Total amount raised
$47.2 Millions
Latest funding date
2/1/2023
Location
Lulalend has successfully raised funds through multiple rounds, including a recent Series B round on February 1, 2023. The company is dedicated to providing fast and easy working capital funding to small businesses in South Africa.
Keep reading to explore the intricacies of Lulalend's fundraising journey and the investors backing this innovative platform.
What Is Lulalend?
Lulalend, founded in 2014 by Neil Welman and Trevor Gosling, is based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company specializes in providing fast and easy working capital funding to small businesses across the country.
With a team of 101-250 employees, Lulalend offers a range of financial products, including the Revolving Capital Facility, Capital Advance, and Lulapay. Their mission is to empower small businesses with the funds they need to grow and succeed.
In addition to funding solutions, Lulalend provides digital business banking services, ensuring SMEs have access to comprehensive financial tools. Their innovative approach has made them a key player in the South African fintech landscape.
How Much Funding Has Lulalend Raised?
- Seed Round
- Amount Raised: Not publicly disclosed
- Date: October 2016
- Lead Investors: Accion Venture Lab, HALLMANN HOLDING International Investment GmbH, Newid Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To establish the company and develop initial product offerings.
- Series A
- Amount Raised: $6.5 million
- Date: June 2019
- Lead Investors: International Finance Corporation, Quona Capital
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To expand the loan book and enhance technology infrastructure.
- Debt Financing
- Amount Raised: $800,000
- Date: June 2021
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To support ongoing operations and meet increasing demand.
- Debt Financing
- Amount Raised: $4.7 million
- Date: December 2022
- Lead Investors: Not publicly disclosed
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To further scale operations and enhance product offerings.
- Series B
- Amount Raised: $35 million
- Date: February 2023
- Lead Investors: Lightrock
- Valuation at Round: Not publicly disclosed
- Motivation Behind the Round: To scale the business, address the SME credit gap, and launch new digital banking products.
Total Amount Raised: $47 million. Current Valuation: Not publicly disclosed.
Key Investors
- Lightrock
- Details: Lightrock is a global private equity platform that invests in businesses with scalable and sustainable business models. They focus on companies that address pressing societal challenges.
- Investment Focus Areas: Healthcare, education, financial inclusion.
- Notable Investments: PharmEasy, DrConsulta, Konfio.
- DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft)
- Details: DEG is a development finance institution from Germany that finances investments in private enterprises operating in developing and emerging markets. They aim to contribute to sustainable development.
- Investment Focus Areas: Sustainable development, private enterprises in developing countries, renewable energy.
- Notable Investments: UPL, Greenlight Planet, d.light.
- Triodos Investment Management
- Details: Triodos Investment Management is a globally active impact investor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank. They manage direct investments in various sectors.
- Investment Focus Areas: Renewable energy, sustainable food and agriculture, financial inclusion.
- Notable Investments: M-KOPA, SolarNow, BBOXX.
- Women’s World Banking Asset Management
- Details: Women’s World Banking Asset Management focuses on providing capital to financial institutions that serve low-income women. They aim to promote financial inclusion for women.
- Investment Focus Areas: Financial services for low-income women, microfinance, fintech companies promoting financial inclusion for women.
- Notable Investments: Ujjivan, Janalakshmi, Card Bank.
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- Details: IFC is a member of the World Bank Group and is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. They aim to promote development and reduce poverty.
- Investment Focus Areas: Private sector development, infrastructure, manufacturing, agribusiness.
- Notable Investments: Ant Financial, Flipkart, Byju's.
What's Next for Lulalend?
With a $20 billion SME credit gap in South Africa, Lulalend is poised to seize a massive opportunity. The rollout of Lula, their digital banking platform, promises to revolutionize financial services for over 2 million SMEs. This expansion could attract further investment, enabling Lulalend to scale its operations and introduce new solutions.
However, challenges loom. The competitive fintech landscape and regulatory hurdles could pose significant obstacles. Ensuring the reliability of their AI-driven tools and managing high demand will be crucial for sustained growth. Despite these challenges, Lulalend's innovative approach and strong investor backing position them well for future success.
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