Naspers-backed SweepSouth, Africa’s largest online home services platform, today announced it has bought Egyptian startup Filkhedma, a home services marketplace operating across three cities.
Filkhedma services tens of thousands of customers with cleaning, maintenance, and beauty services while empowering over 2 000 service providers through technology with consistent incomes and professional development.
“We are thrilled to have Filkhedma as part of the SweepSouth family,” says Aisha Pandor, CEO and Co-founder of SweepSouth.
“It’s not only their services that align with ours, but also their values and culture. Just like us, Filkhedma is passionate about providing quality and trusted home services, while creating work opportunities for those who need it most.”
Co-founder Alen Ribic added, “We’ve proven out our technology and operational expertise in numerous markets in sub-Saharan Africa, and this acquisition gives us the opportunity to extend that reach into Egypt, a huge market with millions of households. Coming together with the Filkhedma team represents the next phase of building SweepSouth into a global platform that will continue to expand our services not only on the continent but further abroad as well.”
The acquisition will place SweepSouth in a strategically strong position to enter neighbouring geographies
The deal will also almost double SweepSouth’s addressable market on the continent and pave the way for the launch of new services in South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria .
“We are happy with this incredible milestone and excited about joining forces with the SweepSouth team to fulfil our vision of empowering providers and delivering quality services in Africa and beyond,” Omar Ramadan, CEO and Founder of Filkhedma, says.
“We already have well over 2 000 service providers on our platform and we’re confident that with the backing of SweepSouth, we will be able to sign up many more and expand into neighbouring countries, too.”
The acquisition means that SweepSouth will be one of a few African startups operating in the continent’s four key tech ecosystems of South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria.
It also means that all markets will have access to new services almost immediately, while the company as a whole will be primed for further expansion into other parts of Africa and the Middle East.
“This acquisition has the potential to yield significant synergies. Filkhedma is an excellent business and is aligned to SweepSouth’s ambitions to expand its service offering and gain access to high growth markets across the region,” Naspers Foundry Head, Fabian Whate said.
“Egypt’s growing middle class and rising financial inclusion and internet penetration, offer huge opportunities for the combined home services platform of the two companies.
“Helping high-potential early-stage tech companies scale is central to what Naspers Foundry does and we’re particularly excited about this milestone in SweepSouth’s journey.”
