HAVAÍC
HAVAÍC is a Cape Town-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that invests in early-stage, post-revenue African technology startups across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, managing three funds with over US$100 million in total capital and a 22-23 company portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What HAVAÍC does
HAVAÍC is a Cape Town-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that invests in early-stage, post-revenue African technology businesses with global potential. The firm manages three venture funds — Fund 1 and Fund 2 (fully deployed) and African Innovation Fund 3 (targeting US$50 million, currently at over US$30 million in commitments as of February 2026) — with capital sourced from institutional and individual LPs including SA SME Fund, Sanlam Multi-Manager, Fireball Capital, Universum Wealth, and E Squared Investments. Across a 22-23 company portfolio spanning South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, HAVAÍC has invested in sectors including FinTech (Kuda, NjiaPay, Entersekt, Tanda, FairMoney, SAPay), HealthTech (RecoMed, hearX Group, 3x4 Genetics), SafeTech (AURA), SportTech (Sportable), AgriTech (SwiftVEE), logistics (RNR, MPost), and digital communications (Talk360, Mobiz). Portfolio companies collectively serve 22+ million customers across 183 countries and generated over US$160 million in annual revenue.
HAVAÍC's business model rests on management fees (typically ~2% of committed capital) and carried interest from successful exits, targeting annualised investor returns in excess of 30%. The firm's stated differentiation combines local on-the-ground presence in Africa's three largest tech ecosystems with international networks used to scale portfolio companies abroad and position them for cross-border exits. Notable realized exits include BigTeam to MailChimp (2020), Kuda partial exit (2020), Vula (2020), InstantProp (2022), RapidDeploy to NYSE-listed Motorola Solutions (February 2025) — one of the largest tech exits in South African history — and the hearX Group merger with Eargo forming LXE Hearing backed by US$100 million from Patient Square Capital (April 2025). The firm operates as HAVAIC Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a juristic representative of CAEP Asset Managers (FSP No. 33933), under a partner-led governance model with an Investment Committee chaired by a former Rand Merchant Bank co-head of Investment Banking.
HAVAÍC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HAVAÍC
- Legal name
- HAVAIC Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://www.havaic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HAVAÍC is a Cape Town-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that invests in early-stage, post-revenue African technology startups across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, managing three funds with over US$100 million in total capital and a 22-23 company portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HAVAÍC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital and Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Impact / ESG Venture Capital (FSANAAAG)
Keywords
Where HAVAÍC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
HAVAÍC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: HAVAÍC generates returns by managing venture capital funds, deploying capital into portfolio companies, and realizing profits through trade exits and follow-on investment rounds. The firm targets >30% annualised returns for investors.
- Portfolio Company Returns: The VC firm raises capital from institutional and individual investors across three venture funds, deploying into African tech startups with the aim of delivering market-leading returns through successful exits.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
HAVAÍC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HAVAÍC is a venture capital firm that raises capital from institutional and individual investors and deploys it into early-stage, post-revenue African technology startups with global potential. The firm manages multiple venture funds (Fund 1, Fund 2 / HAVAÍC Universum Core African Fund, and African Innovation Fund 3) and provides post-investment strategic advisory, international reach, and local African networks to support portfolio company scaling and profitable exits. Target sectors include FinTech, HealthTech, SafeTech, SportTech, AgriTech, logistics, and digital communications, with returns realised through trade exits and follow-on investment rounds.
Product overview
HAVAÍC is a Cape Town-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, high-growth, and impactful African technology businesses with global potential. The firm's investment portfolio spans multiple technology sectors including FinTech (Tanda, NjiaPay, Entersekt, Kuda, FairMoney), HealthTech (RecoMed, hearX Group/Lexie Hearing, 3x4 Genetics, Busymed), SafeTech (AURA), SportTech (Sportable), AgriTech (SwiftVEE), LogisticsTech (RNR, MPost), Digital Communication (Mobiz), E-commerce (ShopEx), and Digital Business Solutions (Digital Cabinet, Rather Chat, FinAccess). The portfolio companies collectively serve over 20 million customers across 180+ countries. HAVAÍC manages multiple venture funds including the African Innovation Fund 3 targeting US$50 million and has achieved notable exits including RapidDeploy to Motorola Solutions and the hearX Group merger with Eargo to form LXE Hearing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HAVAÍC Universum Core African Fund (Fund 2) US$20 million pan-African venture capital fund launched in 2020 under a joint venture with Universum Wealth, investing in early-stage, post-revenue African technology startups using technology to solve real-world challenges. Third and final close was completed in May 2022.
- African Innovation Fund 3 (Fund 3) Venture capital fund launched in March 2023 targeting US$50 million to invest in around 15 high-growth African tech startups across fintech, climate tech, digital health, and enterprise SaaS sectors. Third close achieved February 2026 with over US$30 million in commitments; US$10 million deployed across eight companies including SAPay, Entersekt, Talk360, Sportable, NjiaPay, SwiftVEE, RNR, and RapidDeploy.
