Denis Opudo
Various organizations had taken roles by ensuring the investing companies in South Africa run smoothly. Here are some of the recognized startups that invested and gained good returns in 2017 in South Africa.
The Bloemfontein based startup developed some algorithms that link buyers and producers through predictions that reflect the behaviors of expected purchases. The startup got a $2 million Investment from King and Bay Wes a Canadian based bank in June 2017.
The startup was founded by the students from the University of Cape Town. WhereIsMyTransport majors in making transport easier. The company got an investment of $1.5 million from Bombardier, the Global Innovation Fund (GIF), and Goodwell Investments in 2017. In the same year, the startup emerged as the winner at the annual summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) in Leipzig Germany by winning the 2017 Promising Transport Innovation Award.
Aerobotics is a Cape Town based startup that analyzes data which helps farmers in optimizing the yields and reducing cost via aerial data. Early 2017 the company managed to get $600,000 funding from Savannah Fund in Kenya and SA venture capital company 4Di Capital. The startup was shortlisted to take part in the Launchpad Google initiative.
Luno is a South African Bitcoin exchange platform. The startup has stretched its services to Europe hence gaining an additional investment of $9 million. The platform garnered some successful Series B funding spearheaded by Balderton Capital which is a venture capital firm based in London, Digital Currency Group and AlphaCode which are South African companies also took part.
SnapnSave is a shopping community-based in Cape Town. The company attracted investment worth $1 million from Kalon Venture Partnersa South African Venture Capital Company and Smollan Group SA retail Solution Company based in South Africa.
Libryo is based in both Cape Town and London. The company managed to get $1 million seed round of funding in October 2017. Nextlaw Labs and Seedcamp were part of the European investors that took part in the seed funding.
GetSmarter got the largest South African tech startup investment in 2017. The Cape Town-based startup announced in May 2017 that it was bought by 2U a US-based firm at a deal of $103 million which included an earn-out option of $20 million.
CarZar.co.zah is a Cape Town based startup that offers an online marketplace for car sellers and buyers. In May 2017, the company got $1.5 million investment from Vostok New Ventures a Swedish company.
The Sun Exchange
The Sun Exchange is a blockchain startup based in Stellenbosch. The company allows anyone globally to either lease or own a solar panel which helps them in generating income through powering of communities and businesses. The company managed to get a $1.6 million investment from South African venture capital company Powerhouse, TechStars, Kalon Venture Partners and Network Society.
Mobenzi gives a mobile interface for frontline workers. The startup garnered an investment worth $1.2 million from the Vumela Fund that later on possessed minority shares in the startup.
