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WeChat to invest $3.4M in start-ups in Africa

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WeChat is to invest over $3.4 million in tech companies supporting local start-ups and innovations in Africa.

Since the success of partnerships with startups such as PicUp a recent finalist at the Appsafrica Innovation Awards and M4JAM microjobbing service, WeChat’s growth strategy has increasingly focused on integrating with early stage businesses whose models strategically fit with, and clearly demonstrate, the power of the platform and its positioning in the market.

The fund will be used to identify and support tech-enabled businesses by assisting with rapid market access using the WeChat platform.

To coordinate the initiative, tech strategy practice firm, Batstone, has been appointed by WeChat Africa to source and coordinate its early stage investment opportunities.

Brett Loubser, head of WeChat Africa says, ”Our fund aims to provide financial support to businesses so that they can effectively get on the WeChat platform. This will include technical integration and communications tactics across the Naspers’ stable and other suited channels.”

“We have been working with Batstone since mid-2014 and in that time have come to trust their purpose-led approach to understanding and supporting tech businesses. This approach, coupled with their networks, means our partnership is well placed to identify and vet the best possible investment opportunities for WeChat,” says Loubser.

This program will focus on selecting tech-enabled businesses that have initial market validation, a minimal viable product and could clearly benefit from both WeChat’s technology platform and access to potential consumers.

“Our experience in the past two years has demonstrated that many companies have huge potential but are unable to communicate what they do clearly,” says Alexandra Fraser, Head of Batstone Ventures, “We don’t want to miss the chance to work with smart businesses just because they can’t succinctly tell us what they can do in an online form. The workshops mitigate this risk.”

In addition to identifying potential partners for WeChat Africa, Batstone will provide strategic consulting services to effectively support these businesses through this growth phase and new route to market.

Applications via Batstone’s website will open in mid January 2016. Selection will be based on a mix of online application and a series of purpose workshops.

AppsAfrica.com is a leading pan-African technology news portal and advisory service, dedicated to delivering the latest insight on mobile, tech and innovation in Africa.
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