Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV), a Nairobi-based venture studio championing innovation in African tourism, has raised an additional $500,000 from Dutch single-family office Alphatron. This latest investment brings PEV’s total seed round funding to $5 million, following a previously announced $4.5 million round in January led by Clear Creek Investments and Klister Corp. The extended round reflects growing investor confidence in PEV’s strategy to reimagine the continent’s tourism sector through technology and sustainability.

A Unique Model Powering Regenerative Tourism

Founded to respond to the urgent need for a more inclusive and environmentally conscious tourism industry, PEV is the first venture studio in Africa dedicated exclusively to regenerative travel innovation. It identifies critical pain points in the sector and builds startups to solve them, leveraging deep industry insight and a robust network of partners. This venture-building model allows PEV to iterate rapidly, align business goals with sustainability objectives, and scale solutions that transform how tourism operates across the continent.

Building a Diverse Portfolio of High-Impact Startups

To date, PEV has launched five companies that tackle challenges across the tourism value chain, from logistics and booking systems to energy efficiency and guide support. These include Nomad Africa, a hybrid travel tech and content platform; Zafari, a SaaS product streamlining operations for hospitality providers; and Kijani Supplies, which focuses on sustainable procurement for hotels. Other ventures, such as PowerTrip and JOIN Africa, promote green technology and empower safari guides, respectively, signaling PEV’s broad approach to sector-wide innovation.

Alphatron’s Strategic Alignment with PEV’s Vision

The investment by Alphatron Group, a Netherlands-based family office known for its technological ventures across sectors like medical tech and city surveillance, marks a significant vote of confidence. Alphatron Director Floris de Kort emphasized that PEV’s focus on blending technology with environmental responsibility closely aligns with the group’s values. This partnership also reflects Alphatron’s commitment to supporting visionary initiatives that promise both positive climate impact and scalable economic returns in emerging markets.

Accelerating Innovation Across the Tourism Ecosystem

With the fresh capital injection, PEV plans to double down on its mission to digitize and decarbonize African tourism. Resources will be allocated to expanding the reach of its current startups, incubating new ventures, and building digital infrastructure to support growth across the ecosystem. By addressing gaps in accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability, PEV aims to foster a tourism industry that is both future-ready and deeply rooted in local contexts.

Investor Confidence Signals Sector-Wide Opportunity

According to PEV CEO and Co-Founder Ben Peterson, the additional backing from Alphatron affirms the studio’s core belief that African tourism can be a global leader in sustainable innovation. Peterson noted that traditional systems have long hindered the industry’s potential, but technology offers a pathway to unlock inclusive, climate-conscious growth. The extended seed round positions PEV not just as a funding recipient but as a key architect of Africa’s evolving tourism narrative.

As Africa’s travel industry continues to recover and evolve post-pandemic, ventures like PEV are proving critical in driving its transformation. The studio’s work intersects conservation, community development, and commercial viability, presenting a model that other regions may look to replicate. With renewed financial strength and strategic support, Purple Elephant Ventures stands poised to lead the continent into a new era of tourism that is regenerative by design and powered by innovation.