The best thing about South Africa’s growing startup industry is the prevalence of venture capital firms/funds. These organisations are providing financial and development support to our start-ups and turning them into proper working tech companies.
Venture capital (VC) funding is a type of business financing in which investors provide capital to businesses in the start-up and early-growth phases with high growth potential. VCs typically invest money, and technical or managerial expertise in exchange for minority equity ownership.
Today, our focus is venture capital firm Anza Capital (ANZA). The South African VC firm has invested in many start-ups and continues to invest in the best tech start-ups in South Africa. We look at Anza Capital, how the organisation works, and how you can apply.
The Anza Capital Model
ANZA works as a strategic partner for its chosen start-ups. This means that not only does it provide financial support but also expertise, connections and guidance to help its start-ups thrive in their respective competitive markets/industries.
The VC firm’s business model is as follows:
Mentorship and Guidance
Under ANZA, start-ups receive access to a mentor network that supports start-ups. These mentors work with start-ups to refine strategies, navigate challenges and maximise their growth potential.
Network and Connections
ANZA provides start-ups with access to an extensive network of industry contacts, potential customers and strategic partners. This helps start-ups create new partnerships and open doors to new market opportunities.
Workshops and Events
Through ANZA, start-ups go through the TechTribe accelerator programme. Through this initiative, participants get access to workshops, training sessions, and start-up events to boost learning, collaboration and knowledge-sharing amongst ANZA’s portfolio companies.
Access to Further Capital
ANZA provides access to funding at the initial seed phase and follow-on funding to support the growth and scaling of its start-ups. Additionally, the company has a network of possible co-investors who can provide more financing to start-ups in later funding rounds.
Ecosystem Engagement
ANZA has partnered with many other venture builders, incubators, accelerators, and other entrepreneurial support organisations. This helps the organisation remain deeply involved in the broader start-up ecosystem.
ANZA Investment Portfolio
ANZA’s investment portfolio features new technologies, disruptive business models and innovative entrepreneurs. The company has invested in many start-ups under the following categories.
Agri-tech
Under Agri-tech, ANZA has invested in a company called Abiri Innovations. The company provides integrated mapping systems which enable tourism and courier companies to find addresses in townships and rural areas.
Additionally, ANZA has invested in Agri-tech company AgriLoqic. AgriLogiq provides growers and tunnel builders with proprietary poly-greenhouse automation software and hardware components.
Digital Industry
In the digital industry category, ANZA has invested in a company called Adbot. Adbot uses a sophisticated algorithm to find and select the relevant interests, intents, and demographic information for your industry.
HR Tech
In the HR Tech industry, ANZA invested in GWork. GWork uses behaviour research to power its technology and helps organisations by personalising behaviours to help teams and organisations achieve measurable success and meet goals.
BioMedical
Under this category, ANZA’s investment is with Impulse Biomedical. The company provides accessible healthcare innovations and medical technologies to ensure quality healthcare for all people.
EdTech
In the EdTech category, the company invested in is called Koa Academy. The educational platform provides online learning for students in grades 4 – 12.
AI and Data
In this category, ANZA invested in Locstat. The software solutions company has a graph intelligence platform which utilises an ecosystem of capabilities to provide graph querying, mining, advanced analytics, AI and complex event processing on proven modern graphs.
FoodTech
Under FoodTech, ANZA has put capital into a company called TailorBlend. The company uses technology to provide its users with an opportunity to build their own healthy shakes and drinks.
These are just some of the companies and categories ANZA has invested in. You can find out more about the ANZA investment portfolio.
How to Apply to ANZA Capital
To apply to ANZA Capital, there are certain criteria your start-up needs to meet. The criteria is as follows:
- Company must be based in Africa with a focus on South Africa and the SADC region
- Start-up must be in the Seed to Series A stage of development
- Start-up must have two or more founders and founders must be prepared to work closely with ANZA advisors
- Start-up must have financial projections including an income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet, supported by logical and realistic assumptions
- Start-up must have a validated product or technology concept backed by data or expert opinions
- A well-defined pathway to market and plan to achieve market penetration
- The intellectual property of the start-up needs to be protected
- Start-up must have identified its target market and demonstrate demand
- Product or service must have evidence of a large or growing market
- Clear understanding of funds needed and how they will be used for business growth
- Identify potential competitors and identify your company’s points of differentiation
- Must have a well-defined exit strategy for angel investors
If your company meets all the above criteria, you are eligible to send in your application to ANZA Capital. You can complete your online application online.
For more information on venture capital firms, visit SME South Africa. Get your tickets for the SME South Africa Funding Summit today!
