Cape Town-based Silvertree Internet Holdings has reached the milestone of over $15-million (approximately R200-million) channeled into African consumer-focused technology companies since inception in 2014.
The portfolio has achieved an average >200% annual revenue growth, helped by fast-growing companies like car buying site carzar.co.za and meal-kit delivery company ucook.co.za.
Freddy Caspers as non-executive chairman of the board.
Caspers has been one of the core team members behind the success of Reckitt Benckiser (RB), as executive board member and CEO of emerging markets.
Silvertree believes the biggest opportunities for tech investment in Africa are in businesses driven by strong teams that are executing simple, proven models.
In addition, a focus on all three long term value creation drivers Net Revenue growth, margins and cash allows the group’s operations to reach breakeven much earlier in their life-cycle.
Caspers says: “I have great ambitions for Silvertree: to build it into the most successful internet technology company across Africa. Similarly to my approach at RB, exceptional people with a performance driven culture and executional excellence will be key to our value creation to transform economic growth across the region.”
Looking forward, Silvertree plans to invest over $10-million (R130-million) in the next 12 months into new and existing portfolio companies that make use of technology to reach consumers, with a focus on growth stage and buy-out opportunities.