SOUTH AFRICA – Enlabeler, an artificial intelligence (AI) and data annotation startup, has raised funding from new VC fund Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs (E4E) Africa to kickstart its operations and target international markets.

E4E selected the innovative AI and data annotation startup for its focus on creating job opportunities for marginalised South Africans.

Due to Enlabeler’s viability as a business, the company aims to achieve profitability as soon as possible and will use the funding to meaningfully kickstart its operations.

“Enlabeler is a perfect example of the kind of company we want to invest in. It combines the latest in innovation and technology with the ability to scale globally, while empowering ordinary South Africans,” Philani Sangweni, Managing Partner at E4E Africa commented

Established in 2019, Enlabeler grew out of a project by Cape AI, who passed on the baton to the current leadership to secure funding. The startup aims to merge the need for accurate video, text, image, and audio labeling with the urgent need for job creation and employment opportunities.

Since launching, the startup’s live image annotation, audio transcription, and local language services has attracted a number of local clients.

According to the startup, it has grown a person-strong database of over 250 ‘human labelers’. In addition, the startup has established a presence in both Kenya and South Africa with plans for further expansion into the rest of Africa.

Their ethos is embedded in creating an inclusive and tech-driven environment for highly motivated young people to gain work experience, earn a salary, learning a new space, and ultimately grow into the South African data science and tech spaces.

Enlabeler will utilise all the advantages associated with using a South African workforce including, proficiency in English, competitive wages and pricing, a level of high technical skills, and a range more of factors.

“As important as this initial funding is, what really attracted us to E4E was their expertise as seasoned entrepreneurs and the relationships to which they could introduce us. We rate the team highly as entrepreneurs and are proud to be associated with them,” Esther Hoogstad CEO and co-founder at Enlabeler said.

E4E is an Africa entrepreneur centric investment fund aimed at early-stage startups, it has a particular focus on diversity in the innovation and technology spaces.

Founded by a blend of entrepreneurs and aligned institutional investors, all the E4E Africa partners have significant experience in the South African startup ecosystem.

Alongside capital, this means that E4E Africa is uniquely positioned to provide entrepreneurs with the relevant knowledge necessary to create thriving businesses and impact at scale.

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