How to raise $5.2m for an African Startup

If you’re passionate about the potential for high-growth ventures in Africa, this week’s podcast is for you. We spoke to Nicole Dun, COO and co-founder of Startup Club’s 2023 FinTech of the Year, Revio. Nicole was part of the team that raised their $5.2 million seed round in September, and she was super happy to tell us all about it…

Some highlights

1. A day in the life of the COO of a scaling FinTech

Despite the title, Nicole says she leans into her strengths, which are more on the commercial side of the business – enterprise sales, fundraising, brand and marketing etc. But then there are those stark context shifts when someone comes in and asks a much more practical focused question, like “How’re we gonna manage leave?”, etc.

Finding the balance between the strategic and operational side has been more about managing her own energy levels throughout the day.

2. Landing the $5.2M Funding for Revio

Nicole’s approach was to build relationships with potential funders long before it was time to ask for money. Making contact and giving monthly updates on their progress meant that, when it was time to raise, the investors already had so much insight into the company, they wanted to get on board.

Even now, after they’d raised, those relationships are important to keep going.

3. What are they going to do with the money?

Firstly, Nicole says, they’re deepening product capability based on feedback from their first 10 or so corporate clients. Next, they’ll be building the team, developing a repeatable sales process and investing in marketing, as well as ensuring they stay ahead of the curve in terms of payment tech.

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