Led · Equity · Dec 2023

HAIRCAMP operates an online learning service for the beauty industry that launched in 2016, emphasizing a live-seminar feel so users can learn as if seated at the front of an event. The platform has grown to more than 70,000 members, hosts over 1,900 pieces of educational content, and has accumulated over 1 million hours of member learning time. HAIRCAMP reports adoption by more than one in ten hairdressers, deployment at over 1,500 salons, and use in 37 beauty schools to train students before debut. The company aims to build an education infrastructure that raises quality of life for people in the beauty industry and to broaden the definition of “learning.” Going forward it plans to incorporate blockchain and AI technologies to enhance data analysis, personalized learning paths, and industry-wide knowledge sharing. HAIRCAMP is incorporated in Tokyo (founded June 2013) and intends to remain an independent, industry-neutral operator while partnering with aligned companies. HAIRCAMP operates an online learning service and community centered on live-streamed video education and an online salon for professional hairdressers. The platform was launched in 2017 to convert in-person seminars into online live classes with rewind playback, reducing time, location and capacity constraints and improving visibility for attendees. In addition to live interactive sessions, HAIRCAMP runs an exchange-oriented online salon that provides opportunities for both information input and output. The service has grown to be used by roughly one in ten hairdressers. HAIRCAMP focuses on accelerating technical mastery and career progression for stylists while exploring beauty-industry×IT synergies. The company is headquartered in Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and was founded in June 2013.

Participated · Equity · Jul 2023

Zuvy provides invoice financing to small businesses—particularly FMCG vendors servicing large chains—by advancing cash upfront against receivables and offering free invoice and purchase-order management software. The platform integrates with WhatsApp so vendors can generate and send invoices without accessing a separate app, while buyers benefit from reduced pen-and-paper errors and streamlined procurement. Vendors can receive advance payments within 24–48 hours, addressing the common 30–60-day receivables gap that ties up working capital. Founded in 2021 by Angel Onuoha (CEO) and Ahmad Shehu (CTO), Zuvy focuses on building a tech stack to scale invoice factoring across Africa. The company plans to expand across Nigeria first and then into other African markets in the near future. It recently secured $4.5 million in mixed debt and equity to fund that expansion and meet growing vendor demand.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2022

Qwili offers a hybrid hardware+software product: a low-cost NFC-enabled smartphone called the Qwili Pula (priced about $60–$70) and a downloadable app that turns phones into point-of-sale devices for selling data, pay-TV subscriptions, groceries and other services. The company pivoted from a B2C wallet play to an agent-focused B2B model after users began reselling digital services, and it has sold over 1,000 phones prior to the pivot. About 500 micro and small merchants currently use the platform (roughly half on Qwili’s phones), and Qwili reports $75,000 in monthly GMV and turnover growth of over 300% from Q1 to Q2 2022. Qwili targets digitally excluded and unbanked customers, enabling informal sellers to earn commissions by selling digital products to their communities. The company plans to use its new funding for app development, hires to improve operations and development, and hardware production, and intends to expand into neighboring Botswana to scale merchant adoption.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2022

Afya Rekod is a patient-centred digital health platform built on blockchain that returns full ownership of medical records to individuals. Its modular suite includes a Patient Portal, a hospital-facing Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, a Diagnostic Center interface for labs, and a Disease Management tool for chronic cases. Since entering beta in May 2020, the service has onboarded more than 40 hospitals and over 150,000 patients and has now launched publicly. The company has struck partnerships with groups such as the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (covering 500 hospitals), Healthy Mind Foundation in Nigeria, and Alchemy in Southern Africa to drive adoption. Fresh capital will fund product scaling and team build-out as Afya Rekod targets deeper expansion in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and eventually global markets. Founded in 2019, the company has not disclosed revenue but is leveraging rapid user growth and strategic alliances to build traction.