Uprise.Africa

Uprise.Africa, established in 2017, operated as an equity crowdfunding platform in South Africa, co-founded by Patrick Schofield, Tabassum A Qadir, and Vuyisa Qabaka. The firm was headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company's mission was to provide an alternative funding source for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them with a broad base of investors.

The founders brought a diverse range of experience to the venture. Patrick Schofield has a notable history as a social entrepreneur and has been a pioneer in the African crowdfunding scene, also founding Thundafund.com and BackaBuddy. Tabassum A Qadir, who served as the CEO, has a background in diversified business operations and is recognized as Africa's first female airline founder. Vuyisa Qabaka contributed his expertise in venture building, ecosystem development, and advising startups. The platform facilitated capital raising for early-stage businesses in exchange for equity shares, targeting a clientele of South African entrepreneurs and sophisticated investors. For businesses to be featured, they had to be registered and operational in South Africa, demonstrating a strong team and potential for returns. Uprise.Africa charged a fee for successful campaigns, and in October 2018, the company secured an undisclosed seed funding amount from Nexus Venture Partners.

The platform provided a comprehensive service package that included due diligence, escrow services, legal support, and campaign assistance to guide businesses through the fundraising process. For investors, it offered a way to diversify their portfolios by investing in early-stage South African ventures, with a minimum investment amount of ZAR 2,000. While the company facilitated a number of campaigns, including for Drifter Brewing and YouSellCars, it also faced challenges. In 2020, Uprise.Africa had to refund investors from a significant campaign due to regulatory delays. According to PitchBook, the firm has ceased its crowdfunding operations. The company's website now describes a different business model, operating as an unlisted public investment fund for sophisticated investors focused on digital assets and blockchain, indicating a significant pivot or a new entity under the same brand.

Keywords: equity crowdfunding, South Africa, startup funding, SME financing, investment platform, capital raising, Patrick Schofield, Tabassum A Qadir, Vuyisa Qabaka, fintech, venture capital, early-stage investment, business investment, alternative finance, African startups, seed funding, investor network, due diligence, Johannesburg, digital assets