MTN
Innovation Centre, 216 14th Avenue, Fairland, Gauteng, 2195, South Africa
Overview
MTN is a JSE-listed multinational company that offers voice and data, mobile financial, enterprise, and digital services. It serves individuals as well as SME, public sector, and corporate clients. The company’s traditional voice and data offerings include voice bundles, data bundles, bonus on recharge, and low-denomination recharge vouchers. Its mobile money product range includes international remittances, savings, lending, and insurance. MTN’s enterprise services are focused on connectivity, communication, cloud, M2M, and enterprise mobility. Through its investments with Rocket Internet AG in Africa Internet Holdings (AIH) and Middle East Internet Holdings (MEIH), MTN aims to to deliver a range of internet services in African continent and in the Middle East, including e-commerce retailing, market place, taxi, travel, classified, and food delivery services. MTN has launched, as part of its entertainment strategy, a host of products and services, including MTN FrontRow: a video-on-demand offering, and MTN Music+: a music streaming and downloading app which aims to promote African music. MTN was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company has operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia. It has ISP licenses in Namibia and Kenya and a Value Added Service license in Ethiopia.
- Total investments
- 4
- Lead investments
- 3
- Investments · 12mo
- 2
- Active investors
- 2
Sector focus
- Delivery Service
- Mobile
- Telecommunications
- Wireless
Investment portfolio
- Konligo
Led · Equity · Jul 2026
Konligo designs and manufactures foldable aluminum structures developed and produced in Belgium for the events industry and related uses. Its best-known products include the Fastival, an 8x4 meter stage roof that can be assembled by two people in under thirty minutes and is rated for wind speeds up to 100 km/h and loads up to 250 kg, and The Tent, a premium tent that can be set up by one person in under five minutes with no pump or tools. The company uses aluminum containing 70–80% recycled material and emphasizes local production and sustainability. Founded in 2018 as a VUB spin-off, Konligo combines technological research with social and sustainable focus. Following the €1.1 million investment, Konligo plans to accelerate global rollout of The Tent, develop larger event structures, and explore applications in the defense sector.
- ODC
Led · Series A · Mar 2026
Oran Development Company builds AI-Native Radio Access Network (AI‑RAN) technology and is the architect of the Odyssey RAN software platform. By integrating AI sensing and inference into the RAN, the company aims to enable telecommunications providers to generate new revenue streams and deliver mission‑critical capabilities across industrial, commercial and public sectors. The company is headquartered in New York City. It recently raised $45M in Series A financing from a group of strategic backers. Previous investors include Phoenix Venture Partners and Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. The company plans to use the proceeds to expand operations and continue development of its platform.
- Snapp
Led · Series A · Oct 2016
Snapp (launched in 2014 as Taxi Yaab) operates a mobile ride-hailing service that matches riders with vetted drivers and inspects vehicles before onboarding. The app uses pre-set trip pricing and relies largely on cash payments to suit Iran’s market. Snapp currently operates only in Tehran, employing 130 staff and roughly 10,000 drivers, and has recorded about half a million users. The company did not disclose revenue or valuation in the article. Management says it will focus on the Iranian market, invest in current operations, expand to other cities, introduce premium vehicles, and roll out new features. Snapp positions local knowledge and its employee base as a competitive advantage for navigating Tehran’s complex traffic and regulatory environment.
- AIG
Participated · Equity · Mar 2016
AIG (Africa Internet Group) operates a network of online ventures anchored by e-retailer Jumia and nine other platforms across categories such as hotels (Jovago), fashion (Zando), employment (Everjobs), real estate (Lamudi), and transportation (EasyTaxi). The company has attracted significant capital to scale e-commerce across Africa and tap the continent’s growing consumer market. AIG announced €300 million ($326 million) in new funding from backers including Goldman Sachs and MTN; the package includes a reported €75 million AXA Insurance commitment. CEO Sacha Poignonnec said the financing brings company equity to €1.005 billion ($1.08 billion), clearing the threshold to be considered Africa’s first startup unicorn. The company did not provide a full breakdown of the round. One of AIG’s best-funded assets, Jumia, received over $200 million between 2012 and 2014 and is reported in the article to be valued at $555 billion.