South African AI innovation is stepping onto the global stage as Locstat secures EUR2.5 million (US$2.3 million) in pre-Series A funding to accelerate its expansion into the United Kingdom and the European Union. This strategic investment, led by Portugal Gateway Fund (PGF) and ANZA Capital, will power Locstat’s go-to-market strategy and reinforce its position in Africa as a critical growth region. By entering highly competitive international markets, Locstat is showcasing the strength and scalability of African-built technology on a global scale.
Founded in 2016, Locstat has emerged as a leading graph-powered AI and complex event processing platform that analyses real-time and static data from multiple sources. Its AI capabilities map and understand complex relationships between datasets, uncovering patterns that enable businesses to make faster, more informed decisions. This technology is currently being utilised to drive mission-critical outcomes such as fraud detection, regulatory compliance, customer journey mapping, and geo-spatial analytics, particularly within the financial services sector.
Locstat’s solutions have already demonstrated strong product-market fit across Africa, where it has helped financial institutions combat fraud, enhance anti-money laundering efforts, and drive customer value through connected intelligence. Its proven success in some of the most complex transactional environments across the continent positions the startup as a trusted partner for data-driven transformation. The new investment will allow Locstat to scale these capabilities into global markets while continuing to innovate and support African enterprises.
According to co-founder and CEO, Ryno Goosen, this milestone represents more than funding—it is a validation of African innovation on the world stage. The capital will enable Locstat to expand its team, grow its partner ecosystem, and enhance its platform so businesses can act faster, detect risks earlier, and unlock opportunities that legacy systems often overlook. Lead investor PGF further affirmed its confidence in Locstat’s technology and leadership, highlighting its strong global potential and strategic value in advanced graph database solutions.
With this investment, Locstat is now positioned to build brand presence across Europe, increase revenue opportunities, and prepare for a successful Series A round in the near future. This development not only strengthens South Africa’s presence in the global AI ecosystem but also underscores Africa’s growing influence in next-generation data intelligence and enterprise innovation.
