Imperial enters mobile with startup acquisition
Mobile tech startup ForeFront Africa (FFA), has been acquired by listed motoring and logistics firm, Imperial Holdings, as the latter looks to enter the mobile and telecommunications industries.
In July 2013, Imperial launched the Resolve brand, merging group companies, Volition (supply chain consulting services) and e-Logics (technology business services) and their associated businesses.
Under Imperial, FFA will now form part of Resolve and become Resolve Mobile.
FFA focuses on assisting companies in the mobile and communications sector with African expansion strategies, product management, internal and external social networking strategies, new product implementation and management.
It was started by serial mobile entrepreneur, Nic Haralambous and Tracy Langdon-Surkont in 2013.
“The sale [to Imperial] is definitely a partnership with a great and relevant business for us,” Haralambous told BusinessTech.
“We’re partnering with an organisation that has a footprint in Africa, a hunger to grow in the mobile arena and is able to really help us grow into a major mobile player throughout the continent. We’re accelerating the growth of our business and innovating with Imperial.”
Haralambous could not disclose the value of the deal with Imperial, but did say that Resolve Mobile will be using as much of the funding as it can as growth capital to expand the business over the next 5 years.
Haralambous has launched a number of businesses in mobile space in South Africa, namely as the founder and CEO of Motribe – a social branding and business platform which was eventually acquired by social network, Mxit.
He is also founder of NicSocks – a quirky “limited edition subscription socks service” which enjoyed viral success across SA social media.
ForeFront co-founder, Tracy Langdon-Surkont, also has extensive experience in mobile, having worked at Mxit, Nashua Mobile and working alongside Haralambous at Vodacom.
Both Haralambous and Langdon-Surkont will remain at Resolve Mobile.
“We are both integrally involved in the business and will be working with Resolve, Imperial Holdings and Imperial clients to grow mobile on the continent and in South Africa,” Haralambous told BusinessTech.
“Myself and Tracy are building a sustainable, innovative and profitable business. Resolve Mobile presents us with the opportunity to really do something great with fantastic people and businesses.”
Resolve Mobile’s clients include WASPs, mobile network operators as well as social networks from around the world.
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