Biometrics fintech iiDENTIFii has raised US$15-million in an investment funding round led by Arise. Other participating investors were Sanari Capital and the US based tech entrepreneur Bill Spruill. iiDENTIFii provides a biometric digital authentication and automated on-boarding technology platform that securely authenticates users via their cellphones or computers. The company operates across several industry verticals and has scooped blue-chip customers such as Standard Bank, Bidvest, Tradeup, ABSA Bank and Investec Bank. iiDENTIFii was established in 2017 by Gur Geva and Lance Fanaroff with a base office in Cape Town, South Africa.

Arise is an African investment company backed by three reputable investors which are Norfund (based in Norway), Rabobank and FMO (based in the Netherlands). Arise invests in sustainable locally owned financial services providers in Sub-Saharan Africa who are searching for a way to keep their independence but need financial expertise and long-term capital to prosper. The investment company takes minority shareholding and a hands-on approach to its portfolio of investments which include Calbank (Ghana), Socremo (Mozambique), DFCU Bank (Uganda), Zanaco (Zambia) among others.