South African mobile technology company Mission Mobile has secured backing of up to R500 million, approximately $30.9 million, from investment holding company DN Invest (DNI) to expand access to smartphones and affordable connectivity.
The funding will support the company’s work with mobile network operators, helping them reach consumers who may be overlooked by traditional credit assessments. The backing draws on DNI’s own resources and ring-fenced debt facilities.
Reaching customers beyond traditional contracts
Founded in 2023 by brothers Tim and Adam Strike, Mission Mobile is targeting a challenge facing both consumers and network operators: making smartphones accessible while building more consistent, longer-term customer relationships.
Tim serves as chief executive, while Adam leads technology development as chief technology officer.
According to Tim, more than 80% of South Africa’s mobile connections remain prepaid. Many customers use multiple SIM cards, making it harder for operators to retain their spending and for consumers to access the benefits associated with conventional contracts.
Using income and spending data to assess affordability
At the centre of Mission Mobile’s offering is Beam, its proprietary platform, which evaluates how customers earn and spend rather than relying solely on conventional financial assessments.
The approach aims to identify consumers who could afford a smartphone financing offer but might otherwise be excluded by traditional providers.
Mission Mobile distributes its offerings through mobile network operators’ retail channels. Its DataBack Device product combines smartphone financing with connectivity benefits for prepaid customers, while relationships with operators allow it to secure preferential data rates and pass some of those savings on to users.
Funding supports a wider rollout
The company manages the process from customer onboarding and device delivery to payment collection, data fulfilment and customer service.
DNI’s backing will support a wider customer reach and the development of additional offerings for network partners. The funding structure includes dedicated debt facilities, reflecting the capital required to finance devices that customers repay over time.
Connecting device access with affordable data
For DNI, the investment fits into a broader strategy spanning connectivity, digital services and financial technology. The group’s existing involvement in handset distribution and mobile services also complements Mission Mobile’s business.
