Afrimax

In 2011, a trio of seasoned telecom executives, Jay Metcalfe, Peter Langkilde, and Rob Philpott, founded Afrimax with a clear mission: to build and operate 4G wireless internet networks across Sub-Saharan Africa. The founders identified a significant opportunity to provide high-speed broadband services to a large, underserved population. Their playbook involved acquiring 4G licenses in numerous countries, aiming to become a dominant force in the region's burgeoning digital landscape. The company's strategy gained significant momentum through major funding rounds. After an initial Series B round in 2013, a pivotal moment came in 2015 when Afrimax secured $120 million in a Series C round led by major global investors, including Mitsui & Co. and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). This capital injection was earmarked to accelerate the rollout of its 4G LTE networks. A key strategic move was the non-equity partnership framework established with Vodafone in late 2014. This agreement allowed Afrimax to launch services under the Vodafone brand in specific markets, starting with Uganda. The partnership provided Afrimax with the powerful brand recognition of a global telecom giant, while Vodafone expanded its market presence in Africa without direct capital investment. The collaboration later extended to other countries, including Cameroon. While the company showed early promise in deploying next-generation networks, it has since been classified as inactive or 'deadpooled'.