Three tech startups tapped for inaugural Savca Industry Awards

Three SA tech startups — fintech i-Pay, on demand cleaning platform SweepSouth, and meal delivery site Ucook — are among nine companies that have been shortlisted for the inaugura Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca) Industry Awards.

The nominees were announced today (10 August) in a press release by Savca, in partnership with banking and asset managing group Investec.

The awards, which recognise portfolio companies that have thrived from private equity and venture capital investment in the region, will take place on 8 November.

The shortlisted companies range from startups to large companies, and represent various sizes of private equity and venture capital investments.

To be nominated for the Savca Industry Awards, companies have to have been part of a private equity company’s portfolio within the last two years.

Savca CEO Tanya van Lill (pictured above) said the “exceptional” quality of the nominations received made the shortlisting process “very difficult”.

“The shortlist consists of some of the best companies in South Africa and they are not only being recognised for their financial performance, but also for their positive contributions to the country”, she added.

“Winners will be distinctive businesses that stand out among their peers and demonstrate bold and authentic leadership, with a progressive culture that makes a wider contribution to society,” said Van Lill.

Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking head Lourens van Rensburg, commenting in the same statement, said that some of the companies were “excelling” in job creation, innovation, and providing products and services that enable “all South Africans to succeed”.

To be nominated for the awards, companies have to be beneficiaries of private equity and venture capital investment within the last two years. The shortlist of this year’s nominees was drawn up based on analysis by research firm Intellidex.

A panel of seasoned business leaders will select the winners based on innovation, environmental impact, social impact, leadership team and reputation, job creation, as well as evidence of growth — including profit and investor returns.

Large companies

Fidelity Security (nominated by RMB Corvest): An integrated security solutions provider

Tsebo Solutions Group (nominated by Rockwood): Outsourced services provider

Kwikot (nominated by RMB Corvest): Manufacturer and supplier of geysers, heat pumps, water heaters

Medium-sized companies

Vumatel (nominated by Vantage Capital): Open access fibre provider

Royal Schools (nominated by Old Mutual Alternative Investments): Low cost private education provider managing four independent schools.

Tessara (nominated by RMB Ventures): Manufacturer of table grape preservation sheets

Small companies

i-Pay Security Payment (nominated by Kalon Venture Partners): Electronic fund transfer (EFT) processing system that automates EFT transactions and allows users to make instant, secure payments.

SweepSouth (nominated by Edge Growth): Home cleaning platform that connects households with domestic workers.

Ucook (nominated by Silvertree Internet Holdings): Meal kit business that provides fresh foods to households to cook with innovative recipes

Featured image: Savca CEO Tanya van Lill (Supplied)