PEV was co-founded by Ben Peterson, formerly a senior partner at AHL Venture Partners; Jan Van der de Willebois, who previously worked in investment banking at Dyer & Blair; and Mikul Shah, known for launching EatOut Africa. 

 

The company is committed to launching three to four new tourism-related startups annually.

The studio focuses on developing tech-driven solutions to help make Africa’s tourism industry more sustainable and better prepared for the challenges of climate change.

 

The idea is to create scalable businesses that contribute to a more resilient tourism sector on the continent.

After raising $1 million in pre-seed funding in October 2022, PEV followed it up with a $4.5 million seed round in January.

 

Key backers in the earlier rounds include Clear Creek Investment B.V, Klister Corp., Playfair Capital’s founder Fede Pirzo-Biroli, Anthony Rock, and Ian McCaig, the former CEO of Lastminute.com.

The latest funding came from Alphatron, a Dutch single-family office under the Alphatron Group. This new capital will help PEV continue building its reputation as a leading tourism-tech venture in Africa.

Ben Peterson, CEO of PEV, expressed appreciation for the investment, calling it a vote of confidence in the future of eco-friendly tourism across Africa.

 

He noted that Alphatron’s backing supports the studio’s goal of using technology to drive sustainable growth in the sector.

Floris de Kort, director at Alphatron Group, praised PEV’s mission, stating that the studio brings together innovation, market potential, and a strong commitment to environmental responsibility—qualities that align closely with Alphatron’s values.

“This partnership reflects our belief in supporting bold ideas that drive both climate action and economic progress in Africa,” de Kort said.