Purple Elephant Ventures
Builds companies that improve sustainable travel and tourism across Africa.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor investor investor investor investor investor investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | $500k Valuation: $5.0m | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
| USD | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 0000 | 0000 | 0000 |
| % growth | - | 136 % | 155 % |
| EBITDA | 0000 | 0000 | 0000 |
| Profit | 0000 | 0000 | 0000 |
| EV | 0000 | 0000 | 0000 |
| EV / revenue | 00.0x | 00.0x | 00.0x |
| EV / EBITDA | 00.0x | 00.0x | 00.0x |
| R&D budget | 0000 | 0000 | 0000 |
Source: Dealroom estimates
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Purple Elephant Ventures operates as a venture studio with a distinct focus on the tourism technology sector in Africa. Founded in 2020 by Ben Peterson, Mikul Shah, and Jan van der Laan, the firm aims to build and scale the next generation of startups that will shape the future of tourism on the continent. The founding team brings a complementary blend of expertise to the venture. Ben Peterson is also the co-founder of Blue Raven Solar, a successful US-based solar company, and previously worked at the World Bank. Mikul Shah founded EatOut and the Nairobi Restaurant Week, demonstrating a deep understanding of the local hospitality and digital media landscape. Jan van der Laan has a background in investment and entrepreneurship in emerging markets, having previously worked at a private equity firm in Kenya.
The studio's business model is centered on building and supporting startups from the ground up, providing them with capital, shared resources, and strategic guidance. This hands-on approach is designed to address the specific challenges and opportunities within the African tourism market. Purple Elephant Ventures is not merely a passive investor; it actively participates in the creation and operational development of its portfolio companies. The firm targets businesses that leverage technology to enhance the tourism experience, improve operational efficiency for travel providers, and promote sustainable practices.
Purple Elephant Ventures has secured funding to fuel its mission, including a notable $1 million pre-seed investment. This capital is being deployed to build an initial cohort of four startups. One of the first companies to emerge from the studio is ElephantBookings, a SaaS platform that provides tour operators with a comprehensive business management solution, including online booking capabilities and payment systems. Another portfolio company, Nomad.Africa, is a content-to-commerce platform that offers curated travel inspiration and booking functionalities for experiences across Africa.
Keywords: venture studio, tourism technology, Africa, travel tech, startup builder, hospitality, investment, SaaS, sustainable tourism, emerging markets