SA’s Yazi Raises Funding To Expand WhatsApp-Based AI Research Platform

South African AI research startup Yazi has raised its first institutional funding round at a pre-money valuation of ZAR 30 M (USD 1.6 M). The round was led by 3 Capital Ventures, an early-stage fund spun out of Allan Gray.

Founded in 2022 by Timothy Treagus (who revealed in a LinkedIn post that he came close to shutting down the startup in December 2023) and Mzwandile Sotsaka, Yazi enables organisations to conduct AI-moderated interviews, surveys, and diary studies directly through WhatsApp.

Operating in more than 15 countries, the platform allows businesses and research agencies to gather insights through conversational AI on the messaging app widely used across emerging markets.

The new funding will support product development, including automated WhatsApp voice interviews, expand Yazi’s research participant network across Africa, and drive international growth.