Participated · Series A · Nov 2023

GoMetro builds Bridge, an OEM-agnostic telemetry and data-aggregation platform that consolidates vehicle data from different makes and models into a unified API service. The company offers pay-per-use telemetry, monthly subscription products (including a connected tire kit, smart camera system, and data hub), and ETA and operations-monitoring features to identify bottlenecks. GoMetro serves a network of over 15,000 vehicles, including about 1,000 electric vehicles, and partners with 60 trucking and logistics companies. Over the past 12 months the company says revenue has doubled and it aims to triple revenue by the end of next year; it plans to integrate more than 2,000 electric vehicles and 50,000 diesel vehicles in the coming year. GoMetro is working with vehicle OEMs, expanding engineering and distribution teams, and focusing on electric bus and truck management as fleets electrify. The company is expanding operations in the U.K., Europe, South Africa and targeting the U.S., Latin America, Australia, and the Middle East in the next 12 months. GoMetro offers a mobility management platform that digitises entire fleets and integrates telematics, IoT and big data to optimise routes, predict arrivals and provide real-time supply-chain insights. The company says its platform can help operators save up to 30% in operating costs by increasing vehicle utilisation, controlling excess mileage and reducing back-office costs. Customers have reportedly increased the certainty and accuracy of delivery windows by 50%. GoMetro plans to use new funding for key hires and continued investment in platform, product engineering and development. The start-up sees additional opportunities in fleet management and is positioning its solution to compete in global markets. Management is targeting accelerated expansion in South Africa and entry into the UK and US markets. GoMetro operates a big-data platform and is launching flx, a door-to-door ride-sharing service that can integrate cabs, minibuses, buses and trains. The company says flx competes kilometre-for-kilometre with minibus taxis on price while offering shared, door-to-door trips. Internal testing has run with about 15 staff members, and GoMetro plans a 100-person corporate trial beginning in February. The startup cites studies (the Lisbon study) to argue its model could cut congestion and emissions substantially. GoMetro was accepted into the Telefónica Startup Accelerator and is targeting a launch in Milton Keynes, UK toward the end of next year. The company is also looking to raise €5 million from European investors to support expansion. Investors already include Tritech Media, AngelHub Ventures and 4Decades Capital; Derek Prout-Jones serves as chairman.

Participated · Series A · Feb 2023

Sendmarc builds software that implements, monitors and maintains email authentication standards (SPF and DMARC) to prevent domain spoofing and email impersonation. The company was founded in 2020 by Sam Hutchinson, Keith Thompson and Sacha Matulovich after selling their prior communications platform. Its technology helps customers lock down domains and monitor attempted abuse, and it targets a largely underserved market of businesses that have not yet implemented global email security standards. Sendmarc has 1,000+ paying customers (about 80% in South Africa) including stock exchanges, law firms, insurers, banks, startups and law enforcement agencies across multiple regions. Customers pay monthly subscriptions between $49 and $119, generating over $2 million in ARR since 2021. The company has offices in the Netherlands, Argentina and Canada and plans to expand its product suite and scale to serve up to 100,000 customers in the next five years while growing sales teams across Africa, the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Sendmarc provides end-to-end implementation and monitoring of the DMARC industry standard to stop scammers from spoofing customers' domain names and sending fraudulent emails. The startup configures DNS and reporting for clients and charges between R450 and R50,000 per month for its service. Launched operations in July last year, Sendmarc is working with about 100 companies covering over 200 domains, though not all are paying customers. The company was founded in 2018 and has seven employees, with plans to hire roughly 10 more (sales and developers) in the next two to three months. Founders Keith Thompson and Sam Hutchinson initially self-funded the business, contributing roughly R1-million since inception; Sam joined full time in October last year and Sacha Matulovich joined recently. Management aims to expand the service to as many as 200,000 small and medium-sized firms in South Africa, while noting competition from established players such as Mimecast.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2023

Flow provides an API-driven proptech marketing platform that connects to estate agency and developer websites to automatically create and run ads on social channels like Facebook and Instagram. The platform targets real estate agencies, developers and portals, offering a SaaS product and taking a percentage cut of marketing spend as its revenue model. Flow has over 300 clients and is used by nearly 6,000 agents across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mauritius and Australia. Revenue has been growing roughly 20% month-on-month over the past year. The company plans to add other social platforms such as TikTok and LinkedIn and expand into other channels like digital out-of-home billboards, while pursuing integrations with international property portals and CRM platforms. Flow was founded in 2018 by co-CEOs Gil Sperling and Daniel Levy, who previously built and sold adtech firm Popimedia to Publicis and originally launched Flow as a tenant rewards app before pivoting to real-estate advertising.

Participated · Seed · Oct 2022

Founded in 2016 by Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp with South African co-founder Dean Hiine, Talk360 enables low-cost international calls to landlines and mobiles, even when recipients lack internet access. The pay-as-you-go service charges about $0.21 per minute from South Africa and $0.14 from Nigeria and is supported by a network of more than 500,000 physical points of sale across Africa. The platform has amassed a global user base of over six million people and generates approximately $12 million in annual revenue, recently reaching overall profitability. Looking ahead, the company is rolling out Shop360, which lets users send airtime, data bundles, and top-ups to contacts worldwide; payments for this feature are processed through its own infrastructure firm, NjiaPay. Management says the focus is shifting from rapid expansion to building a more resilient, trust-based communications platform. To date, Talk360 has raised $12.8 million in funding and positions itself as the most accessible option for Africa-focused international callers, competing with players like Rebtel and Libon.

Led · Series A · May 2021

iXperience provides progressive, career-focused education programs and services, evolving from a coding bootcamp into an edtech provider that partners with institutions and consumers. The company uses a proprietary technology platform to create and rapidly launch immersive learning experiences. It claims over 2,500 alumni and sources instructors and students from top international universities. iXperience works with partners including the University of Virginia, WorldStrides, and Bar Ilan University. Founders Aaron Fuchs and Rafi Khan started the company in 2013. The company plans to expand its team, further develop its tech platform, launch programmes across new markets, and build a global strategic partnerships division.