Silver Internet Holdings (SIH), has unveiled intentions to invest $10 million in African Startups in 2016 through its investment arm, Silvertree Capital.
With its array of eCommerce platforms which include Click 'n' Compare, Healthcart and recently reacquired PriceCheck among others, the Cape Town-based firm managed to close a successful 2015 at 330% p.a growth with a 25 million consumer base. This brought it to $10 million revenue within barely 2 years since it began operation.
As a result of its success, the company now looks to invest that $10 million in upcoming talented online companies to join its fast-expanding owner-operator portfolio.
According to Manuel Koser, SIH Founder and MD: “Our meteoric growth in 2015 has been driven by execution-focused delivery across all of our portfolio companies, as well as a number of company acquisitions that are already delivering positive returns. Our job now is to build on this momentum to maintain our aggressive growth trajectory and cement our dominance in the African eCommerce and price comparison markets.”
SIH looks to invest in tech-powered, niche commerce companies, first in South Africa and then spreading to other emerging markets in Africa. SIH founder and MD, Peter Allerstorfer is however quick to point out that the company is neither an incubator or a VC: "we are in the business of building businesses, through accelerated, highly targeted investment and growth strategies, with proven businesses," he says, "we are entrepreneurs who invest in like-minded entrepreneurs. Our search for young, dynamic, hungry talent who want to scale faster and outpace their competitors, will be a key focus for us in 2016.”
Photo Credit: John McCloy via Compfight cc
