South African investment company Knife Capital supports two homegrown businesses, celebrating 15 years of backing local ventures
In a significant move to support the growth of innovative South African startups, venture capital firm Knife Capital has announced new Series A investments in fintech startup Sticitt and healthtech startup Optique. This investment, made through Knife Capital's KNF II fund, underscores the firm's ongoing commitment to scaling innovation across Africa and accelerating entrepreneurship on the continent.
Founded in 2010, Knife Capital is a pan-African venture capital firm known for its belief in businesses that blend innovation, traction, and tenacity. Theo Kitshoff, CEO and founder of Sticitt, expressed his gratitude for Knife Capital's continued support, stating that the firm's experience and networks will be crucial in helping Sticitt navigate its growth journey.
Sticitt, a fintech startup established in 2018, is transforming the way South African schools manage money. The platform simplifies school payments by integrating them into a seamless digital system. Currently serving 841 educational institutions and facilitating transactions for over 75,700 users, Sticitt's impact is tangible and growing.
Optique, operating in the healthtech sector, is another recipient of Knife Capital's investment. Although specific details on Optique's product offerings or user metrics were not provided, its inclusion in this Series A funding round reflects Knife Capital's strategy to back innovative, high-growth startups with potential for significant impact, both locally and globally.
Leon van Vuuren, founder of Optique, is redefining optometry with a focus on digital-enabled, affordable, accessible, and easy-to-understand services. Optique currently has 19 franchise-owned branches across South Africa and an online store.
These investments by Knife Capital reaffirm the firm's role as a key player in advancing South African startups towards scaling internationally and increasing their impact. By investing through its KNF II fund, Knife Capital leverages its extensive networks and experience to not only provide capital but also strategic support to portfolio companies.
The focus on sectors like fintech (Sticitt) and healthtech (Optique) aligns with broader trends of digital transformation in essential areas like education finance and healthcare, promising improvements in efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability.
In conclusion, Knife Capital’s investments in Sticitt and Optique represent a significant step in supporting innovative South African startups that are poised for growth and impact, particularly in the fintech and healthtech sectors. The growth of Sticitt in serving hundreds of schools illustrates tangible progress, while Optique’s backing highlights promising developments in health technology within the region.
Entrepreneurs like Theo Kitshoff of Sticitt and Leon van Vuuren of Optique are benefiting from the investment of venture capital firm Knife Capital, which aims to scale innovation across Africa and accelerate entrepreneurship on the continent. This investment in fintech startup Sticitt, which is simplifying school financial transactions, and healthtech startup Optique, focusing on accessible optometry services, demonstrates Knife Capital's strategy to back high-growth startups in essential sectors like education finance and healthcare. By providing not only capital but also strategic support, Knife Capital plays a crucial role in advancing South African startups towards scaling internationally and increasing their impact.
