Exclusive: Ghanaian Talent Startup Remoteli Secures £250,000 Funding from Footballer Jeremie Frimpong

Remoteli, a Ghana-based tech talent startup, has secured £250,000 ($314,824) in pre-seed funding to support its expansion efforts across Africa and scale its operations. The funding round was led by Jeremie Frimpong, a Ghanaian-Dutch professional footballer known for his role as a right wing-back at Bundesliga club Bayern Leverkusen.

Frimpong's investment in Remoteli reflects a growing trend of football stars venturing into the tech startup space. In 2023, French football players Aurelien Tchouameni, Jules Kounde, and Mike Maignan were involved in a $3 million funding round for StarNews Mobile, an African mobile video network. This intersection between sports and technology highlights the appeal and potential of African startups to attract investment from high-profile individuals across various industries.

The infusion of capital will enable Remoteli to bolster its operations and extend its reach to more African countries, capitalizing on the growing demand for remote workplace solutions and the abundance of tech talent in the region. As the remote work trend continues to gain momentum globally, Remoteli aims to facilitate seamless connections between African tech professionals and remote work opportunities, fostering economic growth and innovation across the continent.

Samuel Brooksworth, the founder of Remoteli, identified a significant gap in the employment landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic: talented young graduates struggling to find opportunities and organizations facing challenges in growing their businesses. Motivated by this observation, Brooksworth launched Remoteli with the mission of bridging this gap and facilitating employment for one million people by 2030.

In pursuit of this ambitious goal, Remoteli has partnered with Jeremie Frimpong, a professional footballer, to leverage his influence and resources in advancing their mission. The partnership includes the Pathways project, which aims to address the issue of guiding young footballers whose careers may not have unfolded as expected. Through the Pathways project, Remoteli offers these athletes new opportunities for career development and growth, providing training and upskilling support to help them transition to alternative career paths beyond the pitch.

Frimpong, who shares Brooksworth's vision and passion for making a positive impact on people's lives, was drawn to Remoteli's mission and immediately saw the potential for meaningful collaboration. Investing in Remoteli aligns with Frimpong's personal values and experiences, as he hails from a background where opportunities may be limited. His endorsement of Remoteli underscores his commitment to empowering individuals and communities that lack access to traditional opportunities, reflecting a broader commitment to social impact and economic empowerment.

Remoteli's strategic approach to growth, emphasizing bootstrapping and minimal fundraising, reflects its commitment to maximizing organic development while maintaining financial sustainability. Central to its operations is an AI-powered software platform that efficiently matches organizations with qualified tech talent, streamlining the recruitment process and facilitating connections between businesses and skilled professionals.

In addition to its matchmaking capabilities, Remoteli is actively developing a suite of tools and resources designed to empower companies globally by providing them with access to talented and ambitious African professionals. These tools include project management software, seamless communication channels, time tracking systems, invoicing solutions, and customizable features tailored to meet the unique needs of each organization.

The startup's impact is already evident, with over 100 individuals hired directly through its platform and support provided to over 100 dedicated clients. With recent expansion into Kigali, Rwanda, Remoteli is poised for further growth, with plans to extend its operations to additional African countries throughout 2024.

Looking ahead, Remoteli has ambitious goals, including a planned Series A funding round later in the year. This funding will enable the company to accelerate its expansion efforts, enhance its platform's functionality, and continue its mission of empowering both organizations and individuals through innovative remote work solutions.