AIfluence, an AI-powered Kenya-based influencer marketing platform, has closed Ksh. 108 million ($1 million) in seed funding. The investment round was led by Dubai-based EQ2 Ventures, and joined by Antler East Africa, Nigerian VC OUI Capital, ArabyAds and a European family office.
AIfluence stated that the funds will be used for expansion into the rest of Africa, Middle East & Asia by the end of 2021. The company also aims to further invest into AIfluence’s tech and SaaS platform in all its markets.
Commenting on the funding, Patrick Thiriet CEO of EQ2 Ventures said, “People are the new media in today’s digital world, and AIfluence is uniquely positioned to turn this reality into tangible results for advertisers. We’ve been impressed by the team’s obsession to use data in order to spread authentic and relevant messages to the right audience. This is what advertising should always be. We are looking forward to AIfluence’s journey ahead.”
Melalite Ayenew, Antler East Africa’s Partner also commented saying, “We are excited to see local founders with deep expertise in the African market take a global problem head on, and in a short time demonstrate a tech solution that is fast attracting demand in Africa and beyond”.
Also speaking on the newly secured funding, AIfluence Co-founder and CEO Nelson Aseka, remarked, “We are at the cusp of a revolution, globally the way marketing works is changing. We find ourselves at an intersection of advanced technology and the fastest growing region in the world in terms of digital and social media penetration.”