Imperial acquires ForeFront Africa

In January I started a mobile strategy and technology company with Tracy Langdon-Surkont called ForeFront Africa. We worked hard to claim some key clients and partners and were set on growing a business with a footprint in Africa.We both had some very specific goals in mind and the main one was to be as profitable as possible, as quickly as possible. The way we did this was to sign high-value, fast growing clients and to really place value on our skill set.This paid off as we piqued the interest of Imperial Holdings with whom we were doing some work. Ultimately this interest ended in Imperial acquiring a stake in our business.I'm extremely proud of what Tracy and I have managed to do in such a short period of time. We're both really excited to be working with one of the largest and most successful organisations in South Africa. Tracy and I are staying on in the business and our intention is to grow the company into the most recognisable mobile brand in Africa.Here's the official press release that was sent out this week:

IMPERIAL GOES MOBILE, BUYS FOREFRONT AFRICA

Listed entity, Imperial Holdings is entering the mobile and telecommunications industries with the recent acquisition of mobile technology firm ForeFront Africa (FFA). The company will form part of the newly launched Resolve brand and become Resolve Mobile. This will allow the companies to work together seamlessly and provide the best possible digital and mobile strategies to the group, as well as clients and partners."Imperial is excited to enter into the strategically critical mobile technology arena alongside a team with such notable skill and extensive African experience,” says Cobus Rossouw, Chief Integration Officer. “We are now well placed to partner our clients in leveraging the potential of mobile commerce in their value chains.”Tracy Langdon Surkont and Nicholas Haralambous founded ForeFront Africa in 2013 after both recently exiting separate ventures and having worked together at Vodacom SA. The company was founded after Haralambous and Surkont spotted a market requirement for skilled mobile talent willing to work in African countries with experience in those markets. "Tracy and I knew that we were onto something after founding the company when we were approached by companies throughout Africa and further afield to make use of our services," says Haralambous. “Partnering with Imperial Holdings will bring massive opportunities to our company and assist in growth which we would have battled to achieve otherwise.”Resolve Mobile’s clients include WASPs, mobile network operators as well as social networks from around the world. Surkont says that FFA has experience and a grasp of the market that few others have, "We understand that the market is complicated, each country in Africa needs unique attention and each company brings with it a different offering and unique requirements."/Ends