Silvertree Internet Holdings is planning to invest about 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 buyout opportunities.
The Cape Town-based firm has already invested $15 million (R 200 million) into African consumer-focused technology companies since inception in 2014.
The company said its portfolio has achieved an average of more than 200% annual revenue growth, helped by fast-growing companies like car buying site carzar.co.za and meal-kit delivery company ucook.co.za.
Silvertree has a unique owner and operator approach with active and large investments and leverages best practices across their business portfolio as well as support from its global network.
“We want to partner with like-minded entrepreneurs looking to disrupt large and high margin industries in Africa. It is still day 1 of the Internet in Africa!” said founder and MD Allerstorfer.
The Internet platform has already invested $15 million into Africa.
Silvertree believes the biggest opportunities for tech investment in Africa are in businesses driven by strong teams that are executing simple, proven models.
Furthermore, 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.
“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,” said newly appointed chairman, Freddy Caspers – an ex Reckitt emerging markets CEO.
He also has been one of the core team members behind the phenomenal success of Reckitt Benckiser (RB), as executive board member and CEO of Emerging Markets.
RB, a London-listed global FMCG company, owns brands including Durex, Dettol, Vanish and Finish.
RB has been one of the biggest business success stories of the 2000s, building the “Apple of the FMCG industry” and turning a provincial $1 billion market capitalization business into a $75 billion global giant in less than 10 years.
Caspers as CEO of Emerging Markets (including Africa) grew sales from $1 billion to $8 billion and profits 16 x while creating a shareholder value increase of over $20 billion during his tenure and managing a portfolio of companies with sales in over 100 countries and 25.000 people.
