LekkeSlaap Sold to Investec-Led Consortium as Founders Exit

In Short

LekkeSlaap has been sold to a new investor consortium. The co-founders have exited. The deal price was not shared.

What Happened

South African accommodation booking platform LekkeSlaap has been acquired by a consortium that includes Investec and the Dippenaar and Ferreira family offices.

The transaction value was not disclosed. Family offices are private investment firms that manage money for wealthy families.

LekkeSlaap co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste sold their stakes and have exited the business.

Current CEO Frans Joubert and his management team invested alongside the new owners. They will continue to run the company day to day.

LekkeSlaap competes in the online travel and accommodation market, where platforms make money by connecting travellers to places to stay and taking a commission on bookings.

Why It Matters

Founder exits are still relatively rare in African consumer internet and travel tech. Even when startups grow, many do not reach a point where early shareholders can sell in a structured deal.

An acquisition backed by a bank and family offices suggests local capital is still willing to bet on established digital marketplaces, even when funding is tighter.

Keeping the CEO and team in place also signals continuity. For customers and property partners, that can reduce the risk of product changes, pricing shocks, or operational disruption.

For South Africa’s wider travel tech ecosystem, the deal is another data point that mature platforms can attract secondary buyers. That matters for employees with equity, early angel investors, and founders planning long-term outcomes.