South African-founded Talk360 has secured US$1.4 million (South African-founded Talk360 has secured US$1.4 million in secondary funding as it prepares for its next stage of product development and platform growth, signalling continued investor confidence in Africa-focused communications technology.
The global calling app, launched in 2016 by Dean Hiine alongside Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp, enables users to place affordable international calls to mobile and landline numbers without requiring the recipient to have internet access. The platform operates across South Africa, the Netherlands, India and Nigeria, and connected more than four million people in 2023.
The latest funding round, valued at US$1.4 million, was led by HAVAÍC, which has backed the company since 2022. The transaction was supported by Universum Wealth, a limited partner in HAVAÍC’s US$50 million African Innovation Fund 3. The deal follows a US$7 million seed raise completed in 2022 and a US$1.4 million pre-Series A round in 2023, underscoring sustained capital inflows into the business.
The new capital will fund further product enhancements and the expansion of Shop360, a feature allowing users to send airtime, data bundles and mobile top-ups to recipients in more than 180 countries. Management indicated that the focus is on refining user experience while broadening monetisation channels beyond voice services.
Africa’s digital communications market continues to expand. According to GSMA, mobile penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to reach nearly 50% by 2025, with cross-border communication remaining essential for diaspora communities. The World Bank has consistently highlighted the importance of remittances and digital financial flows in supporting households across emerging markets, reinforcing demand for low-cost, cross-border connectivity tools.
As reported by TechCrunch in previous coverage of African venture funding trends, investor appetite for scalable fintech and communications platforms has remained resilient despite tighter global capital conditions. Talk360’s latest raise positions it to compete more aggressively in a fragmented international calling and digital top-up market, as it transitions from early-stage growth to operational scaling. in secondary funding as it prepares for its next stage of product development and platform growth, signalling continued investor confidence in Africa-focused communications technology.
The global calling app, launched in 2016 by Dean Hiine alongside Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp, enables users to place affordable international calls to mobile and landline numbers without requiring the recipient to have internet access. The platform operates across South Africa, the Netherlands, India and Nigeria, and connected more than four million people in 2023.
The latest funding round, valued at US$1.4 million, was led by HAVAÍC, which has backed the company since 2022. The transaction was supported by Universum Wealth, a limited partner in HAVAÍC’s US$50 million African Innovation Fund 3. The deal follows a US$7 million seed raise completed in 2022 and a US$1.4 million pre-Series A round in 2023, underscoring sustained capital inflows into the business.
The new capital will fund further product enhancements and the expansion of Shop360, a feature allowing users to send airtime, data bundles and mobile top-ups to recipients in more than 180 countries. Management indicated that the focus is on refining user experience while broadening monetisation channels beyond voice services.
Africa’s digital communications market continues to expand. According to GSMA, mobile penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to reach nearly 50% by 2025, with cross-border communication remaining essential for diaspora communities. The World Bank has consistently highlighted the importance of remittances and digital financial flows in supporting households across emerging markets, reinforcing demand for low-cost, cross-border connectivity tools.
Investor appetite for scalable fintech and communications platforms has remained resilient despite tighter global capital conditions. Talk360’s latest raise positions it to compete more aggressively in a fragmented international calling and digital top-up market, as it transitions from early-stage growth to operational scaling.