Global growth equity firm opens new Cape Town office

Activant Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building the next generation of fintech and e-commerce, has announced the expansion of its research and due diligence capabilities with a new office in Cape Town, South Africa.

The firm has built a portfolio of more than 35 leading private and public companies, including Deliverr, Bolt, and Jokr, across four continents, focusing on entrepreneurs evolving the way we conduct traditional commerce and payments. It also has offices in Greenwich, Connecticut, and opened an office in Berlin, Germany in 2021 to double down on the European region.

The opening of an office in Cape Town, headed by research director Robert Lamprecht, signals Activant Capital’s deep commitment to data, research, and due diligence, believes Activant founder and general partner Steve Sarracino.

He says the research team will use Activant’s proprietary software platform Aristotle to create deep-dive market maps, detailing up-and-coming companies, competitor analysis, and macroeconomic trends to provide a comprehensive view of the three key sectors it focuses on: fintech, e-commerce, and supply chain.

The research will assist Activant in creating a deep repository of knowledge on market trends, sourcing new deals, and evaluating strategic growth plans for portfolio companies.

“We’re excited to put down roots in Cape Town. Activant has always been a thesis-led firm; by focusing intensely on a few key sectors – commerce infrastructure, fintech, and supply chain – we can find, invest in, and support the best founders and companies,” says Sarracino.

“Our Cape Town team allows us to double down on this thesis-first approach. The city offers a deep pool of talent, an amazing quality of life, and shares a time zone with Berlin, making it an ideal location for Activant as we expand.”

Lamprecht joins Activant as research director, bringing over two decades in public equities and analysis experience, which provides him a powerful lens into private market analysis. Prior to joining Activant, he served as chief executive at Renaissance Capital, covering international institutional clients across South Africa, the US, and UK.

He is joined in South Africa by JJ Brink and Jonathan Vickery, both South African natives, with an eye to expand the team in the next two years.

Activant Capital: ‘A fintech and commerce universe’

Lamprecht says, “South Africa, with its emerging tech scene and deep pool of talent, is the perfect location for Activant to double down on research and expand our horizons. Our team’s shared experience in public market analysis will provide a unique, macro approach to private market research, giving Activant a competitive advantage as we continue to invest in exciting, global companies re-thinking the way we make, move, buy and sell products.

“Our capabilities on the research team will create a taxonomy of the fintech and commerce universe, helping to maintain an active database of new and exciting companies and trends in the space.”

High-impact research is key to successful investing in a saturated and ever-changing environment. With a new team and Africa offering a new landscape for tech innovation, Activant is proud to have a presence in South Africa to carry on doing meaningful work to help their portfolio succeed.

Sarracino concludes, “We’re big fans of South Africa’s thriving technology scene and see lots of potential here. Activant invests globally, we now have an office in the region and are excited to meet and back South Africa’s technology companies as part of our global investment approach.”

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