Staff Reporter, Author at Ventureburn

Singaporean e-grocer RedMart raises $4.6-million in series A funding
By Staff Reporter on 18 July, 2013
The Singapore-based online grocery store RedMart has closed its Series A round of funding. Yesterday, the company announced that the funding will bring its total sum of investments up to US$4.6-million. RedMart received more than US$3-million from not a venture capitalist, but a tech company. Garena, a local startup that focuses on connecting gamers though a website as well as providing a chat messaging service. RedMart, on the other hand, is a e-grocer that delivers for free if a customer's order is above US$60. Founded in 2011, the young company had US$5-million in annual sales with 11 000 registered users....
88mph partners with Samsung, extends reach of African startups
By Staff Reporter on 17 July, 2013
Startup accelerator 88mph and Samsung Electronics Africa have entered into a partnership to provide three lucky startups, who enter the 88mph programme before 1 August, the chance for placement on the Built for Africa App store, potentially giving a presence on millions of smart devices across Africa, as well as marketing help from Samsung to boot. “88mph is extremely excited about partnering with a company like Samsung, and being a filter for sourcing great products to their platform,” says Kresten Buch, Founder & MD of 88mph. “As an early-stage investor, it's important to create an infrastructure around the startups that...
Startup Blitz: pay-per-meet with group dating site Weaver
By Staff Reporter on 17 July, 2013
The group dating, not-so-dating startup Weaver takes to the stage this week on Startup Blitz. Currently based in Cape Town, founders Kiril Dobrev and Andrew Lynch share their startup pitch and insights. Using the familiarity of friends and some dutch courage, the dating experience hopes to create a platform where people can meet new friends and simply have a good time. Weaver aims to distinguish itself from the run-of-the-mill "creepy dating sites." This is done by focusing on group dating which includes the familiarity and loyal backup of trusted friends. Also, rather than purely focusing on once-off customers aiming to...
Startup Blitz: Supernice on improving brands’ digital engagement
By Staff Reporter on 10 July, 2013
"Innovate. Touch. Create." are the words that Supernice stands for. While aiming to create "not just another app," the startup wants to create fun, engaging and rewarding brand experiences. Our new Startup Blitz, puts Supernice founder Daren Fuchs under the spotlight. Simply put, the startup promotes better user engagement for brands to connect the online with the offline world. This is done by designing digital widgets ranging from web, mobile to touch and gesture-based applications focused on improving interactive digital experiences. So far Supernice's portfolio includes applications for Adidas and The Bubbleheads as well as an environmental awareness iPad game called POP...
MEDO offers ‘trip-of-a-life-time’ to ICT entrepreneurs
By Staff Reporter on 4 July, 2013
Between MEDO(Micro Enterprise Development Organisation) and BT (British Telecom) Global Services, 11 entrepreneurial businesses have the opportunity to get training as well as exposure to business and investment partners at the International Trade Programme this November. Entrepreneurs, who have small businesses operating within the Information, Communication and Technology sectors, are invited to apply for the next International Trade Programme. All entries will be evaluated and the selected entrepreneurs will be placed on the programme. Those who triumph during ‘bootcamp’ will go on the next trade visit to the UK in November 2013. Apart from exposure and the "trip-of-a-life-time," chosen applicants...
Startup Blitz: OrderIn, online food ordering made simple [Video]
By Staff Reporter on 3 July, 2013
It's 9pm. You're in a lazy mood, but you're hungry. You don't know what to get. You could get the tried and tested pizza from down the road that you love so much, or the budget gatsby from around the corner. But you're not feeling either, you're stumped. In a haze of confusion you revert to habit and start dialing the pizza-place, but then you remember about that online food ordering service you saw on Ventureburn - OrderIn - and everything changes. You go to the website and type in your address. You see that the gatsby shop is...
Microsoft 4Afrika included in Obama’s Washington Fellowship programme
By Staff Reporter on 2 July, 2013
During US president Barack Obama's visit to South Africa last weekend, he announced the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. This fellowship is the new flagship programme under the president’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Part of this programme is Microsoft's 4Afrika initiative, which offers internships across the continent. The Washington Fellowship initiative is an annual programme and will commence next year and will put more than 500 young African leaders through leadership training and mentoring in the United States. This will "also create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to use their new skills to propel economic growth and...
Jobs portal SEEK pumps $20-million into Private Property’s classifieds empire
By Staff Reporter on June 28, 2013
Australian jobs portal SEEK has invested US$25-million (R205.53-million) in One Africa Media (OAM), previously named Private Property Holdings. The deal will help the South African-based classifieds company expand its operations in Africa. A significant portion of the group is owned by Tiger Global Management, the New York-based venture capital fund that already partners with SEEK in other ventures across Asia and Latin America. OAM is best known for its Private Property real...
Mobile Payment Solution ‘Flous’ to hit Egypt, world’s first Arabic mobile wallet
By Staff Reporter on 26 June, 2013
MasterCard, National Bank of Egypt (NBE) in conjunction with mobile network Etisalat, are bringing the mobile payment wallet, "Flous" to Etisalat Egypt's subscribers. Using the Etisalat network, Flous can be deployed on any mobile phone and is being rolled out in phases. Phase one allowing subscribers to transfer money between each other, to load cash onto their phones or take cash out at either Etisalat branches (over 100) or over 300 NBE branches. “Etisalat connects people from around the world, and we have developed some of the world’s most advanced networks by constantly adding value to the infrastructure. Mobile phones can...
Startup Blitz: TaxTim, a helping hand to simplify filing your tax return online
By Staff Reporter on 26 June, 2013
Tax season is upon us once again. For many South Africans this means wading through daunting SARS IRP5 forms all the while hoping we are filling them out correctly. For others, it means paying a professional to do this for them, at a nominal fee of course. Enter TaxTim, a simple, fast and convenient way to file your income tax return online, all with step-by-step help from the little man himself: Tim. Asking you one question at a time in "plain language", TaxTim helps you complete your SARS forms for the small fee of R199. TaxTim is the brainchild of South African...