South African online booking platform Conservio has raised $1 million (R19 million) in its second funding round, led by E4E Africa. The startup, founded in 2020, focuses on directing revenue to properties that emphasize natural surroundings, protect habitats, and foster a deeper connection to the environment.
The funding round also saw contributions from Volve Capital, Living Hope Ventures, and key angel investors, including Jonathan Smith, a veteran African tech entrepreneur known for his involvement with Payfast. Smith had previously invested in Conservio’s $500k pre-seed round in March 2023.
Conservio plans to use the new investment to expand its portfolio to over 2,000 properties in Southern Africa and to increase its customer base.
Bas Hochstenbach, managing partner at E4E Africa, stated, “E4E Africa invests in ventures that promote sustainable growth across Africa. We believe in Conservio’s vision to streamline nature-based travel for consumers while supporting job creation in rural communities and boosting conservation efforts in Africa.”
Joost Bijlsma, co-founder of Volve, added, “We invested in Conservio because we believe in their mission to make nature-based travel more accessible and enhance the impact of ecotourism. Conservio is well-positioned for rapid growth.”
Justin Rijnberg, co-founder and chief product officer of Conservio, remarked that demand for independent travel within Africa is growing quickly, providing a strong foundation for the company’s expansion.
