Cape Town’s Jem, a WhatsApp-based workforce management platform for deskless teams, has secured $8.4-million in a Series A funding round led by US-based fintech investor Quona Capital, with participation from University Tech Fund, E4E and a group of prominent angel investors, including former Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson.
Series A funding is typically the first round of institutional fundraising for a startup after proving market viability.
Deskless employees include waiters, farm and factory workers, and security guards, for example.
Three out of four employed South Africans work on the front line, not at a desk. They have typically been locked out by technology providers, with no laptop, no work email, and no reliable way to stay connected to their employer.
Jem says the investment will help support its growth from a human resources (HR) and benefits provider into an AI-native workforce management platform.
