To expand across Francophone Africa, $4.5 M raised by Senegalese logistics startup PAPS

PAPS, a Senegalese company, has secured a pre-Series A fundraising round of US $4.5 million from local and international investors to help it develop its tech-enabled logistics service across the Francophone African area.

PAPS, which began operations in September 2016, provides end-to-end logistics solutions for businesses that operate both offline and online. With services including storage, international shipping, and last-mile delivery, its technology lets businesses of all sizes successfully handle their logistical demands.

The firm told Disrupt Africa in 2018 that its goal was to become the largest distribution service in French-speaking Africa, and after expanding to Ivory Coast, it is now aiming for even further expansion thanks to a US $4.5 million fundraising round.

With participation from existing investors such as Saviu Ventures and Uma Ventures, as well as new investors such as Yamaha Motors, LoftyInc Capital Management, Proparco, the Google Black Founders Fund, To.org, Kepple Africa Ventures, and Enza Capital, the investment was co-led by 4DX Ventures and Orange.

PAPS, which has the largest last-mile fleet in Senegal, has done over 10 million deliveries across Senegal and the Ivory Coast so far, and now wants to expand into additional French-speaking West African countries.

“I am proud of the amazing work done by all the PAPS teams which have enabled us to make this fundraising a reality today. Our ambition is clear – become the first pan-African logistics provider with international standards. We made it our mission to help our clients to be more productive and efficient, everyday. I am also delighted by the trust granted by these renowned investors, who are joining us to build the logistics of tomorrow,” said PAPS co-founder and CEO Bamba Lo.

4DX Ventures co-founder and general partner Walter Baddoo stated the PAPS team’s execution and drive to “building a really creative business in the logistics industry” pleased his firm.

“We believe technology has a critical role to play in modernising Africa’s logistics infrastructure and we look forward to further partnering with Bamba and the PAPS team on this next phase of their growth,” he said.