South African Startup Yazi Gains Investment to Turn WhatsApp into a Research Tool for Africa

A technology startup that develops an AI-powered research platform, Yazi has closed its first institutional founding round. The investment places Yazi at a pre-money valuation of R30 million ($1.6 million), marking a significant milestone for the young company. The round was led by 3 Capital Ventures (3CV), an early-stage venture firm spun out of Allan Gray. 

Yazi's technology facilitates conversational research over WhatsApp, permitting participants to record voice responses, respond to questions, and get involved in AI-modified interviews without having to download other apps.

The startup works with businesses that are looking into consumer behavior , policy challenges, societal trends and maintains a panel of about 1.8 million pre-qualified research participants. When compared to traditional survey forms, Yazi's AI engine allows it to ask additional questions and examine responses in real time, which leads to a more interactive and thorough research experience.

Businesses and research organizations are already using Yazi, which operates in more than 15 countries, to gather data at scale. By eliminating participation barriers, its conversational AI technologies make research easier to access, particularly in places where mobile devices are the primary means of obtaining the internet. The platform's capacity for scalable, real-time research makes it a vital innovation for Africa's developing digital economy.

About Yazi

Timothy Treagus, the CEO, and Mzwandile Sotsaka, the CTO, launched Yazi in 2022. The firm was founded in response to a major issue facing the research sector that offers a lot of research tools that rely on email, web surveys, or downloaded mobile apps, which sometimes restricts participation in areas where messaging platforms are the primary means of communication.