What stage does HAVAIC invest at?

HAVAIC invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.

Where is HAVAIC located?

HAVAIC is headquartered in Cape Town, ZA.

Does HAVAIC lead rounds?

HAVAIC typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

HAVAIC

Venture capital

Cape Town · Pre-Seed–Series A · 14 people tracked

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Investment thesis

HAVAIC backs early-stage, high-growth, impactful technology companies, seeking innovative products, processes, or platforms that deliver real-world solutions with disruptive growth potential capable of scaling both locally and internationally. Based in Cape Town with investments across South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, the firm combines local knowledge and networks with international reach, strategic support, and capital-raising expertise. This approach aims to maximize the impact and returns for both its portfolio companies and its investors by connecting African innovation with global markets.

Invests inAgTech AI & Machine Learning Deep Tech Energy Fintech Healthtech Impact & Social Good Sector AgnosticAfricaCape TownKenyaNigeriaSouth Africa

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage

Pre-Seed–Series A

Cape Town, ZA

Leads rounds

Follows

Instruments

Equity · Debt

Tracked investments

Team · 14 people

from the firm's website

Ian Lessem· Managing Partner· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Managing Partner with nearly two decades of pan-African fund management and investment banking experience, focused on investing in and advising early-stage, high-growth businesses and skilled at raising capital and preparing companies for international growth and exit.

Kiara Suttner-Tromp· Partnerin

Partner, qualified CA and CFA with over a decade of experience in unlisted investments, bringing financial and analytical expertise and leading HAVAÍC's ESG initiatives.

Rob Heath· Partnerin

Partner and chartered accountant who has worked across Africa, the USA and the UK as an executive, founder and advisor, bringing operational experience and financial acumen to the team.

Tyrone Moodley· Principal· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Principal who co-founded an investment partnership as a teenager, became a partner at a US-based, South Africa-focused fund and one of the youngest JSE directors; recognised by Forbes among 30 Under 30 African entrepreneurs. Focuses on investment origination, portfolio support and exits.

Berit Fehrenbacher in

CA with a BCom in Accounting and over a decade of experience in fund accounting and administration.

Ilke Kemp· Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Investment support and administration professional with a BCom (Hons) in Econometrics and 20 years of experience in investment support, administration and compliance.

Ismaeel Abrahams· Associate· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Associate and CA (SA) with management consulting and assurance experience combining financial modeling and commercial strategy to support African businesses.

Jonathan Schlosberg· City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africain

Investment committee member and former Chairman of Bowmans and head of its Corporate Department, specialising in corporate governance, M&A, capital markets and securities law.

Jonty Levin· United Kingdomin

Investment committee member who spent most of his career at Standard Bank working on transactions across industries and jurisdictions, with expertise in capital instruments and funding structures.

Madimetja Mashilo· Associate· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Associate and CA (SA) with a corporate finance and transaction advisory background, having handled financial due diligence and valuations for large deals across Africa in fintech and renewable energy.

Mphokolo Makara· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Investment committee member and Executive Head of Energy and Infrastructure for East Africa at Standard Bank, with an investment banking career spanning coverage, treasury, transactional banking, structured finance and infrastructure finance.

Nicola Venter· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

Legal professional with an LLB from the University of Stellenbosch and over 10 years of experience across banking and finance, due diligence, compliance and operations.

Rob Hamer· Investment Committee Chair· Sydney, Australiain

Investment Committee Chair, currently Senior Director of Growth Capital at Maia Financial in Sydney and previously co-head of Alternative Investments at Ashburton and co-head of Investment Banking at Rand Merchant Bank.

Steffan Bradley Jantjies· City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africain

CA (SA) leading HAVAÍC's finance and operations function, overseeing financial reporting, fund administration and governance, with senior roles previously held at TMF, Allan Gray, JTC Fund Solutions and Mazars.

What they invest in

from 7 of 21 portfolio companies

Fintech ×4SaaS ×3AdTech ×1AI & Machine Learning ×1B2B Marketplaces ×1Consumer ×1E-commerce ×1Enterprise Software ×1

HQs:South Africa×3Nigeria×2Kenya×1

Investments · 21 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

3X4Genetics3x4genetics.com

Auraaura.servicesin

bose-logo-hearxhearxgroup.comin 𝕏

Crowdforcecrowdforce.ioin 𝕏

CrowdForce operates a mobile app enabling small merchants across Africa to function as banking service points without establishing formal branch infrastructure.

FintechAbuja, NG

Oluwatomi Ayorinde(Founder)inDamilola Ayorinde(Founder)in

Digitalcabinet.Codigitalcabinet.co.za

Entersektentersekt.comin 𝕏

Kuda Bankkudabank.comin 𝕏

Kuda is a digital banking service offering personal and business accounts with money transfers, savings, investments, cards, bill payments, and credit products like overdrafts and loans.

ConsumerEnterprise SoftwareFintech

Mobiz.Comobiz.co.zain 𝕏

Mobiz is an SMS and MMS marketing platform that lets businesses create personalized mobile landing pages with a drag-and-drop builder, run retargeting and automation workflows, and manage two-way customer conversations.

AdTechMarketing TechSaaS

Mpost.Compost.co.ke

MPost converts mobile phone numbers into virtual postal addresses so individuals and businesses can receive mail and parcels, with SMS notifications and automated smart lockers for pickup.

E-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainNairobi, KE

Njiapaynjiapay.comin

Ratherrather.chat

rather.chat is an AI-powered WhatsApp platform that enables businesses to reach, engage, and convert customers through automated chatbot conversations, with a focus on real-time sales automation and lead capture.

AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales TechSouth Africa, ZA

RecoMedrecomed.co.za

Rightnowresponserightnowresponse.comin

Sapay.Cosapay.co.za

SAPay is a cashless payment system for South Africa's minibus taxi and transport industry, letting passengers tap, scan, or use a card to pay fares and enabling drivers, owners, and associations to accept digital payments, track vehicles, and access insurance and financing benefits.

FintechMobility & Transportation

Shopextvshopextv.comin

Sortdsortd.com𝕏

Sportablesportable.comin 𝕏

Swiftveeswiftvee.comin 𝕏

Talk360talk360.comin 𝕏

Talk360 is a mobile calling app and payment infrastructure platform focused on Africa.

B2B MarketplacesFintechSaaSSouth Africa, ZA

Dean

Tandatanda.africa

Vulavulamobile.com

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

{Funding Alert} AgriTech Firm Rize Raises $31 Mn, Eyes Expansion into India - Indian Retailer

Rather · indianretailer.com · Jul 17, 2026

SA’s Talk360 raises $1.4m funding round to support next phase of development - Disrupt Africa

Talk360 · disruptafrica.com · Feb 12, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What stage does HAVAIC invest at?: HAVAIC invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does HAVAIC focus on?: HAVAIC focuses on AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Deep Tech, Energy, Fintech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Sector Agnostic.
Where is HAVAIC located?: HAVAIC is headquartered in Cape Town, ZA.
Does HAVAIC lead rounds?: HAVAIC typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

Images

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