SwiftVEE's R170 Million Series A Milestone

Fueling Africa's Livestock Revolution and Beyond

By Addy Mabasa | November 30, 2025

In the vast, sun-scorched rangelands of southern Africa, where livestock trading has long been a game of handshakes, haggling, and high-stakes guesswork, a digital disruptor is quietly rewriting the rules. SwiftVEE, the Johannesburg-based agritech startup founded in 2019, has just closed a landmark Series A funding round, raising approximately R170 million (USD 10 million) in a blend of equity and debt financing. This infusion, announced late last week, marks a pivotal moment for the company, which has evolved from a pioneering online auction platform into a comprehensive ecosystem tackling inefficiencies across the livestock value chain.

The round, contingent on finalizing pipeline opportunities, brings on board heavyweights like HAVAÍC (an African venture capital firm), Iain Williamson (former CEO of Old Mutual), and private equity player EXEO Capital, joining existing backers such as fund managers Mike Kirsten and Carlo Dickson, alongside Zire Africa. For a sector plagued by fragmented markets, post-trade delays, and climate-induced volatility—South Africa's livestock industry alone contributes over R100 billion annually to GDP—this funding underscores investor confidence in SwiftVEE's vision: to digitize and democratize livestock commerce across the continent.

As agritech investments in South Africa surge—bolstered by DALRRD's R1.2 billion in grants and a burgeoning ecosystem valued at USD 1.1 billion—SwiftVEE's raise signals not just capital inflow but a maturing market ready to scale solutions for smallholders and commercial breeders alike.

With operations spanning South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, and a gross merchandise value (GMV) exceeding USD 100 million in annual livestock and game trades, the startup is poised to accelerate its pan-African footprint.But what does this mean for the future of African agriculture? Let's unpack the journey, the capital's promise, and the broader implications.

From Dorm-Room Auctions to Continental Powerhouse

SwiftVEE's origins trace back to a simple yet audacious idea: replace dusty cattle sales with real-time, online bidding. Co-founded by CEO Russel Luck and a team of agronomists and tech experts, the platform launched amid the Google Launchpad Africa accelerator in 2019, targeting the inefficiencies of traditional livestock markets—where agents traveled hundreds of kilometers, connectivity was nonexistent, and pricing opacity favored middlemen.

Early traction was swift. By 2020, a USD 1.5 million seed round led by Subtropico Ltd and a private syndicate enabled expansion into Namibia and Botswana, breaking records with sales like a R1.7 million Boran bull—potentially a Guinness contender.The COVID-19 pandemic, far from derailing progress, accelerated adoption as physical auctions ground to a halt. SwiftVEE's AI-driven matching algorithms—leveraging machine learning to pair buyers and sellers at optimal times—emerged as a lifeline, hosting hundreds of virtual events annually.

Today, the core platform facilitates 20 auctions daily across four countries, but SwiftVEE has outgrown its auction roots. Complementary ventures include AuctionApp.IO, a white-label software for non-agri assets, and PrysWys, an online marketplace for agricultural inputs like feed and veterinary supplies.Revenue streams—subscriptions, advertising, and white-label licensing—have diversified, with embedded financial services like insurance and Nedbank-backed loans rounding out a full value-chain offering. As Luck told Disrupt Africa earlier this year, "We're not just trading animals; we're building the infrastructure for efficient, inclusive markets."

This evolution has drawn accolades: Bloomberg named SwiftVEE among its 25 African Startups to Watch in 2025, highlighting its role in addressing food insecurity through tech-enabled trade.

The Series A Breakdown: Capital for Conquest

The R170 million raise—bringing total funding to over R200 million since inception—arrives at a inflection point.Structured as equity and debt instruments, the funds are earmarked for aggressive expansion: deeper penetration into existing markets, entry into new African frontiers like Kenya and Tanzania, and international outreach to high-value buyers in the UAE, Asia, and North America.

Investor Mike Kirsten emphasized the strategic heft: "Having Africa's financial leaders on board validates SwiftVEE's trajectory and brings unparalleled expertise to fuel growth."HAVAÍC's involvement, in particular, signals a bet on scalable, impact-driven tech—aligning with the VC firm's portfolio of agrifintech plays across the continent.

In a funding landscape where South African agritech raised USD 50 million across 10 deals in 2024 alone, SwiftVEE's round stands out for its size and syndicate quality. It follows peers like Khula's R126 million extension in March 2025 and Aerobotics' global scaling, underscoring a maturing ecosystem where livestock—often overlooked amid crop-focused innovations—is gaining traction.

The Future Horizon: A Digitized Livestock Ecosystem

With this capital, SwiftVEE envisions a borderless African livestock economy. Short-term priorities include enhancing AI capabilities for predictive pricing and risk assessment—crucial as climate shocks like La Niña loom—and bundling more services, from veterinary teleconsults to carbon credit tracking for regenerative grazing. Luck's ambition is clear: connect Africa's superior genetics to premium global markets, where South African Boran or Namibian game fetch 20–30% premiums.

Longer-term, SwiftVEE could catalyze broader agrifintech integration, much like Emata in Uganda or Kitovu in Nigeria, by embedding credit scoring via trade data—unlocking loans for 80% of smallholders currently unbanked.In a continent where livestock supports 300 million livelihoods and contributes 40% to agricultural GDP, such platforms could slash trade frictions by 25%, per World Bank estimates, while advancing Agenda 2063's inclusive growth goals.

Challenges remain: Regulatory hurdles in cross-border trade, connectivity gaps in rural zones (only 38% 4G coverage), and the need for farmer training to adopt digital tools. Yet, with AfCFTA's momentum and investments like Vodacom's rural 5G push, SwiftVEE is well-positioned to overcome them.

Broader Implications: Elevating African Agritech

SwiftVEE's raise is more than a startup story—it's a bellwether for South Africa's USD 1.1 billion agritech market, projected to hit USD 50 billion by 2030.By prioritizing livestock—a sector often sidelined in favor of crops—it highlights untapped potential: efficient markets could add R50 billion to SA's agri-GDP alone, while empowering women (43% of the workforce) through accessible bidding.

As Kirsten noted, "This endorsement from Africa's leaders demonstrates profound confidence in SwiftVEE's success." In an era of global food insecurity, SwiftVEE isn't just trading cattle—it's trading futures, one auction at a time. The question now: How many more African innovators will follow suit?

How is digital trade reshaping your livestock operations? Share below.

#SwiftVEE #AgriTechSA #LivestockRevolution #AfricanStartups #AgriwebSA