Reflect Ventures is pleased to announce its recent pre-seed investment in Maputo-based Appload, a startup operating in the South African Development Community (SADC). Appload is a digital marketplace focused on logistics services within the region.
Through Appload’s user-friendly app or web-based platform, shippers and carriers can efficiently connect to plan, book, and track cargo shipments. Reflect Ventures’ investment in Appload marks the seventh time the firm has invested in the logistics and fulfillment industry, and it’s their third investment in the full truckload (FTL) space.
Appload was founded in 2020 by Claire Hassoun, Frederico P. Silva, and Catherine Hinds. The platform is designed to address the unique challenges of emerging markets with less developed infrastructure and technology, where the logistics industry often faces inefficiencies.
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Michel Friedman, Founding Partner at Reflect Ventures, expressed their enthusiasm for the investment, stating, “We are thrilled to invest in Appload. Appload operates within the SADC, a significant and rapidly growing economic region. Logistics is a critical component of any economy, and we believe in the potential of Appload.”
The funding secured in this round will enable Appload to expand its operations across the broader SADC region, which presents a substantial untapped market opportunity.
Claire Hassoun, Founder and CEO at Appload, acknowledged Reflect Ventures’ support, saying, “Reflect Ventures has been a valuable partner from day one. Their connections within the industry and global logistics investor network have been instrumental. We look forward to deepening this collaboration as we scale Appload.”
Reflect Ventures is an emerging market venture capital firm and syndicate that operates across several emerging markets, including South Asia, South East Asia, Latin America, Africa, and MENAT. They focus on investments in logistics, supply chain, commerce, and fintech.
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Since their establishment in 2021, Reflect Ventures has been dedicated to supporting exceptional founders and startups. They have invested in over 30 startups across emerging markets and have built a community of 400+ operators and investors.
Reflect Ventures primarily invests in B2B and B2B2C ventures in emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on supply chain, distribution, logistics, transport, and related fintech sectors.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard