Naspers Invests in Africa Uber-Like Cleaning Service Startup

(Bloomberg) -- Naspers Ltd. backed on-demand housekeeping service SweepSouth, part of a commitment to invest almost $100 million in tech startups in its home market of South Africa.

The 30 million-rand ($2.1 million) stake makes Naspers the largest investor in the company through its Foundry fund. A valuation was not disclosed.

SweepSouth, co-founded by Aisha Pandor and her husband Alen Ribic in 2014, lets users enter their location, the number of rooms that need cleaning, and any required extras such as laundry and ironing, then connects them to nearby workers. Payment takes place within the app.

Although the investment announced Thursday is small by international standards, the Naspers unit, called Naspers Foundry, has said it intends to invest 1.4 billion rand in South African tech startups to bolster local entrepreneurs. That’s as Africa’s biggest company prepares to list its international internet assets on Euronext Amsterdam next month.

Read more: Naspers Looks to Convince South Africans of Foreign Listing

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