What Halkin does

Halkin Group is a private, London-headquartered diversified investment holdings company operating as an Africa-focused investment and advisory platform, founded in 2017 and staffed by 11-50 employees. The group is organized around three wholly-owned subsidiaries that together cover the full advisory-to-execution lifecycle: Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory (DIA/DIS) delivers infrastructure consulting across aviation, buildings, highways, bridges, oil and gas, ports, power, railway, transport planning, and water/wastewater, structured around PPP, BOT, BOO, and private equity financing models; Barings Investment Partners (BIP) provides strategic advisory, capital markets solutions, mergers and acquisitions, and specialized financial services such as illiquid asset and real estate valuation; and Mandrill Dynamics supplies AI-powered UAV technology for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), including object detection, facial recognition, LiDAR/photogrammetry mapping, predictive maintenance, edge AI, sentiment analysis, and integration with BMS and C4ISR frameworks.

The platform is built on a deliberate, selective, relationship-driven go-to-market model and serves four primary customer segments: investors and founders (private equity, venture, family offices, and startups), corporates (mid-to-large companies seeking Africa market entry), governments (African ministries, parastatals, and PPP counterparties), and defense/security agencies (military, law enforcement, border protection). Mandrill Dynamics contributes the group's primary technology surface through UAV hardware and AI-driven software, including ISR solutions enabling multi-UAV control from a single Ground Control Station, ISR training, and AI-enabled edge decision-making in connectivity-constrained environments.

Halkin generates revenue through professional services fees (advisory, consulting, valuation) across investment banking and infrastructure verticals, alongside hardware and service revenue from the Mandrill Dynamics UAV business. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to specific client mandates and project scope rather than published. The group maintains a London primary headquarters at 15 Berkeley Square, a Nairobi regional headquarters serving as the Africa hub, and additional Deansgate offices in three other locations globally, reflecting its positioning between international capital markets and African project delivery.

Name

Halkin

Legal name

Halkin Group

Website

https://halkin.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Halkin Group is a private London-headquartered diversified investment holdings company operating an Africa-focused advisory platform with three subsidiaries in infrastructure consulting, investment banking, and AI-powered UAV technology, serving investors, corporates, governments, and founders across African and growth markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment and Advisory Services

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (551), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Investment Advice (6282), Finance Services (6199), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL), Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) & Multirotor Drones (IMABAIAA)

Keywords

• Investment advisory services
• Infrastructure consulting
• Capital markets advisory
• UAV surveillance solutions
• Africa-focused private equity

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Investment and Advisory Services: Capital raising, strategy, and execution-led mandates for investors, corporates, governments, and founders across Africa. Includes M&A advisory, capital markets solutions, and strategic partnerships.
2. Infrastructure Consulting: Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory provides comprehensive consulting across aviation, buildings, highways, bridges, oil and gas, ports, power, and transport sectors. Services include planning, design, construction management, and operations.
3. UAV Technology and Solutions: Mandrill Dynamics provides AI-powered drone technology, ISR solutions, and advanced software for law enforcement, border protection, military, and infrastructure inspection applications.
4. Specialized Advisory: Barings Investment Partners provides specialized services including illiquid financial asset solutions, real estate valuation, transaction advisory, and portfolio valuation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Halkin Group is an Africa-focused investment and advisory platform that originates, structures, and executes opportunities across infrastructure, financial services, aerospace and defence, and technology. It operates three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory (DIA/DIS) delivers engineering consultancy across aviation, buildings, highways, bridges, oil and gas, ports, power, and transport; Barings Investment Partners (BIP) provides strategic advisory on M&A, capital raising, and specialized financial services; and Mandrill Dynamics supplies AI-powered UAV technology and ISR solutions for military, law enforcement, border protection, and infrastructure inspection.

