Purple Elephant Ventures Raises Additional $500K from Alphatron, Boosting Total Seed Round to $5M

Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a pioneering venture studio focused on reshaping African tourism through technology and sustainability, has secured an additional $500,000 investment from Alphatron. This latest funding brings PEV’s total seed round to $5 million, reinforcing investor confidence in its mission to build a regenerative and tech-enabled tourism ecosystem across the continent.

Originally announcing a $4.5 million seed round in January led by Clear Creek Investments and Klister Corp PEV has rapidly established itself as a leader in Africa’s tourism-tech space. Alphatron, a Dutch single-family office under the Alphatron Group, joins the investor network with a clear alignment to PEV’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and long-term industry transformation.

Emerging in the post-pandemic landscape, PEV has positioned itself as a catalyst for rethinking African tourism by launching ventures that address inefficiencies, sustainability gaps, and accessibility barriers. Its growing portfolio already includes five high-impact startups: Nomad Africa, a discovery and booking platform; Zafari, a SaaS solution for hospitality operators; Kijani Supplies, focused on sustainable hospitality procurement; PowerTrip, offering energy-efficient solutions to hospitality providers; and JOIN Africa, a venture supporting safari guides in collaboration with Kayak co-founder Paul English.

This expanded seed round will enable PEV to further scale these ventures, invest in new travel tech solutions, and develop digital infrastructure that supports a more inclusive and efficient tourism sector. The investment also paves the way for deeper collaborations with investors, conservation groups, and technology partners committed to building a future-ready African tourism industry.

Ben Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of PEV, emphasized the strategic importance of this backing. “Alphatron’s investment is a testament to the transformative potential of regenerative tourism in Africa,” he said. “Their support not only strengthens our financial position but also aligns with our long-term vision of leveraging technology to make tourism more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful.”

Floris de Kort, Director at Alphatron Group, highlighted the synergy between Alphatron’s values and PEV’s mission. “In Purple Elephant Ventures, we found the perfect blend of innovation, sustainability, and market potential. What resonated most was PEV’s understanding that tourism innovation must prioritize environmental consciousness. This investment is part of our commitment to supporting visionary businesses that create real-world impact while building for a climate-responsible future.”

With roots in delivering advanced technology solutions across multiple industries, from radar systems to medical equipment, Alphatron brings both strategic insight and a deep understanding of innovation to its partnership with PEV.

Looking forward, Purple Elephant Ventures will use this funding to continue building resilient and scalable tourism-tech solutions across Africa. By focusing on regenerative principles and forward-thinking partnerships, PEV aims to not only modernize African tourism but also create lasting economic and environmental value for communities across the continent.