South African international calling app Talk360 has secured US$1.4 million in pre-Series A funding to advance its goal of connecting seven million people by 2025 and to strengthen its path toward long-term profitability.
Founded in 2016 by South African venture builder Dean Hiine alongside Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp, Talk360 offers a user-friendly platform that enables affordable international calls to any mobile and landline number. The app has become Africa’s leading international calling solution, with offices in South Africa, the Netherlands, India, and Nigeria. In 2023, Talk360 connected over four million people and previously raised US$7 million in seed funding in 2022.
The pre-Series A funding round was led by existing investor HAVAÍC, which contributed US$1 million. The remaining US$400,000 was provided by other investors, bringing the startup’s valuation to approximately US$30 million.
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Osnabrugge, CEO of Talk360, remarked, “We’re incredibly proud of Talk360’s growth. Over the past two years, our user base has expanded from 2.3 million to 4 million. This new funding will support our mission to connect African migrant communities with their families back home.”
He added, “The additional funding will help us reach our next growth phase, aiming to connect seven million people and achieve profitability across our global operations.”
With this funding, Talk360 plans to enhance its localization efforts by incorporating more African languages and establishing further partnerships with remittance companies, retailers, and brands.
Ian Lessem, managing partner at HAVAÍC, stated, “Talk360’s success in navigating challenging economic conditions highlights the robustness of its business model and vision. We are confident that this funding will enable them to extend their impact, particularly in underserved communities across Africa.”