Product overview

Halkin Group is an Africa-focused investment and advisory platform operating three distinct subsidiaries. The core structure includes: (1) Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory (DIA/DIS) providing infrastructure consultancy across aviation, buildings, highways, bridges, energy, maritime, power, railway, transport planning, and water/wastewater sectors; (2) Barings Investment Partners (BIP) offering strategic advisory on M&A, capital markets, and specialized financial services; and (3) Mandrill Dynamics specializing in AI-powered UAV technology and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions. The portfolio is organized as a platform with distinct subsidiary brands serving infrastructure, finance, and technology sectors across African markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory: Infrastructure advisory subsidiary specializing in PPP, BOT, BOO financing models for aviation, buildings, highways, bridges, oil and gas, ports, and power sectors
• Barings Investment Partners
• Mandrill Dynamics

Products and services

• Investment and Advisory Services (via Barings Investment Partners) Strategic advisory and capital solutions platform providing merger and acquisition advisory, capital raising, and specialized financial services for investors, corporates, governments, and founders across Africa and growth markets. Includes M&A advisory, capital markets solutions, and special situations mandates.
• Aviation Consultancy Services (via Deansgate)
• Building Sector Consultancy (via Deansgate)
• Highway and Bridge Solutions (via Deansgate)
• Energy Solutions (via Deansgate)
• Maritime Infrastructure Services (via Deansgate)
• Power Solutions (via Deansgate)
• Railway and Transit Services (via Deansgate)
• Transport Planning Services (via Deansgate)
• Water and Wastewater Services (via Deansgate)
• Strategic Transactions Advisory (via Barings Investment Partners)
• Capital Markets Advisory (via Barings Investment Partners)
• Specialized Financial Advisory (via Barings Investment Partners)
• ISR Solutions (via Mandrill Dynamics)
• ISR Training (via Mandrill Dynamics)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mott MacDonald: Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy covering transport, energy, buildings, and water. Direct overlap with Deansgate's infrastructure advisory offerings across PPP advisory and project management.
• WSP Global: WSP is a global professional services consultancy in transportation, property, environment, and energy. Comparable to Deansgate's highways, bridges, transit, and aviation advisory practice from a large-scale incumbent perspective.
• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with deep aviation, transportation, water, and energy capabilities. Comparable to Deansgate Infrastructure Advisory as a broad incumbent in the same infrastructure advisory categories across multiple continents.
• Rothschild & Co: Rothschild & Co is a global advisory firm providing M&A, restructuring, and capital markets services with long-standing Africa presence. Comparable to Barings Investment Partners as a broad incumbent in investment advisory with overlapping cross-border M&A capability.

Regional players

• Standard Bank Group: Standard Bank is Africa's largest bank by assets with extensive investment banking operations across the continent. Comparable to Barings Investment Partners for Africa-focused M&A advisory and capital raising, but as a regional incumbent serving primarily African-domiciled clients.

Direct peers

• Actis: Actis is a global investor in sustainable infrastructure and private equity with deep Africa exposure across energy, real estate, and growth markets. It is directly comparable to Halkin as an Africa-focused investment and advisory platform targeting infrastructure and capital solutions.
• Helios Investment Partners: Helios is a leading Africa-focused private equity firm investing across consumer, financial services, and infrastructure. Comparable to Halkin for its Africa mandate, capital allocation discipline, and relationship-driven approach to complex markets.
• Tekever: Tekever provides AI-driven unmanned aerial systems for defense, security, and surveillance markets including border and maritime monitoring. Comparable to Mandrill Dynamics as a focused UAS/ISR competitor with overlapping defense and security customer base.
• Shield AI: Shield AI develops autonomous UAVs and AI pilot software for defense and security operations, including ISR and reconnaissance. Directly comparable to Mandrill's autonomous UAV and edge-AI capabilities for military and security customers.
• Anduril Industries: Anduril builds AI-enabled autonomous systems and ISR platforms for defense and security customers. Closely comparable to Mandrill Dynamics as a venture-backed UAS/ISR peer focused on autonomy, sensor fusion, and defense applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HalkinGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Halkin