Uncover, a Kenyan data-driven skincare brand, has successfully closed a $1.4 million seed II funding round to accelerate the growth of its innovative tech platform, introduce new products, and expand its market presence. This round, co-led by EQ2 Ventures and IgniteXL Ventures, saw participation from notable investors such as Chui Ventures, Samata Capital, and Altree Capital. Driving Personalization Through Data Founded in 2021 by Sneha Mehta (CEO), Jade Oyateru (COO), and Catherine Lee, Uncover has distinguished itself in the beauty industry by focusing on the unique skin care needs of
Cadana has raised $7.1 million in seed funding this year. Launched in 2021, the startup allows global workforces to integrate payments and payroll management into their systems. Cadana According to the company, the world’s largest payroll platforms and talent marketplaces use Cadana’s APIs to build compliant hiring products in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Founders Albert Owusu-Asare and Ameer Shujjah, who are originally from Ghana and Pakistan, gained years of experience working at Amazon, Esusu, and Goldman Sachs before founding the company. Although the pair appreciated their version of the
Crowdaa, a French company founded by Vigile Hoareau and Jimmy Thomas, has secured €1.2 million ($1.29M) in a seed round led by Apicap. The company aims to make app creation accessible to non-developers, allowing them to release mobile apps quickly. Initially focusing on music, Crowdaa expanded its services during the pandemic to cater to a broader audience, including sports teams, organizations, and political parties. This new funding will enable Crowdaa to enhance its technology and embark on an ambitious US expansion. Innovative Solutions For Content Creators Crowdaa’s platform allows users
Partech, a global technology investment firm, has closed its second Africa-focused fund, Partech Africa, at over €280 million ($300 million). Partech Africa The achievement surpasses its initial target of €230 million, marking Partech Africa as the largest fund dedicated to African startups. Partech Africa partners with entrepreneurs who combine technology and operational excellence to address large opportunities across the continent. The African startup landscape experienced a downturn in investment activities in 2023, with venture capital inflows decreasing to between $2.9 billion and $4.1 billion. This contrasted the $4.6 billion to
Heex Technologies has completed a seed round of €6 million ($6.5M) to support those in tech to exploit AI’s formidable capabilities while reducing its carbon footprint. Heex Technologies Heex Technologies is a startup that accelerates AI development by enabling engineering teams to extract the most value from their data. Heex provides customers with a platform that allows them to target relevant data and share it with the right users for purposes such as supervision, system monitoring, or continuous software improvement. Founded in 2019, the startup initially focused on autonomous vehicles. However, new
MM, a dating app that merges technology with real-life experiences, has raised £600K ($750K) in seed funding. The Dating App MM MM, launched in 2019, is a dating and events technology app merging AI with real-life events designed to help singles connect both in the app and in person. The company hosts events and experiences tailored for members to meet and network in person while doing the things they enjoy. MM is available to and has members from all races and genders but considers key cultural nuances within African, Caribbean,
Nigerian automotive tech company Autochek has secured a $13.1 million seed round almost a year after raising $3.4 million pre-seed in November 2020. Pan-African VC firms TLcom Capital and 4DX Ventures led the recent fundraising. These are the same investors that led the startup’s pre-seed round. Other existing investors include Golden Palm Investments, Enza Capital, and Lateral Capital, invested as well. First-time investors included ASK Capital and Mobility 54 Investment SAS, the venture capital arm of Toyota Tsusho and CFAO Group. In total, Autochek has raised $16.5 million in two financing rounds. What service does
Former NFL player Gerome Sapp’s fintech startup, Rares, has just earned $4 million in a seed funding round. MaC Venture Capital led the round on October 11, and other participants included Cake Ventures, Portfolia Rising America Funds I and II, Evolution VC, W Fund, and Gaingels, according to a press release. Launched in April of 2021 by the former NFL player, Rares offers its users fractional ownership through “rare, high-priced sneakers.” The platform’s mission is to give back to the Black community by providing access to the sneaker market “by
An African startup that helps connect consumers’ bank accounts to financial applications has raised a $15 million Series A round. Tiger Global led Mono’s round. The firm also had participation from new investors Target Global, General Catalyst, and SBI Investment. New investors were joined by existing ones, including Entree Capital, Lateral Capital, Golden Palm Investments, Acuity VC, and Ingressive Capital, bringing Mono’s total raise to a little over $17.5 million since launching last year, reported TechCrunch. Launched in August 2020, the company streamlines various financial data in a single API for companies
