Participated · Series A · Jan 2023

Jetstream Africa operates an e-logistics platform that vertically aggregates fragmented logistics and financing vendors to serve cargo owners in cross-border trade. The company underwrites short-term loans (15–90 days) backed by actual shipments, taking a security interest in cargo and disbursing funds directly to vendors across the supply chain. After pivoting to focus solely on import-export customers, Jetstream now functions as a freight forwarder offering end-to-end movement plus trade finance. The startup has disbursed about $9 million in total loans to date (up from a $1 million debt facility in 2021) and has scaled from one loan per month to up to 50 loans per month. It reports being EBITDA positive, with revenue growth of 48% and active customers up 102% year-over-year; shipments are 47% air, 44% ocean and 9% ground. The team of 44 plans to use the new capital to expand into additional countries (it currently operates in 29 markets, 12 in Africa) and continue developing its technology platform.

Led · Equity · Sep 2022

Alima provides a data-driven platform that digitizes and optimizes procurement, transport and traceability for perishable produce using AI and analytics to reduce spoilage. Businesses can order as late as 10 p.m. and receive deliveries by 7 a.m., and the platform supports tax invoices, payments, checkout and spend tracking. The company offers roughly 800 SKUs today and says it will source specialized items on demand to avoid customers needing multiple suppliers. Alima started in June 2021 and initially focused on restaurants and hotels; it is expanding into schools, hospitals, CPG factories, retailers and export trades, and plans to add more food categories such as meat. The service also aims to improve price transparency and reduce supply-chain links for farmers and distributors. The company cites Frubana as its closest competitor but is focused specifically on the perishable-supply-chain niche and pursuing full vertical integration. Alima reports 600 customers, revenue growth of 10x since January, and continued double-digit month-to-month growth, with an expectation to nearly triple customers by the beginning of the year.