What companies did Alameda Research invest in across Africa?

Alameda Research backed four companies in Africa: VALR (a crypto trading platform in South Africa), OVEX (regulated crypto liquidity and cross-border payments in South Africa), Jambo (a crypto-focused Android phone in Kenya), and AZA Finance (cross-border FX and payments in Kenya). These investments totaled $91.5 million across five funding rounds between March 2021 and March 2022.

What investment stages did Alameda Research focus on?

Alameda Research invested across multiple stages, including Seed rounds, Series B, Venture rounds, and Debt Financing. The firm's largest investment was a $50 million Series B round in VALR in March 2022, while its smallest was a $4 million Venture round in OVEX in March 2021.

Which countries did Alameda Research prioritize for investments?

Alameda Research concentrated its investments in South Africa and Kenya. The firm backed three companies in South Africa (VALR, OVEX, and VALR again) and two in Kenya (Jambo and AZA Finance), reflecting a clear geographic focus on East and Southern Africa.

What sectors did Alameda Research invest in?

Alameda Research focused primarily on Crypto and Web3, backing four companies in this sector, alongside one Fintech investment. The firm's portfolio reflected its expertise in cryptocurrency trading and blockchain infrastructure, with investments in crypto exchanges, liquidity providers, and blockchain-enabled financial services.

Did Alameda Research co-invest with other venture firms?

Yes, Alameda Research co-invested alongside numerous other firms and investors, including Coinbase Ventures, Pantera Capital, Three Arrows Capital, and individual investors like Do Kwon and Sandeep Nailwal. This collaborative approach demonstrated the firm's integration within the broader crypto venture ecosystem.

Alameda Research

4 investments·3 products on Liners

Alameda Research was a cryptocurrency trading firm co-founded in September 2017 by Sam Bankman-Fried and Tara MacAulay. Operating as a quantitative trading firm specializing in cryptocurrencies, Alameda employed strategies including arbitrage, market making, yield farming, and trading volatility. The firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2022 following a solvency crisis at its sister exchange FTX. During its active investment period from March 2021 to March 2022, Alameda Research deployed $91.5 million across five funding rounds in Africa, with a strong focus on the crypto and fintech sectors. The firm concentrated its investments in South Africa and Kenya, backing companies including VALR, a crypto trading platform; OVEX, a regulated crypto liquidity provider; Jambo, a crypto-focused Android phone manufacturer; and AZA Finance, a cross-border payments provider. Alameda's largest single investment was a $50 million Series B round in VALR in March 2022, demonstrating significant conviction in African cryptocurrency infrastructure.

Total Invested

$84M

Active Since

Mar 2021

Latest Investment

Mar 2022

Top Stage

Venture (Round not Specified)