These are the local startups that made news this April.
GIRAFFE, the low-cost automated recruitment service, closed a Seed Round of funding led by Silicon Valley-based venture firm Omidyar Network.
Giraffe’s automated mobile recruitment app enables businesses to recruit medium-skilled staff faster and cheaper than any other way, and connects medium-skilled jobseekers with opportunities for free.
“Omidyar Network’s focus on job creation and particular expertise in marketplace networks makes them an excellent strategic fit for Giraffe,” said Anish Shivdasani, CEO and cofounder of Giraffe. “We’re very proud to have a Silicon Valley investor supporting a South African company, especially at this troubled time of prevailing economic malaise.”
ZOONA, the African fintech company this month crossed an important milestone in its history.
Since launching in 2009, the mobile payments company, has processed over $1 billion in money transfers, bill payments and other financial services through its network of entrepreneur agents.
Zoona develops a fintech platform which enables entrepreneurs to provide mobile money services to unbanked or underbanked consumers. Zoona has been described as bringing the Uber model to mobile finance and remittances industry.
Mike Quinn, Zoona’s CEO, said that: “Zoona was born from an idea in a text message. Today we have an important milestone on our journey to become a billion dollar business that helps communities thrive.”
ASIMMETRIC, the Cape Town-based Wi-Fi start-up has raised a “seven-figure US dollar amount” in new funding from venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, according to a Techcentral report.
Founded by experts in the telecommunications industry, Asimmetric develops tools to help Wi-Fi service providers monitor the performance of their hotspots remotely.
The investment round was led by Avidan Ross’s Root Ventures, an early-stage venture fund focused on hardware, logistics and manufacturing and engineering design, Asimmetric said in a statement. Ross will join the company’s board of directors.
CUSTOS MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES raised a US$265 000 seed round from a South African private investor, and New York-based Digital Currency Group (DCG), an active seed investor in the digital currency industry with 60 investments in 20 countries.
The startup which is based in Stellenbosch has devised new technology that could be the answer to online piracy of films, television and music. The system uses Bitcoin technology to track the distribution of pre-released products.
The system uses Bitcoin technology to track the distribution of pre-released products.
