Nairobi-based package delivery startup Sendy has become the first start-up to benefit from $1 million Spark Fund, Safricom’s venture fund, Kernel Fund, Savannah Fund, Hello Media, Tom Macakiage and other angel investors.
Sources close to Safaricom Spark Fund say Sendy was given between KES 6 million – KES 22 million to help it build it’s marketplace for last-mile package delivery and logistics services, allowing customers to send packages and documents within Nairobi and its environs using a mobile application that connects them to motorcycle riders, and drivers of vans and pickup trucks.
Meshack Alloys, CEO of Sendy said in a statement, “When we launched Sendy in September 2014 we had a vision of making package delivery as simple as sending a text message. We wanted to use technology do this, so we created an app that is easy to use, offers transparent pricing and supports cashless transactions.”
“Having Safaricom believe in us enough to come on board as an investor is a big boost to our business. We intend to use the funds received to invest in our infrastructure, improve our platform, roll out new features and services and grow our team so that we can provide an even better customer experience,” he added.
Launched just one year ago, Sendy focuses on providing convenience, competitive pricing, speed and excellent customer service, allowing individual customers and businesses to track the movement and location of their packages in real time using their app and web platform.
Sendy is one of the over 400 applications which the fund has so far received and currently evaluating. Each successful start-up will receive between Ksh.6 million and Ksh.22 million.
“We are very pleased to be investing in Sendy, a business with a young, vibrant, innovative and ambitious team. Through Sendy we believe we are investing in more than just a start-up; we’re investing in a business that will transform the lives of everyone it touches, from the customer, to the boda-boda operator to the techie building & maintain the platform,” said Joe Ogutu, Safaricom’s Director for Strategy & Innovation.
In addition to Safaricom’s investment, Sendy will also have access to strategic partnerships, network elements, and a mix of marketing opportunities that will help it expand.
Some of the benefits of the raise include using M-PESA as its main payment collection method and the newly released M-PESA API.
“For us to invest in a start-up, we need to believe that both the product or service and management have the potential to scale and become number one or two player in their chosen field”, said Eline Blaauboer, Managing Partner at TBL Invest, the fund manager. “Sendy has a lot of promise in this area and has started to ramp up sales and operations, so we believe it is the ideal candidate for our investment.”
Update: Sendy closed the round from Kernel Fund, Safaricom Spark Fund, Savannah Fund, Hello Media, Tom Macakiage and other angel investors.
