REAL TIME VC & PRIVATE EQUITY DEALS AND NEWS
Gro Intelligence, the New York and Nairobi, Kenya-based agricultural data analytics business used by investment professionals, major corporations, governments and international organizations around the world, raised a Series A-2 financing of undisclosed amount.
Shortlist, a Mumbai, India-based employment tech startup, raised $1m in seed funding.
TLcom Capital, a London, UK and Nairobi, Kenya-based venture capital firm, raised $40m in the first close of its newest Africa fund.
Bamba, a Nairobi, Kenya-based data collection startup, closed its US$1.1m (Kes. 110m) first seed funding round.
d.light, a San Francisco, CA Nairobi, Kenya, and New Delhi, India-based provider off-grid solar solutions, raised $10.5m in additional funding.
d.light, a provider of solar energy solutions for households and small businesses around the world, secured $22.5m in financing.
KawiSafi Ventures, a $100m private equity impact fund, has launched operations with its first investment in Bboxx (read here).
mSurvey, a Nairobi, Kenya-based global mobile-first research platform leveraging SMS and mobile messaging technology to simplify access to on-demand data from the emerging world, received a strategic investment of undisclosed amount.
Andela, a global tech talent provider, raised $24M in Series B funding.
Andela, a Lagos, Nigeria-based selective technology training program in Africa, raised a Series A round of funding. The financial terms of the deal weren’t announced. The round was led by Spark Capital with participation from Omidyar Network, LearnCapital and other investors from North America and Africa. In conjunction with the funding, Spark Capital general partner […]
BitPesa, a Nairobi, Kenya-based bitcoin remittance platform, raised $1.1m in funding. The round was led by Pantera Capital Management LP with participation from Crypto Currency Partners LP, Stephens Investment Management LLC, Bitcoin Opportunity Corp. and Future/Perfect Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Dan Morehead of Pantera Capital Management joined BitPesa’s board of directors. The company […]
AutoXpress, an East Africa-based tyre wholesaler and retailer, received a 36% equity investment from global emerging market investor Actis. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed. The company will use the proceeds to accelerate its expansion across East Africa. Led by Managing Director Sandeep Shah, AutoXpress is a distributor and retailer of tyre, battery […]
Kopo Kopo (The name comes from kobboh kobboh, the Krio word for money), a Nairobi, Kenya-based mobile money merchant services platform, received an investment from Accion. Accion made the investment through Venture Lab, its $10m seed-capital initiative to invest in and support innovative start-up companies that help expand global financial inclusion for the world’s poor. […]
Emerging markets fund manager LeapFrog Investments held the initial close for its second fund at US$204m. Supporter included MetLife Inc., Prudential (USA), XL Group, Achmea, PartnerRe and Swiss Re, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Christian Super and TIAA-CREF, CDC, DEG, the European Investment Bank, FMO, and Oikocredit. Led by Andrew Kuper, President and Founder, LeapFrog Investments […]
eleni LLC, a Nairobi, Kenya-based newly formed company which will incubate and support the formation of commodity exchanges across Africa, has received a $5m equity investment. Backers included Morgan Stanley and IFC (International Finance Corporation), part of the World Bank Group, which will invest up to $2.5m. Led by CEO Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, and co-founders […]