Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a Nairobi-based venture studio focused on tourism technology, has secured $4.5 million in seed funding, marking the largest ever seed round for a tourism-tech company in Africa, according to the company.
The investment, led by Clear Creek Investment B.V. and including prominent names like Fede Pirzo-Biroli (founder of Playfair Capital) and Ian McCaig (former CEO of Lastminute.com), underlines growing investor confidence in African travel tech startups and their potential to reshape the continent’s entrepreneurial landscape.
PEV’s mission is to transform Africa’s tourism industry into a global leader in “regenerative tourism,” a concept that emphasizes environmental and social responsibility alongside economic growth. The company aims to achieve this by building innovative travel technology solutions that foster a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable tourism sector in Africa.
“This funding is a testament to the tremendous, untapped potential in African tourism innovation,” said Ben Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Purple Elephant Ventures. “With this support, we are well-positioned to revolutionize the industry through groundbreaking travel technology in Africa. We believe this approach can foster economic growth while preserving the continent’s incredible natural and cultural heritage.”
Founded by Ben Peterson, Jan Van der de Willebois, and Mikul Shah (founder of EatOut Africa), PEV departs from the traditional venture studio model by retaining control and self-funding its startups. This ensures alignment with its long-term vision of advancing tourism-focused venture capital and delivering transformative impact across Africa.
The company has already launched five impactful startups targeting critical gaps in the hospitality ecosystem:
- Nomad Africa: A travel discovery platform and leading Kenyan travel publisher and local agency.
- Kijani Supplies: A procurement technology company specializing in eco-friendly supplies for the hospitality industry.
- Zafari: A revolutionary booking platform for African hospitality, streamlining operations for tourism operators.
- PowerTrip: A cleantech company providing energy-efficient appliances to hospitality businesses.
- JOIN Africa: A venture supporting safari guides, created in partnership with Paul English, co-founder of Kayak.
The $4.5 million seed round will allow PEV to scale its existing portfolio and launch new ventures focused on tackling the industry’s most pressing challenges. By playing a pioneering role in tourism-tech venture capital, PEV aspires to pave the way for a thriving, regenerative, and technologically-advanced African tourism ecosystem.