Investors update: VC funding drives marketing tech growth in Africa
3 min Read January 26, 2023 at 12:34 PM UTC
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VC funding drives marketing tech growth in Africa
Highlights
- Twelve marketing tech startups in Africa raised capital last year, up 20% in 2021, and between them, these startups banked $34.7 million, per Disrupt Africa.
- This represented 1% of the total funding secured by African startups and was an increase of 242% in 2021. The sector maintained strong growth in this regard, with 2021 having been up 281.5% in 2020.
- A major benefit of online marketing is cost, meaning startups are more likely to adopt a digital-first approach to marketing. Demand is growing, and though investor interest remains nascent, notable rounds have occurred.
Source: Disrupt Africa
Our Takeaway
Millions of people around Africa now spend more of their time online, mainly. The penetration rate of smartphones in sub-Saharan Africa is growing the fastest in the world, and it is expected to cover 67% of the population by 2025. This means businesses have to increasingly target consumers on social platforms through the constantly evolving practice of digital marketing. But beyond social media ads, a few startups have emerged offering software solutions that help African businesses optimize digital marketing tasks across online platforms.
BasiGo and AVA to assemble electric buses in Kenya
Highlights
- BasiGo, the Kenyan-based electric manufacturer has partnered with Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd (AVA) to assemble its buses in the country.
- The two companies aim to manufacture over 1,000 electric buses in the next three years, hoping to create over 300 new manufacturing jobs and an additional 300 jobs in the ecosystem of charging, maintenance and financing.
- This partnership will also see the company assemble 33-seater buses as the company seeks to phase out the 25-seater buses used in the pilot project guided by feedback from Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators.
Source: ABC
Our Takeaway
The acceptance of electric vehicles is gaining momentum. In 2020, there were more than 11 million registered EVs globally, and the number is expected to hit 145 million by 2030. Things are going at a much slower pace in Africa, however. In Kenya, EV adoption is currently at 5% of the total vehicles and for the most part, are private vehicles. But the latest developments suggest that might change soon, with the recent launch of the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network in Nairobi to be traversed only by green vehicles and initiatives by EV startups like BasiGo.
Uganda’s Agro Supply bags $200k to accelerate growth
Highlights
- Catalyst Fund recently announced a $2 million investment in 10 startups developing solutions to improve the resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate change in Africa, including Agro Supply from Uganda.
- This is the first cohort of startups to receive funding from Catalyst Fund’s new $30M investment fund, backed by the financial sector development agency FSD Africa.
- The fund is aimed at helping early-stage founders develop technologies that will make Africa less susceptible to the impact of climate change.
Source: ABC
Our Takeaway
Africa sees huge impacts of climate change, despite not being responsible for the current level of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. In Nigeria, for instance, up to 34 out of its 36 states experienced floods last year, affecting households, businesses, farmlands, as well as oil and gas facilities. More than 3 million people were affected and over 1.4 million are displaced per the UN. In light of this, nowhere promises bigger business opportunities than in Africa given the need to reinvent all sectors.
This material has been presented for informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed in the articles above are generalized and may not be appropriate for all investors. The information contained in this article should not be construed as, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or hold, an interest in any security or investment product. There is no guarantee that past performance will recur or result in a positive outcome. Carefully consider your financial situation, including investment objective, time horizon, risk tolerance, and fees prior to making any investment decisions. No level of diversification or asset allocation can ensure profits or guarantee against losses. Articles do not reflect the views of DABA ADVISORS LLC and do not provide investment advice to Daba’s clients. Daba is not engaged in rendering tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult a qualified professional for this type of service.
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