South African digital insurance provider, Pineapple, has been named an Endeavor Outlier. This exclusive, invitation-only designation is reserved for the top 10% of high-performing companies in the global Endeavor Network.
The Outliers program recognizes a select group of Endeavor entrepreneurs whose companies meet strict, annually updated benchmarks in terms of revenue, growth and capital raised.
The selection also considers the founder's ability to navigate complex or volatile markets, along with a commitment to Endeavor's pay-it-forward ethos.
What is Endeavor?
Endeavor is a global organization that selects and supports high-impact founders building scalable companies in emerging and complex markets. Its rigorous multi-tier selection process, evaluated by experienced entrepreneurs, operators and investors, focuses on product-market fit, leadership and long-term growth potential.
Selected companies gain access to a powerful global network of advisors, strategic advisory support and co-investment opportunities through Endeavor Catalyst.
In South Africa, this community is further strengthened by the guidance of prominent business leaders such as Adrian Gore and Barry Swartzberg (Discovery Group), Paul Harris (RMB Holdings), as well as experienced operators such as Vukani Mngxati (Microsoft South Africa) and Peter de Villiers (Clicktel). This ecosystem connects local visionaries with a global footprint of success stories, including internationally renowned companies like Mercado Libre, Globant and Flutterwave.
Global and local context
The 2026 Outliers group represents the top tier of Endeavour's global network. Globally, it includes 238 companies from more than 50 markets. This year's class includes companies like Flutterwave (Nigeria), LemFi (Nigeria), MoneyPoint (Nigeria), and Move (Nigeria), all of which use technology to solve local challenges and expand internationally.
In South Africa, the pineapple has joined a prestigious group of five outliers who have shaped the local ecosystem. These include GoTymebank, a digital banking group that has grown to more than 10 million customers in South Africa in less than six years and is now expanding across Asia.
In 2026, the group also includes Onafric, a digital payments hub connecting more than 1 billion mobile wallets; Hello Money, a financial services platform that is improving cross-border money movement for migrant communities; and Go1, a corporate learning platform serving more than 160 countries.
Outliers Program: What it takes to qualify The Endeavor Outliers Program is an invite-only group representing the top 10% of companies in the global Endeavor portfolio. For 2026, companies are divided into tiers based on their net revenue and their compound annual growth rate (CAGR), a measure used to show the average annual growth rate of a business over a three-year period.
To qualify, companies must meet one of the following benchmarks:
tier 1: Net revenues in excess of $100 million and a three-year compound annual growth rate of over 20%.
tier 2: Over $50 million in net revenues and a three-year compound annual growth rate of over 90%.
tier 3: Over $30 million in net revenue and a three-year compound annual growth rate of over 300%.
tier 4: The company's net worth is more than $1 billion.
Selection is based on financial performance, including sustained multi-year growth, as well as non-financial factors such as flexibility and commitment to supporting other founders.
Why was pineapple chosen?
Pineapple's selection recognizes its growth and leadership in the digital insurance market.
Founded by Marnus van Heerden, Ndabenhle Ngulube, Sizwe Ndlovu and Matthew Smith, Pineapple operates a digital-first, omnichannel insurance platform focused on transparency, speed and user experience. In 2023, Pineapple raised R400 million, which was Africa's largest insurtech fundraise. While Endeavor does not disclose company-specific metrics, Outlier status confirms that Pineapple meets internal benchmarks for scale and sustained growth.
Why does it matter?
The addition of Pineapple adds to the number of South African companies expanding into the global network. South Africa accounts for 46% of Africa's outliers, cementing its position as a major contributor to the continent's high growth ecosystem. This designation provides access to Endeavor's international network, where the core philosophy is that “who you build with matters as much as what you build with”, enabling founders to learn from peers facing similar challenges.
This recognition highlights a broader shift where African founders are demonstrating that building from the continent is a competitive advantage in complex environments.
Pineapple is a leading member of the South African group of fintech and insurtech companies leveraging technology to promote financial inclusion and reduce the cost of serving. As part of this group, Pineapple continues to develop products that reach beyond its domestic market, contributing to a global entrepreneurial movement where African founders grow into global markets and serve customers across borders.
