Raise (visit website)
Location: Kenya

I once discussed with a startup founder and asked him “what is your greatest concern as a founder?” I saw great distress on his face while he narrates how hard it is to raise funds. “Why is raising funds this hard? ” and he said “I don’t know to be honest”. You can imagine what’s going on in my head after hearing him talk about his great idea and dreams but he was concerned about how to make this a reality. I tried doing some research and behold I came across some guys that made their concern the founder’s greatest concern.
Raise, the solution is a platform that makes it easier for startup teams, law firms and investors in Africa to start, grow and scale their companies. You wonder how they combine the legal part with technical knowledge and amazing marketing. I wasn’t surprised when I found out Marvin H. Coleby, an outstanding legal practitioner Co-founded Raise with Eugene Mutai, the Tech mind behind this magic. Tina Nyamache and Marion Samantha Wambui lead the Growth team and customer success respectively.

Raise Early Story
When they started, they were faced with the challenges of finding the right combination of products for their market. However, what kept them going was the gap they needed to bridge in the ecosystem. Unemployment rates across Africa are rising fast, and they need to be able to provide the platform for alternative careers in startups and growing equity value for companies. Existing solutions across Africa do not work because they were not built for this ecosystem. Most of the similar solutions were built for American markets, and have not been built to capture the unique circumstances of the African market. Raise is a better product because they integrate with African data sources (banks, law firms, corporate registries), designed the product for consumer behaviour in the ecosystem, they’ve integrated identity products and KYC for African investors and shareholders
As a company whose core value is to create financial independence for African communities, they help companies understand how equity works, and how they can grow the value of that equity in the early ecosystem.
We’re creating more owners, more equity and financial independence for Africans in the continent and the diaspora.
Marvin H. Coleby
Everything your business needs to succeed is what Raise offers you. Would you like to know more about the services they offer? I would be glad to take you through the details of the all-in-one platform.

Why Raise?
As a founder, you have quite a lot of things to address. Raising funds is a whole commitment that affects founders from focusing on other responsibilities like marketing, product, hiring staff and you know thinking of expansion. With raise, you can track legal data and build transparency with integrated portfolios for your company’s shareholders. You can’t imagine how mentally occupied every founder is but what’s really on their mind is to get funding that’ll push the idea further. Raise provides you with the option to decide on which funding means you prefer, be it SAFE, KISS or Convertible notes.
Before discussing further, you wonder “What’s KISS, SAFE and Convertible Notes?”
KISS
For Founders that have done a little bit of research, this is not a new word but for newbies, now is time to focus more. KISS is a type of convertible note that was coined by 500 Startups that means “Keep It Simple Security”. It is an agreement designed to keep things straightforward for entrepreneurs and investors. It also provides the investor with the right for future equity of the company by deferring the valuation question.
SAFE
As for SAFE, a Ycombinator initiative which means “Simple Agreement for Future Equity”. Simply put, a SAFE is a funding contract that gives investors the right to purchase stocks in a future financing round, therefore a SAFE also defers the valuation of a startup company to a later date. However, SAFEs do not have a maturity date, nor do they accrue interests. SAFEs typically can, but do not have to include a valuation cap and a discount price on conversion. Entrepreneurs like the flexibility that a SAFE can provide, although investors are more cautious since it gives investors fewer rights and protection.
Convertible Notes
For startups that are conducting their first round of financing (seed round) a convertible note can be a wonderful alternative to preferred stocks, particularly in the very early stage of the company, when it is difficult to assess the company’s value, so the valuation of the company is deferred to a later date. On that latter date, typically 12 to 18 months after the financing, the investors will have the option to convert their investment, including part or all of the accrued interests, into the equity of the company. A convertible note also makes it possible for the founders to receive funding much faster and with less complexity and legal fees, compared to a preferred stock financing.
All these explanations get confusing which is the main reason you need to contact an expert; Raise!

You wonder what’s so special about them, right?
You get informed about your valuation and how it impacts your company’s ownership. They as well share simple models and valuations for new investors to understand the growth potential of their funds. With their data-driven terms, you can build a valuation and report you can share with investors. For Investors, you can instantly verify African companies and shareholders. This can be achieved by automating compliance checks for individuals, companies and entities across Africa, Delaware and the European Union. The information provided allows you to make a better decision on how to close the right investors. You also have permission-level access to shareholders’ portfolios, this allows you to view their data directly on the platform.
Raise Cap Tables
Accidentally, we might have come across this word but found the meaning strange. Let’s break the shackles! A cap table contains records of the terms and conditions of all of the convertibles, options and shares issued by the company. Those terms get complicated, especially when you need to add, divide and subtract with weird calculations and bizarre words to get to the final percentage ownership of the company. We are aware of the popular saying, money affects friendship. Money matters, you know. In order to improve your finances with your team and reduce unnecessary headaches. Also, get accompanied by updating spreadsheets, click HERE to sign up to Raise Cap Tables.
Success so far
In the previous year, Raise accounted for 12% of the deals in Africa’s ecosystem, onboarded 200+ companies, and 3,000 investors and shareholders on the platform. To date, they’ve helped companies raise USD 100m.
Raise aimed at becoming the platform for tracking and managing equity. The ultimate goal is to create liquidity for private companies. Liquidity is when people can convert stock or shares into cash, and vice versa. Right now Africa’s equity is painfully illiquid, their goal is to make it more liquid. Certainly, you’ll want to explore new possibilities by making their goal a reality.
Concluding…
Oops! We hope Raise hastens on its mobile development. For me, I majorly carry out my task on my mobile device and according to a report, 74 per cent of web traffic was generated via smartphones and roughly 24 per cent via PC devices. This is due in part to the fact that mobile connections are much cheaper and do not require the infrastructure that is needed for traditional desktop PCs with fixed-line internet connections. We hope Raise will take into consideration mobile users and develop a user-friendly platform for mobile and desktop users at the same time. In the meantime, PC users can sign up for free and get verified by clicking the link here. This video would walk you through the process of verification on the Raise platform, feel free to watch and follow the Channel.
On a final note, to raise without stress, use Raise!!!
Definition of KISS, SAFE and Convertible note from Christian Schweizer here