TLcom Capital, an Africa-focused venture capital firm, allocated 50% of its $5 million TAPSI (TIDE Africa Pre-Seed Investments) fund.
This milestone was reached with its latest investment in TurnStay, a South African travel payment platform that raised $2 million. In 2022, TAPSI was founded to help African pre-seed firms.
It provides up to $200,000 in funding, TLcom’s global network, and African venture investing expertise.
TAPSI’s strategic role in African Startup Growth
TAPSI feeds promising early-stage companies to TLcom’s $154 million TIDE Africa Fund II. Through First Check Africa, the fund has sponsored seven firms, including Nigeria’s Talstack, Sudan and Ethiopia’s Bright Financial, Egypt’s Tradehub, Kenya’s Agrails, and three female-led ventures. TLcom anticipates 10 more pre-seed investments in Africa’s innovation hotspots by 2026.
Early-stage support empowers African founders
TLcom Capital Partner Eloho Omame stressed early-stage support, noting, “Pre-seed investments allow us to expand our portfolio and support founders from the earliest stages to exit—whether via acquisition or IPO. Building in Africa is not for the faint-hearted, but the likelihood of success increases significantly when we partner with founders early and grow alongside them.”
She added that TLcom’s approach ensures startups have what they need to succeed from ideation to scaling.
TLcom’s TAPSI portfolio includes TurnStay, demonstrating its commitment to diversified, high-potential African projects.
TAPSI funding helped Talstack validate its idea and win seed investment from TIDE Africa Fund II. Pula, uLesson, Autochek, and Andela are among TLcom’s African IT tenants.
TLcom remains committed to its multi-stage investment strategy despite Okra and Kobo360’s struggles.
This strengthens the TAPSI fund’s long-term partnership with enterprises from early development to growth.
The $2 million TAPSI-funded TurnStay investment strengthens TLcom’s ability to find and support Africa’s ICT innovators and entrepreneurs.