabh and Brendan Mullen, who have over 20 years of experience in investing and building businesses in Africa.

The firm focuses on investing in startups that are addressing large addressable markets and have the potential to create significant job growth.

Secha Capital has already invested in a number of successful South African startups, including SweepSouth, a digital platform for on-demand home cleaning services, and Luno, a cryptocurrency exchange.

The firm’s new funding round was led by the SA SME Fund, a jobs-focused fund of funds, and also included investments from the venture arm of Rand Merchant Bank, 27four Investment Managers, and Caleo Capital.

The investment by Secha Capital is a positive development for the South African startup ecosystem.

The firm’s focus on investing in early-stage startups is particularly important, as it can help to fill a gap in the funding landscape for South African startups.

The investment is also a sign of the growing interest in investing in African startups.

Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with a booming startup ecosystem.

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