Tech

SA Venture Capital firm HAVAÍC secures $15m first close of $50m innovation fund

Published

1 month ago

August 5, 2024

South African Venture Capital firm, HAVAÍC, has announced securing $15 million first close of its third African-focused VC fund, from a target of $50 million.

The fund which was sourced in partnership with cornerstone investors, Universum Wealth and the SA SME Fund, sees HAVAÍC, a leading African VC investment manager that invests in and supports early-stage, high-growth African-born technology businesses to achieve local and international success, poised to take its portfolio another notch.

Ian Lessem, Managing Partner at HAVAÍC who made the announcement, said the firm’s track record for scaling African-born startups internationally has been evident by the reach of its portfolio companies, which serve over 20 million customers in 190 countries worldwide and with the $15 million new fund, the firm is earmarking a further 15 investments.

“Our deepening relationship with institutional investors means we can support more African tech entrepreneurs in scaling into new markets and generating diversified revenue for reinvestment into Africa,” Lessem said.

“A thriving VC ecosystem translates into economic growth and the creation of skilled local jobs. We are proud to support positive change in Africa and beyond, and thank our partners for supporting our vision.”

In a separate statement, Jonathan Sieff, Managing Partner at Universum Wealth, said his firm was impressed with HAVAÍC’s trademark expertise and proven ability to source compelling opportunities which deliver market-leading returns.

“Supporting Ian and his team has been a key part of our client offering. Alternative, uncorrelated assets enable our clients to sensibly diversify their portfolios and generate higher returns over chosen investment time horizons,” he said.

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Tech

Nigerian fintech PalmPay launches USSD Service for users without internet connection

Published

2 hours ago

September 16, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigerian payment fintech startup, PalmPay, has announced the launch of its USSD code aimed at offering additional service to Nigerians even without internet connectivity.

The new service, according to the Managing Director of PalmPay, Chika Nwosu, the USSD Service is
an additional way for customers to manage their finances without the need for internet connectivity.

“With the PalmPay USSD code, customers can now perform a wide range of banking transactions by dialing *861# from their mobile phones,” Nwosu said in a statement on Monday.

“At PalmPay, we aim to bridge the gap in digital access, and the introduction of our USSD service aligns with that mission. Our platform ensures seamless connectivity for our users.” he said.

“In addition, our USSD platform comes with a security feature which allows our customers to remotely freeze their accounts in case their phone is lost or stolen, providing an extra layer of protection to safeguard their finances.”

Launched in 2019, PalmPay which has been operating under a Mobile Money Operator (MMO) license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the fintech has pioneered a model that provides financial services such as money transfers, bill payments, credit services and savings via a one-stop-shop financial ‘superapp’.

The MD added that customers without access to smartphones are able to make transactions via a nationwide network of over 500,000 Mobile Money Agents.

“The addition of a USSD access point is designed to further enhance the accessibility and convenience of the platform for consumers in a market where data network outages are common.

Nwosu, further emphasized the company’s commitment to financial inclusion

“PalmPay has achieved significant milestones in Nigeria, reaching over 30 million registered users on its app and connecting 1.1 million businesses through its network of mobile money agents and merchant.

“The company has been a key driver of financial inclusion in Nigeria, with a third of PalmPay users reporting that they opened their first-ever financial account through the platform.”

Tech

Egyptian fintech Paymob extends Series B funding to $72m as It expands across MENA

Published

1 day ago

September 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Egypt-based payment fintech, Paymob, has announced successfully raising an additional $22 million in a Series B extension, bringing its total Series B funding to $72 million which will see it pursue its growth strategy at home and in the wider MENA region.

The extension round was led by EBRD Venture Capital with participation from Endeavor Catalyst while existing investors PayPal Ventures, BII, FMO, A15, Nclude and Helios Digital Ventures also participated in the round.

Co-founder and CEO of the Paymob, Islam Shawky, who made the announcement, said the extension round follows Paymob’s continued profitability in its core market of Egypt, having recorded 6x revenue growth since the initial Series B funding in Q2 2022.

“We are very excited by our strong prospects in Egypt – where we hold a market-leading position – and the significant traction experienced in the UAE since launching operations there.

“This funding will help Paymob to fully capitalize on the momentum in our established markets, as we accelerate our GCC rollout. We remain committed to creating a cutting-edge infrastructure enabling SMEs across the region to thrive in the digital economy and are proud of our continued impact,” Shawky said.

The payment platform which was founded in 2015 by Shawky, Alain El Hajj and Mostafa Menessy, is an infrastructure technology enabler providing payment solutions to empower digital financial service providers through mobile wallet technology.

According to its profile on its website, the fintech’s omnichannel gateway offers more than 50 payment solutions and empowers close to 350,000 merchants with access to innovative financial services. It has expanded to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Oman.