- HAVAÍC Fund 1 HAVAÍC's first venture capital fund deployed from 2016-2019, backing early-stage African tech startups including Digital Cabinet (July 2016), RecoMed (September 2017), Vula (December 2017), AURA (June 2018), BigTeam (July 2018), InstantProp (October 2018), Mpost (July 2019), 3x4 Genetics (November 2019), Tanda (November 2019), and hearX (December 2019).
Quantifiable outcome
- Portfolio companies serve 22+ million customers globally
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use HAVAÍC
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HAVAÍC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
HAVAÍC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Motorola SolutionscoreAcquired RapidDeploy (HAVAÍC portfolio company) in February 2025 in a landmark transaction marking one of the largest tech exits in South Africa's history.
- EargocorehearX Group (HAVAÍC portfolio company) merged with Eargo to form LXE Hearing in April 2025, backed by additional US$100 million investment from Patient Square Capital.
- CAEP Asset ManagersminorHAVAIC Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a juristic representative of CAEP Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd, FSP No. 33933.
- SAVCAminorMember of Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HAVAÍC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Knife Capital: South Africa-based venture capital firm focused on early- and growth-stage technology businesses across Southern Africa. Most directly comparable peer given shared Cape Town base, similar early-stage African tech focus, and comparable cheque sizes and stage preferences.
- TLcom Capital: Pan-African early-stage venture capital firm investing in African tech startups across multiple geographies. Closely aligned in thesis (early-stage African tech with global potential) and stage (seed to Series A), making it a strong comparable for HAVAÍC's investment approach.
- Aruwa Capital Management: Nigeria-based early-stage venture capital firm focused on Nigerian and West African consumer-facing tech. Comparable as a direct regional peer given overlapping portfolio exposure (Aruwa co-invested in CrowdForce alongside HAVAÍC) and similar early-stage, high-growth African tech investment thesis.
- Novastar Ventures: East Africa-focused venture capital firm backing early-stage consumer-facing businesses. Comparable as a regional peer with similar deal sourcing in Kenya and overlapping portfolio companies, providing a useful benchmark for HAVAÍC's East African exposure.
- Partech Africa: Pan-African venture capital fund managed by Paris-based Partech, investing from seed to Series B across the continent. Comparable as a direct peer given shared pan-African thesis and similar stage range, though typically at larger cheque sizes than HAVAÍC.
- 4Di Capital: Cape Town-based early-stage technology venture capital firm. Direct comparable given shared Cape Town base, focus on early-stage South African tech startups, and similar fund size and stage preferences.
- Launch Africa Ventures: Pan-African venture fund focused on early-stage African tech startups, with investments across multiple African markets. Comparable as a direct peer given shared early-stage, pan-African tech focus and similar cheque sizes.
- Ingressive Capital: Lagos-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in African tech startups, primarily pre-seed and seed. Comparable as an early-stage African tech investor with similar thesis around African tech scalability, though with a stronger West Africa concentration.
Regional players
- Convergence Partners: Pan-African private equity firm focused on technology, media, and telecommunications across Africa. Comparable as a regional peer investing in African tech businesses, though operating at later stages (growth/buyout) than HAVAÍC's seed focus.
Others
- SA SME Fund: South African government-backed fund-of-funds and direct investor supporting SME and venture funding. Connected through its LP relationship to HAVAÍC's Fund 3 and shared mission of catalysing institutional capital into SA venture.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HAVAÍC social profiles
Digital presenceHAVAÍC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HAVAÍC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
HAVAÍC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HAVAÍC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments44 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HAVAÍC
What does HAVAÍC do?
HAVAÍC is a venture capital firm that raises capital from institutional and individual investors and deploys it into early-stage, post-revenue African technology startups with global potential. The firm manages multiple venture funds (Fund 1, Fund 2 / HAVAÍC Universum Core African Fund, and African Innovation Fund 3) and provides post-investment strategic advisory, international reach, and local African networks to support portfolio company scaling and profitable exits. Target sectors include FinTech, HealthTech, SafeTech, SportTech, AgriTech, logistics, and digital communications, with returns realised through trade exits and follow-on investment rounds.
Is HAVAÍC a public or private company?
HAVAÍC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HAVAÍC founded?
HAVAÍC was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HAVAÍC based?
HAVAÍC is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does HAVAÍC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are portfolio Company Returns.
Who are HAVAÍC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Knife Capital, TLcom Capital, Aruwa Capital Management, Novastar Ventures, Partech Africa, 4Di Capital, Launch Africa Ventures and Ingressive Capital. Convergence Partners is listed as a regional player. SA SME Fund is listed as an others.
Does HAVAÍC have an API?
No public API is recorded for HAVAÍC.
What industry is HAVAÍC in?
HAVAÍC's product category is Venture Capital and Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAG, Impact / ESG Venture Capital. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.