2025 Unfolds: A Year of Collaboration, Innovation & Impact
Greenhouse Capital
We identify, invest in and accelerate the technology powering Africa's future
Hello Loopers!
A brand-new year means fresh opportunities, bold moves, and endless possibilities! We’re kicking things off with exciting updates, a special spotlight on Zemo , and a preview of what’s coming next.
Let’s set the tone for a phenomenal 2025 with bigger wins, stronger collaborations, and game-changing innovation. Ready? Let’s go!??
Zemo: Redefining Business Finance for the Future
Managing business finances shouldn't be complicated, and Zemo is making sure it isn’t. Built for modern businesses, Zemo is transforming financial management with seamless automation, real-time insights, and smarter decision-making tools.
Why Businesses Love Zemo
With Zemo, companies can take full control of their finances with corporate cards, spend management, business loans, payroll, and an integrated payment platform. Its unique features and services include:
Strategic Partnerships for Growth
Zemo doesn’t just offer a platform; it builds an ecosystem of trusted financial partners to ensure businesses have everything they need to thrive. Through partnerships with tax compliance experts, payroll solutions providers, and bookkeeping services, Zemo helps businesses stay organized, compliant, and financially sound. Their key partners include Tuendelee Consulting, Fainest Enterprises, FH Consulting LLP, and more
Leadership Insights:
Driving Zemo’s remarkable 1100% growth in 2024, CEO Davis Nyamari is at the forefront of Africa’s fintech revolution. A thought leader in innovation, fintech trends, and business expansion, he shares powerful insights on what it takes to scale a fintech startup on the GrowthTrain series.
As Zemo continues to make a significant impact on Africa's fintech landscape by simplifying corporate financial management, Greenhouse Capital remains committed to supporting game-changing startups like Zemo, providing the capital, network, and strategic guidance needed to scale. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as Zemo expands its mission to empower businesses across Africa and beyond! Join the wave of businesses transforming their financial management with Zemo Here.
Co-Creation: The Key to Unlocking the Future
In today’s startup climate, innovation is no longer a solo endeavour, it thrives on collaboration. It is now common knowledge that true growth occurs when resources and expertise are shared. More so, the rapid pace of technological advancement and market disruption often demands agility, adaptability, and collective knowledge. What sets you apart is not just your ability to innovate but your willingness to collaborate to challenge the status quo.
Collaboration can take different forms, it could be vertical or horizontal. Vertical collaboration involves partnering with corporate organizations or larger entities, leveraging their resources for scalability and growth while horizontal collaboration happens typically between startups or similar-sized entities, pooling resources together to expand offerings and market reach.
A great example of vertical collaboration is Flutterwave . Their partnership-driven approach accelerated their entry into new markets and sectors that would have otherwise required more time and capital. Their partnership with PayPal was a game-changer, enabling expansion into over 200 countries and fueling their international reach. Additionally, their collaboration with Visa led to the launch of a virtual card, which strengthened their payment ecosystem and secured Visa’s footprint in the African Fintech space. Their success highlights the power of strategic alliances in scaling solutions beyond borders. In our next issue, we will take a deeper dive into horizontal collaboration, how peer-to-peer partnerships drive innovation, and why it is crucial for accelerated growth.
Although vertical collaboration takes many forms, We encourage startups in our ecosystem to explore corporate innovation, co-creating solutions with established corporations to drive industry transformation. Startups bring speed, bold ideas, and disruption, while corporations offer expertise, infrastructure, and operational depth. Together, they unlock growth opportunities, including financial and operational support for startups, enhanced credibility, market expansion for corporates, and technical or regulatory backing.
While partnerships can be transformative, they often come with unique challenges. To ensure a successful collaboration, we recommend careful consideration of the following:
In conclusion, As we work toward our 2025 goals, corporate innovation remains at the core of our strategy. Leveraging existing relationships, industry networks, and corporate partnerships is key to building sustainable, scalable businesses. Collaboration drives industry transformation, proving that the future isn’t built in isolation, it is shaped by those who co-create, innovate, and push boundaries. We hope these insights help you prioritize what matters most this year.
ICYMI, we’ve got plenty to share with you this month, some highlights, lessons we loved, and interesting tidbits that caught our attention. We’ve got you covered. Let’s jump right in!
AI is transforming how vertical SaaS solutions deliver value, making niche industry tools smarter and more efficient. This article from The VC Corner dives into how industries like logistics and healthcare are evolving with AI integration — a must-read for those tracking innovation in SaaS.
领英推荐
AI is moving beyond surface-level solutions into deeper data insights. This piece from The VC Corner highlights DeepSeek R1, an emerging player pushing the boundaries of AI disruption. If you're curious about where AI innovation is headed, this is worth a read.
We’re always excited to see big moves that accelerate financial inclusion on the continent. Visa 's strategic investment in Moniepoint Group is a strong validation of fintech's transformative power for African SMEs. Partnerships like this pave the way for expanded financial services and greater economic empowerment.
Ever wondered how much startup founders should pay themselves without alarming investors or jeopardizing growth? Creandum offers practical insights on finding the right balance. In the early days, it's all about frugality, but as the company scales, there's room to elevate your lifestyle responsibly. A must-read for anyone building or backing the next unicorn.
ZONE
A Milestone in Africa's Fintech Revolution - Zone Partners with PalmPay
PalmPay has joined Zone 's regulated blockchain network, advancing the growth of fintech across Africa. This integration introduces over 35 million users and 1.2 million agents/merchants, enhancing Zone’s network with direct transaction routing, full transparency, and same-day settlement. Since its rebrand from Appzone and its groundbreaking licensing in 2022, Zone continues to push the boundaries of blockchain payments, positioning itself as a leader in the region’s rapidly expanding digital payments market.
MAX
Exciting news from MAX they’ve transitioned to a bold new identity at the forefront of Africa’s mobility transition, moving from Max.ng to Max. Starting as Max Okada, the company pioneered innovative services, including e-mobility solutions, empowering people to thrive. With this new identity, MAX is doubling down on its mission to make mobility safer, more accessible, and sustainable, paving the way for a cleaner, smarter future for transportation in Africa.
QORE
Qore Tech Academy, aimed at empowering the next generation of tech leaders. The academy offered a unique opportunity for recent Computer Science graduates passionate about innovation to join the elite 1% of tech talent shaping Africa’s financial industry. Participants are given access to expert training and hands-on experience, positioning them to thrive in the world of innovation. This initiative underscores Qore ’s commitment to fostering talent and driving innovation in Africa’s tech landscape.
SABI & YELLOWCARD
Two of GHC’s portfolio companies, Sabi and Yellow Card , have been shortlisted as finalists for the Africa Tech Summit Awards in 2025!
Sabi has been recognized in the Climate Tech and Web 3 categories for its innovative approach to sustainable sourcing and blockchain-driven supply chain transparency.
Yellow Card stands out in the Cross-Border Payments, Fintech, and Web 3 categories for its leadership in digital financial services across Africa.
This recognition highlights the dedication of both teams to shaping a more sustainable, transparent, and efficient future.
As we step into 2025 with excitement and anticipation, we’re ready to embrace the innovations, collaborations, and milestones that await. This is our time to ignite fresh ideas, foster impactful partnerships, and drive innovative growth. The year ahead holds countless opportunities to shape the future, and we’re thrilled to have you alongside us.
Thank you for staying connected with Greenhouse Capital ! Stay tuned for more updates, stories, and insights designed to keep you ahead of the curve in 2025. Let’s keep pushing boundaries, making waves, and shining brightly together. ???? Keep shining, Loopers!