South African international calling app Talk360 has raised US$1.4 million in secondary investment to fuel its next phase of growth. With aim to deepen its product capabilities and expanding its cross-border communication platform.
The funding round, led by long-standing investor HAVAÍC and supported by Universum Wealth, showcases sustained investor confidence in the startup’s vision of making global communication more accessible and reliable.
Founded in 2016, Talk360 has grown into Africa’s leading international calling app, connecting more than four million people in 2023 alone.
With this latest injection of capital, the company plans to enhance its user experience and further scale Shop360, a feature that allows users to send airtime and data top-ups to over 180 countries worldwide.
“We are grateful for the continued conviction and support of HAVAÍC and Universum Wealth as we enter the next phase of our journey,” said Hans Osnabrugge, CEO of Talk360.
What You Should Know About Talk360
Talk360 was co-founded in 2016 by South African venture builder Dean Hiine alongside Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Osnabrugge and Jorne Schamp.
The company was built with a clear mission, to make international communication affordable and accessible, particularly for underserved communities and diaspora populations.
The app allows users to make low-cost international calls to any mobile or landline number globally, without requiring the recipient to install the app.
Over the years, Talk360 has positioned itself as Africa’s leading international calling platform. With offices in South Africa, the Netherlands, India, and Nigeria, the company has steadily expanded its operational footprint while strengthening its presence in key global markets.
Its impact is measurable, in 2023 alone, it connected more than four million people, underscoring the scale of demand for affordable cross-border communication solutions.
How the Startup Operates
Talk360 operates on a simple but powerful model. Unlike many communication apps that require both parties to use the same platform, Talk360 enables users to call any mobile or landline number directly.
This removes barriers to connectivity, particularly in regions where smartphone penetration or app adoption may be limited. Revenue is generated through affordable international call rates, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional telecom operators.
In addition, the company has expanded its services beyond voice communication. Through Shop360, users can instantly send mobile airtime, data bundles, and top-ups to family and friends in more than 180 countries.
This diversification reflects Talk360’s broader ambition to evolve from a calling app into a comprehensive cross-border connectivity platform.
Talk360’s Company Capacity and Growth Trajectory
The latest funding round builds on a strong history of investor backing. Talk360 raised US$7 million in seed funding in 2022, followed by US$1.4 million in pre-Series A funding in September 2023.
The newly secured US$1.4 million secondary investment further reinforces the company’s growth momentum. This consistent capital inflow highlights Talk360’s scalability and operational strength.
With multiple international offices and millions of users, the startup has moved beyond early-stage experimentation into a structured growth phase. Its ability to maintain investor confidence across multiple funding rounds suggests a solid business model and expanding market opportunity.
Who the Investors Are and the Plan for the New Money
The latest investment round is led by HAVAÍC, Talk360’s lead investor since 2022. The transaction was also supported by Universum Wealth, a limited partner in HAVAÍC’s US$50 million African Innovation Fund 3.
The participation of established institutional investors reflects sustained belief in Talk360’s long-term potential.
“As Talk360 consolidates its place as a leader in the African market and moves into the growth phase of its startup journey, we are excited to further support management through greater shareholding and an ever-evolving relationship built on a common vision to solve real-world challenges in Africa and beyond,” said Ian Lessem, managing partner at HAVAÍC.
The fresh capital will primarily support the company’s next phase of product development and platform expansion. This includes improving user experience across the app and accelerating the build-out of Shop360.
By strengthening these features, Talk360 aims to enhance reliability, increase user engagement, and expand its global service coverage.
Why This Matters
Talk360’s latest funding round is significant not just for the company, but for Africa’s broader digital and telecom ecosystem. Cross-border communication remains a critical need for millions of Africans living abroad and families maintaining ties across continents.
By offering affordable international calling and digital top-up services across more than 180 countries, Talk360 is addressing a practical, everyday challenge faced by diaspora communities.
The continued backing from investors such as HAVAÍC and Universum Wealth signals growing confidence in African-founded technology solutions that serve global markets.
As the startup enters what leadership describes as its “next phase of our journey,” the focus shifts from early growth to consolidation and scale.
In a landscape where connectivity defines economic and social participation, Talk360’s expansion reflects a broader trend, African startups are not only solving local problems but building platforms with international relevance.
With strengthened investor support and a clear product roadmap, Talk360 appears poised to deepen its leadership in the international communication space while broadening its digital service offerings worldwide.
Talking Points
Talk360’s latest $1.4 million raise, though modest in size compared to its earlier $7 million seed round, is strategically significant because it signals sustained investor confidence at a stage where many startups struggle to demonstrate durable traction.
The company has clearly moved beyond proof-of-concept, with four million users connected in 2023 and operations spanning multiple countries, suggesting operational maturity rather than early experimentation.
However, the relatively small size of the round may also indicate a measured growth strategy focused on product refinement and incremental expansion rather than aggressive market blitz-scaling.
Its expansion into Shop360 reflects a smart diversification play, shifting from a single-service calling app into a broader cross-border digital services platform, but this move places it in increasingly competitive fintech-adjacent territory where margins, regulation, and infrastructure reliability become more complex.
Ultimately, Talk360’s real test will be whether it can convert user growth into sustained revenue expansion while defending its niche against global VoIP giants and regional telecom operators.
If executed well, the company could solidify itself as a diaspora-focused super-utility platform; if not, it risks being squeezed in a crowded communications market where differentiation is difficult and price sensitivity is high.
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