Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), Nairobi-based venture studio has raised $4.5 million as seed funding, one of Africa’s largest tourism-tech rounds, to accelerate the mission to transform Africa’s tourism industry to a global leader. PEV’s goal is to create a resilient and inclusive tourism sector in Africa by implementing cutting-edge technology.
Ben Peterson is the Co-Founder and CEO at Purple Elephant Ventures. He said that this funding is a testimony to the untapped innovation potential in African tourism. With this support, we are poised to revolutionize travel technology in Africa and foster economic growth, while preserving the incredible natural and cultural heritage of the continent. The future of sustainable travel in Africa is brighter than ever.
Unlocking the Future of Regenerative Tourism.
With $4.5 million, PEV will be able to scale its portfolio of startup companies and launch new ventures that address the industry’s biggest challenges. PEV, as a pioneer of venture capital for tourism technology, is paving the path for a thriving and technologically advanced African tourist ecosystem.
The investment round attracted a stellar list of investors, including Clear Creek Investment B.V., Klister Corp. Fede Pirzo Biroli (founder Playfair Capital), Anthony Rock, and Ian McCaig, former CEO of Lastminute.com. This funding milestone highlights the growing confidence in African tech startups in travel and their role in reshaping Africa’s startup ecosystem through impactful innovations.
Imagining African Tourism Through Innovation.
Emerging with a bold vision and a focus on tourism innovation, PEV is focused to foster tourism innovation that boosts biodiversity, creates sustainable livelihoods in local communities, reduces the environmental footprint of travel. PEV’s innovative venture studio model is a pioneer in sustainable tourism by creating hospitality SaaS, sustainable procurement, and energy-efficient hospitality solutions. PEV has launched 5 high-impact startups in just a few short years. Each startup addresses a critical gap in the hospitality ecosystem.
- Green Supplies ( ) – A procurement tech company that specializes in eco-friendly products for the hospitality industry. Zafari (19459010) – A revolutionary booking platform for African hospitality that streamlines operations for tourism operators. PowerTrip is a cleantech company that provides energy-efficient appliances for hospitality businesses.
- Join Africa is a venture that supports safari guides. It was created in partnership with Paul English the co-founder and CEO of Kayak.
PEV, unlike traditional venture studios retains control over its startups and funds them themselves. This ensures alignment with the long-term mission of advancing tourism innovation funding in Africa and delivering transformative impact.
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