The Awareness Company (TACo), a South African Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startup that transforms business data into actionable insights for operations and sustainability, has successfully raised $1.6 million in a seed funding round. This milestone investment attracted contributions from NEXT176, Holocene, Catalyst Fund, E Squared, Aions, and Jozi Angels, highlighting growing investor confidence in TACo’s innovative approach to operational sustainability.
“This funding marks a significant milestone for us as we continue to innovate in the operational sustainability space. With our new investors, our support has grown and there is belief in our vision by people who want to push boundaries. This is just the start,” said Priaash Ramadeen, Co-founder and CEO of The Awareness Company.
The new capital is earmarked to bolster marketing and sales initiatives and enhance the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of HYDRA, TACo’s flagship product. HYDRA, an AI-powered platform, integrates data from diverse sources, systems, and sensors, offering businesses a cost-efficient and streamlined approach to decision-making. By reducing technical costs by up to 95%, HYDRA aims to revolutionize sustainability practices, addressing key challenges in energy, water, security, assets, finance, climate, and compliance.
Tramayne Monaghan, Chief Ventures Officer at NEXT176, expressed confidence in the company’s potential: “We are thrilled to be backing the amazing team behind The Awareness Company. As an investor, we are committed to funding innovative solutions that allow businesses and people to make more data-driven decisions that drive scalable impact. HYDRA epitomises this ethos, and we cannot wait to see how this and future products scale across Africa.”
Founded in 2018 by engineers turned entrepreneurs, TACo’s mission is to make data more accessible and meaningful for businesses. The startup has achieved significant traction, onboarding over 50 B2B customers and forging partnerships with the United Nations and Microsoft. TACo has also represented South African startups on global stages, including events in Paris and Dublin.
Maëlis Carraro, Managing Partner at Catalyst Fund, echoed this enthusiasm: “We are so excited to support The Awareness Company and their visionary team, whose innovative HYDRA platform is revolutionising how organisations leverage data for meaningful sustainability outcomes.”
The company’s impact-driven approach has garnered support from investors who align with its vision of driving measurable benefits for people, the planet, and profit. Josh Romisher, CEO of Holocene, remarked: “As the initial investor, we backed a mission-driven, climate-conscious team building software that empowers customers to save money and resources by tracking and reacting to real-time data. This alignment of people, profit, and planet is at the heart of both organisations.”
With its fresh infusion of capital, TACo Saas is positioned to expand its footprint and enhance its solutions across Africa and beyond. The company’s focus on operational sustainability and leveraging AI to address critical challenges underscores its ambition to drive impactful change in the region’s business landscape.