Samurai Incubate and Consonance Investment have co-led a $1m pre-seed funding round in Norebase, a trade technology company building a single platform for businesses to start, scale and operate in any African country.

Sahil Lavingia (Gumroad) and Kinfolk VC also invested in this fundraise.

The round also included participation from Future Africa, Ventures Platform, Microtraction, Boleh Venture, Voltron Capital, Wuri Ventures, Afropreneur, and angel investments from African tech ecosystem leaders Shola Akinlade (Paystack), Odunayo Eweniyi (Piggyvest), Adia Sowho (MTN Nigeria), Akin Oyebode, and Seni Sulyman.

Rena Yoneyama of Samurai Incubate, said: “It is truly impressive how Norebase is designing a future where every business and individual can experience Africa as one market. Their team comprises some of the best minds on the continent, helping simplify the complications of launching in any African market, and we are excited to be part of their growth journey.”

This raise will help accelerate the company’s plans to build a plug-and-play company incorporation technology, broaden its trademark registration technology stack, bolster its existing team of world-class talent and develop more research-led solutions.

Norebase is building Africa’s company and trademark platform that simplifies the start and scale processes for businesses in the continent and beyond. 

Launched in September 2021, Norebase is laser-focused on building a two-pronged platform that offers African and non-African businesses access to the African continent as one big market while creating a channel where African founders can access the international markets (such as the USA).

Using Norebase, established companies can expand to new locations while new businesses can be incorporated in any African country of their choice in just a few minutes.

In addition, Norebase’s platform provides a single point for startup founders and entrepreneurs to register a company, get a bank account, get a virtual mailing address and even register a trademark and handle IP registration in any African country. 

Norebase is also focused on ensuring the Intellectual Property of startups in Africa and international companies expanding to the continent are securely protected as they scale and navigate multiple territories.  The company has helped founders incorporate companies in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Tanzania, Egypt, Mauritius, and Burkina Faso etc.

It also recently started offering incorporation services in the U.S.

The company has delivered 100% month-on-month growth in transaction volumes for the last six months, with a 40% M-o-M growth in revenue during the same period.

Tola Onayemi, CEO at Norebase, said: “We are delighted to be joined by a stellar roster of experienced and strategic investors, whose expertise will play a key role as we scale the Norebase goal of being partners for set-up, compliance, regulatory needs for both cross-border expansions and local markets. Given our global and Africa-wide ambitions, we consciously ensured our investors came from across Africa and the world.”