Jumba, a construction tech startup whose vision is to rationalize the construction supply chain in Africa, has raised a $1 million pre-seed round to build a digital business-to-business platform for the predominantly offline construction sector.
Jumba launched in Kenya in April 2022 and is scaling rapidly given the clear market need felt in the construction industry. Jumba is creating efficiencies in the construction materials supply chain by connecting manufacturers to hardware stores. Hardware store owners who place orders through Jumba’s platform benefit from standardized pricing, product selection, and reliable delivery.
The pre-seed round includes VC investors Enza Capital, Seedstars International Ventures, Chandaria Capital, Future Africa, Logos Ventures, and First Check Africa, as well as several angel investors who are startup founders and industry experts.
The company is led by Co-founder and CEO Kagure Wamunyu, a civil engineer by training who worked in various tech companies in Africa including Uber and Kobo360. Wamunyu has combined her experience in tech with her previous side hustle in construction and real estate development. Through this, she has identified the inefficiencies and challenges of the construction sector and is building a tech-driven solution validated in other markets to solve major pain points here.
Kagure Wamunyu noted the traction they have received in the market over the past two months: “The market has been very receptive to us. We are currently available in Nairobi, and have begun our expansion to Garissa, Nakuru, Njoro, and other urban centers across Kenya.”
She added, “We are expanding our work with suppliers to improve the availability of construction materials in Kenya and in East Africa.
Investors backed Jumba because of their belief in the team and the opportunity in construction in the continent: “Africa’s populations are rapidly growing and increasingly urbanizing, and the construction industry is a core economic engine supporting sustainable growth Across Africa. In a $10 trillion industry yet to be reshaped by technology, we are thrilled to be backing Kagure and this exceptional team-building Jumba,” said Mike Mompi, Managing Partner at Enza Capital and lead investor in this round.
Source: AppsAfrica.com
