Joburg startup investment platform Merge partners with 100 VCs

Johannesburg-based startup investment platform Merge has announced that it has partnered with 100 Venture Capital (VC) investors since early 2021.

The company’s number of users has grown to 3 000 with a thousand entrepreneurs and investors connected on the platform.

“We have successfully launched a platform that provides access to opportunity for all startups and angel investors, as we continue to improve and grow the experience for these individuals, we have begun setting our sights on working with bigger players in the space, and in doing so have incorporated a new player on our platform, VCs,” Co-Founder and COO, Brandon Bate, said in a statement.

The rate of deal-making on the continent has increased exponentially since 2017.

Available as an app, Merge connects startup entrepreneurs with potential investors to secure investment.

In addition, it offers direct communication with industry professionals as well as programmes to incentivise and showcase platform members.

“As Merge started gaining more traction throughout the continent, we have seen an influx of quality African startups that are looking for Venture Capital finance to take their venture to the next level,” Co-Founder and CEO, Zander Matthee explained.

“We aim to service this need by working with African-focused VCs and funds to take these startups to the world.”

Notable VCs working with Merge include Kingson Capital, CRE Ventures, PlayVentures, Bitkraft, and Ingressive Capital.

The company is now active across four continents. It aims to establish a global ecosystem for all startup industry stakeholders.

Merge: Investment in Africa surges despite COVID-19

According to the company, 933 African startups reported receiving VC deals between 2014 and 2020.

The rate of deal-making on the continent has increased exponentially since 2017.

In 2020, startups reported 319 VC deals, more than double the number reported in 2019. That number accounts for more than a third of all reported deals during the last seven years.

At the same time, international capital accounted for 78% of the flow into Africa while domestic capital made up 28%.

This, Merge said, is significant given the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also emphasizes the resilience of the industry and the continent’s potential growth.

To sign up to Merge, investors and business owners can register and sign in using an email address to start corresponding with each other.

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Featured image: Supplied