Local AI and data annotation startup receives funding from E4E

Enlabeler has received an investment deal from the New VC fund Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs (E4E) Africa (see this story).

E4E selected the innovative AI and data annotation startup for its focus on creating job opportunities for marginalised South Africans.

Enlabeler has received an undisclosed amount in investment funding from E4E

Due to Enlabeler’s viability as a business, the company aims to achieve profitability as soon as possible and will use the funding to meaningfully kickstart its operations.

Philani Sangweni, Managing Partner at E4E Africa comments on the investment placed into Enlabeler.

“Enlabeler is a perfect example of the kind of company we want to invest in. It combines the latest in innovation and technology with the ability to scale globally, while empowering ordinary South Africans.”

Enlabeler

Established in 2019, Enlabeler grew out of a project by Cape AI, who passed on the baton to the current leadership to secure funding. The startup aims to merge the need for accurate video, text, image, and audio labeling with the urgent need for job creation and employment opportunities. Since launching, the startup’s live image annotation, audio transcription, and local language services has attracted a number of local clients.

Enlabeler has built a strong and diverse leadership team, including Merwe Roux (CTO), who comes with years of experience across multiple industries including telecommunications, online classifieds and the world of higher education, Tumelo Setlaba (Head of Operations & Training), who has a background various business roles within multinational companies including Uber, Media24, and Jumia, Katlego Madisha (Dev Ops Manager), a data science enthusiast with interest in cognitive machine learning, and Bulelani Mbali (Technical Operations Manager), a growing data science talent. It expects to see further growth soon.

According to the startup, it has grown a person-strong database of over 250 ‘human labelers’. In addition, the startup has established a presence in both Kenya and South Africa with plans for further expansion into the rest of Africa.

According to the startup, their ethos is embedded in creating an inclusive and tech-driven environment for highly motivated young people to gain work experience, earn a salary, learning a new space, and ultimately grow into the South African data science and tech spaces.

Enlabeler will utilise all the advantages associated with using a South African workforce including, proficiency in English, competitive wages and pricing, a level of high technical skills, and a range more of factors.

Esther Hoogstad CEO and co-founder at Enlabeler comments on the investment received by E4E.

“As important as this initial funding is, what really attracted us to E4E was their expertise as seasoned entrepreneurs and the relationships to which they could introduce us. We rate the team highly as entrepreneurs and are proud to be associated with them.”

E4E

Entrepreneurs 4 Entrepreneurs (E4E) Africa entrepreneur centric investment fund. Aimed at early-stage startups, it has a particular focus on diversity in the innovation and technology spaces.

Founded by a blend of entrepreneurs and aligned institutional investors, all the E4E Africa partners have significant experience in the South African startup ecosystem.

Alongside capital, this means that E4E Africa is uniquely positioned to provide entrepreneurs with the relevant knowledge necessary to create thriving businesses and impact at scale.

Read more: Entrepreneur-driven Venture Capital Fund E4E Africa launches in SA
Read more: Nigerian transport startup secures $300 000 investment

Featured image: (Left to right) Merwe Roux (CTO), Esther Hoogstad (CEO),  Bulelani Mbali (Technical Operations Manager), (Supplied)