In April 2025, Manuh Collective was engaged by ALX Ventures, a pan-African incubator backed by the Mastercard Foundation, to mentor Ariel Robotics—a Durban-based startup developing autonomous drones for warehouse inventory management.

The collaboration focused on validating their proof of concept, piloting their MVP, implementing AI-driven analytics and dashboards for operational insights, supporting intern hiring, and streamlining team performance. Ariel’s innovative drone technology has garnered interest from leading retailers in South Africa as well as their international partners, delivering measurable improvements in inventory accuracy and warehouse efficiency.

 

Key Contributions by Manuh Collective

 

Product & Market Strategy

Facilitated bi-monthly strategy sessions reviewing product development, team structure, value proposition, and market-fit, paving the way for commercial scaling.

 

Global Readiness & Compliance

Helped shape the founder’s vision for international expansion by creating a foundational audit framework aligned with ISMS standards and future certification needs.

 

Competitive Positioning & Business Model Innovation

Conducted a global competitor benchmark (e.g., Verity, Corvus One System, ZenaTech, DSV) to identify differentiation opportunities through flexible service models—like subscription-based drone rentals with integrated infrastructure.

 

Team Structuring & Intern Management

 Supported intern recruitment and integration with defined KPIs, team segmentation (engineering, dev, UX, and business dev), and performance tracking to ensure team continuity and efficiency.

 

Broader Impact

As part of the ALX mentor network, Manuh Collective also hosted bi-weekly mentoring sessions with portfolio startups, focused on investor readiness, storytelling, market entry strategies, and product-market alignment.

 

About Ariel Robotics

Founded in 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria, Ariel Robotics delivers drone-based services across West Africa, including surveying, inspections, 3D mapping, and aerial data capture for hard-to-access environments.

🔗 [https://africatechstartupforum.com/2024-company/ariel-robotics/)

 

About ALX Ventures

A flagship program under **ALX Africa**, ALX Ventures supports African entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and community resources. Backed by the Mastercard Foundation, it aims to build a new generation of tech-driven startups powering the continent’s digital future.

🔗 [alxafrica.com](https://www.alxafrica.com)