What We Do
Investing in Sustainable Growth
At Orpheus International, we specialise in identifying and investing in potential high-growth SME opportunities that are often overlooked by mainstream investors. We have a particular focus on Zimbabwe and Zambia, where our management team have extensive experience of building businesses and contributing to the development of local economies, within an often challenging environment.
Welcome to Orpheus International
Investing in Overlooked SME Opportunities
Orpheus International is the promoter and manager of a closed-end investment company focusing on overlooked SME opportunities in Zimbabwe and the sub-region.
The Opportunity
Southern Africa, and Zimbabwe in particular boasts a wealth of resources, not least of which is its educated, entrepreneurial and hard working population.
Within its challenged economy we see a number of well-managed, thriving businesses led by talented entrepreneurs. These business leaders have been able to navigate the challenges of exchange rate uncertainty, hard currency shortages, power outages and a creaking infrastructure. What they have learnt and been able to achieve is testament to their talent, resourcefulness and resilience and yet they remain the least supported by the international investment community.
Our view is that when you see what these entrepreneurs have achieved against a backdrop of dramatic and sustained economic decline, the potential is enormous when they are properly funded and enabled to think beyond their national borders.
Zambia enjoys a less challenging business environment than Zimbabwe. The risks are lower, the returns perhaps lower too. However, as neighbours with a long trading history, Zambia remains a potentially attractive expansion market for Zimbabwean enterprises AND a risk counter-weight.
In-depth Market Knowledge
There are some very attractive investment opportunities within the SME sector both in Zimbabwe and potentially within some neighbouring territories, notably in Zambia. We believe that for investors to successfully leverage these opportunities, they need to invest in and through an independent VC style company, that embraces the inherent risks, but has a team with the regional business and corporate governance experience to effectively navigate the challenges. Local insight, relevant experience, flexible planning and being able to mitigate risk are essential ingredients for success within this environment.
Our team of experienced professionals has an in-depth understanding of the local market, enabling us to identify hidden gems and take advantage of untapped opportunities. With in-country teams and existing operating companies, we know how to navigate the rapids of southern African economics, legislation and people management and we find and work with only the best.
Investment Expertise
With years of experience investing in, building and growing companies in Zimbabwe and southern Africa, we have developed a proven track record of successful investments, delivering attractive returns for our investors.
Focused Approach
Unlike larger investment firms, we focus exclusively on SME opportunities in Zimbabwe and the sub-region. This allows us to provide dedicated attention and tailored solutions to our portfolio companies.
Social Impact
For impact investors with a passion for making a genuine difference in Africa, we have the opportunities. Orpheus is committed to investing in SMEs that will make a positive impact on the lives of the local population. Our commitment will include some charitable ventures, funded by a percentage of any profits upon exit. At its core, Orpheus is about transforming potential into greater value, and managing the risks in order to realise the superior returns that this environment can offer By supporting SMEs, we contribute to job creation, economic empowerment, and overall community development.
“We firmly believe the prevailing investor perceptions of Zimbabwe are outdated and inaccurate. We have seen a number of positive changes within the country over the last two years in particular.
Some of the most attractive business opportunities are often missed or overlooked, because investors see only risk. As African entrepreneurs we see great opportunities. The local management teams we support have shown they can navigate the risks; they’ve proven it over the years.”
Geoff Goss, Founder & CEO"
The Orpheus Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Geoff
Goss
CEO
With a background in both corporate enterprises and SME's in Zimbabwe and the UK, Geoff has been building, running and exiting businesses for over 30 years. Having lived for half a century in Zimbabwe and now based in the UK, he has an extensive network across jurisdictions and is inspired by the myriad of opportunities that can be found in southern Africa with the right approach and careful selection.
Jeremy
George
Director
Jeremy has, for the past twenty years, been the key operations go-to-guy for a number of tech start-ups in Africa and the UK.
He is currently Head of Commercial Operations at Datafree Africa and a non-Executive advisor to Orpheus.
Richard
Gloster
Investment Associate
Richard has over thirty years experience within the corporate sector and with early stage ventures or more established SME's covering media, Publishing, Travel & Leisure, Renewable Energy, Technology, Aerospace and Insurance.
Currently Richard provides development support to Orpheus in the form of additional resources, skills, guidance and contacts to add value to the company and its emerging ventures
Di
Horsley
Finance Manager
Di is Zimbabwe born of English heritage and has worked as a finance manager across multiple sectors including agriculture, commerce and engineering. More recently she has been responsible for the Finance Management function of several investment vehicles with an operational focus in Africa and has been managed the accounting function at Orpheus and it's parent company for the last five years.
Two
Existing Investments
USD 15 million+
Value of Existing Portfolio Companies
Up to USD 20 million
Target Capital Raise
USD 350 million +
Servicable Market for Solar Home Systems in Zimbabwe
Portfolio Company 1
Kumusha Power is the anchor investment, ripe for explosive growth and the first of numerous SMEs identified for increased equity participation
Kumusha Power
Zimbabwe's fastest growing provider of PayGo mini Solar Home Systems to both the formal and informal sectors.
National Reach
The company operates across Zimbabwe with a combination of full time staff and freelance agents selling SHS kits on credit to pre-approved consumers.
PayGo
Using a combination of mobile money to receive installments, and SMS to distribute tokens, the company's Pay-as-you-Go system reduces defaults and maintains robust cashflow.
Market Size
There is demand in over 2 million rural homes in Zimbabwe alone, of which at least 80% have the willingness and ability to pay creating a Serviceable Market over over US$350,000,000
Portfolio Company 2
Roll Out Ads (Pvt) Ltd. t/a GIKKO is the largest A2P Omni Channel Message Aggregator in Zimbabwe and a target for greater equity participation.
Gikko
Gikko was the first A2P company in Zimbabwe and has been responsible for developing the market since 2010. The company now processes more than 30 million messages annually in Zimbabwe alone.
World Class Platform
Gikko works closely with Infobip Limited, the Global leader in omni channel messaging and customer experience (CX) SaaS.
Unrivalled Customer Base
Gikko provides mission critical, core-business messaging services to the majority of local and regional financial institutions in the country, including major global banks and insurance companies.
Future Proof
Whilst SMS will continue to dominate this space for years to come in Africa, Gikko has already developed capabilities across all major smart phone technologies
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