This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
Our investment
In 2018, British International Investment made a commitment of $12 million to Sawari Ventures Fund I.
Expected impact
Venture capital in Africa remains comparatively nascent and poorly capitalised. By identifying, backing and helping the growth of innovative and scalable companies, Sawari Ventures Fund I is helping support a key element of a healthy and dynamic capital market which in turn supports economic growth, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Key facts
- Status:
- Active
- Region
:
Since 2012, we’ve only invested in Africa and South Asia. Investments outside these regions are from our pre-2012 portfolio.
- Africa, North Africa
- Sector
:
We have seven priority sectors. However, we continue to invest outside these sectors, largely in the most challenging regions, as new investment supporting any sector helps to underpin the private sector, and create jobs and livelihoods for people. For funds, the sectors listed here are those the fund has invested in so far.
- Communications and IT Services, Education, Financial services, Health, Manufacturing
- Investment type
:
We provide capital in three broad ways: direct equity, debt, and intermediated equity (principally through investment funds).
- Intermediated investment
- Fund manager:
- Sawari Ventures
- Start date
:
For direct investments, this is the date British International Investment committed capital to the business or project.
For funds, this is the date that British International Investment committed capital to the fund.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date that the fund invested capital into the business.e
- November 2018
- Amount
:
For direct investments, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the business or project (it may be a combination of equity and debt).
For funds, this is the total amount that British International Investment has committed to the fund.
- $12m
- Domicile
:
This is the investee company’s place of incorporation; or a fund’s jurisdiction.
- Netherlands
Investments made by this fund
- Active
- Exited
| Investment name | Country | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Smart Transport Services and Applications
Swvl is an alternative to public transportation in Egypt. The service offers affordable, quality, convenient and reliable everyday bus rides. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Manufacturing | March 2019 | Active |
|
Almentor Holdings
Almentor.net is an e-learning and professional development network serving the Middle East and Africa. The platform offers video courses and motivational/informative talks in Arabic and English. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Education | December 2019 | Active |
|
Elves
Elves is an Egyptian app-based service. The app enables users to chat with an assistant to help them buy items (online or offline), book flights or hotels, and pay bills. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | February 2020 | Active |
|
MoneyFellows
MoneyFellows is a group lending and savings platform in Egypt, which has has digitised the concept of 'money circles'. Its mobile-based platform has made it more scalable, safe, and efficient. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | February 2020 | Active |
|
GoodsMart
GoodsMart is a Cairo-based online grocery startup. It allows users to order grocery items through an app and then have them delivered to a box installed by GoodsMart at their doorstep. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | May 2020 | Active |
|
Brantu
Brantu is an e-commerce platform in Egypt. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | June 2020 | Active |
|
Expandcart
Expandcart is a platform that enables businesses to sell their products online. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | September 2020 | Active |
|
SiWare/Neospectra
SiWare designs and manufactures sensors. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Health | September 2020 | Active |
|
Fatura
Fatura works in Egypt's FMCG sector, tackling key pain points and offering a digital platform through which FMCG manufacturers and wholesalers can connect directly to retailers. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Communications and IT Services | November 2020 | Active |
|
Flat6Labs Cairo (FAC)
Flat6Labs is a seed funding and venture capital firm working in North Africa. Flat6Labs invests in more than 100 innovative and technology-driven startups. |
Egypt | Africa, North Africa | Financial services | November 2020 | Active |
|
Flat6Labs Tunis (Anava)
Flat6Labs is a seed funding and venture capital firm working in North Africa. Flat6Labs invests in more than 100 innovative and technology-driven startups. |
Tunisia | Africa, North Africa | Financial services | November 2020 | Active |
