A US-based investor has signed a deal to back an early-stage investment into a South Africa-based technology company, investing alongside Peter Thiel.
500 Startups has backed a $13.3 million series-B funding round into Zenysis Technologies, with US-based Steele Foundation for Hope (SFFH) leading the deal.
Peter Thiel, founder and president at Clarium Capital Management, a US-based investment firm is backing the funding round as an individual investor. Thiel also seats on the board of Facebook, as an investor, is also co-founder and ex-chief executive officer at PayPal.
SFFH is a foundation of the Steele family which was co-founded by Stuart Steele and Suzanne Steele in 2021.
The investor will not be taking a board seat as part of the deal.
Zenysis will use the new capital for geographical expansion, with the company looking to grow its footprint across Africa, Asia and South America.
Tony Wang [pictured] is partner at 500 Startups.
Joe Exner, chief executive officer at SFFH represented the investor.
Headquartered in Cape Town, Zenysis is a software company that offers a data analytics platform for corporate clients and governments globally.
Zenysis also has a second headquarters in San Francisco, US.
Zenysis’ platform enables clients to analyse data that can be used to improve public health and human welfare emergencies.
The company services include analytics, integrations, artificial intelligence and data quality services.
Created in 2015, Zenysis Technologies is headed by founder and chief executive officer Jonathan Stambolis and employs approximately 46 people as of 2022.