This week in African startups and venture capital, we track a wave of policy, product, and capital moves shaping the continent’s tech markets.
Morocco signed an agreement with Mistral AI to build local talent, support startups, and embed responsible adoption across public and private sectors. In West Africa, Djamo became the first fintech licensed by the Central Bank of West African States to offer regulated savings and loans, a milestone for compliant digital finance at scale. Flutterwave partnered with Clear Junction to speed up and secure cross-border payments between Africa, the UK, and the EU. In Nigeria, Luno launched tokenized U.S. stocks, giving naira users access to more than sixty equities and ETFs with low entry points and near-continuous trading. At POESAM 2025, DeepLeaf in Morocco and ProVerdy in Tunisia took first-place honors, spotlighting climate, sustainability, and women-led innovation.
Funding momentum remained steady. SunCulture raised five million dollars to expand solar irrigation for smallholder farmers. Nucleon Security secured three and a half million to scale its AI cybersecurity platform. Float in South Africa collected two point six million to grow its installment payments solution. Jobzyn closed pre-seed funding from Janngo Capital for its AI recruitment platform, and PowerLabs received backing from Catalyst Fund for Pai, an energy optimization tool.
On the deals front, South Africa’s TaxTim was acquired by a consortium led by Twofold Capital with Octoco, aiming to modernize and expand AI-driven tax services while co-founder Evan Robinson continues as Head of Product.
Investor activity included Acumen’s ninety million dollar KawiSafi Fund II for clean energy and Accion’s sixty-one million dollar vehicle for inclusive fintech. In Tunisia, 216 Capital launched an accelerator with Plug and Play. Launch Africa Ventures appointed Natnael Asmerom in Dubai to deepen Middle East partnerships, and First Circle Capital added Samantha Ghiotti and Andi Dervishi to strengthen portfolio strategy.
Spotlights this week feature Moniepoint and 216 Capital Ventures. Moniepoint, founded in Lagos in 2015 by Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike and now headquartered in London, serves over ten million users and processes around seventeen billion dollars monthly across payments, loans, and remittances, with backing from Google, Visa, and Development Partners International.
216 Capital Ventures, founded in 2021 in Tunis and led by Dhekra Khelifi and Hassen Arfaoui, manages a nine point six million dollar fund with one to two hundred fifty thousand dollar tickets in HRTech, LegalTech, TravelTech, and more, backing companies such as Addvocate, Talenteo, Juridoc, and Arcube.
Finally, the Sustainable Aero Lab Accelerator is open until September 18 for zero-emission aviation technologies, including sustainable fuels, hydrogen, electrification, aircraft design, and efficient propulsion, with mentorship and investor access for selected startups.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa, we cut through the noise and recap the moves shaping the continent’s startup and VC landscape.
Regulators took center stage as the Bank of Ghana suspended five remittance operators for one month over guideline breaches, while Egypt’s central bank rolled out new governance rules for payment institutions with a one-year compliance window. In South Africa, TymeBank partnered with the Department of Home Affairs to launch Smart ID and passport services via 1,450 kiosks, a clear play to embed financial services into everyday citizen touchpoints. Elsewhere, Raise Africa shut down after seven years, migrating customers to Carta, and TradeHub closed after missing product-market fit, returning funds to investors.
Funding stayed active across priority verticals. Egypt’s Intella secured 12.5 million dollars led by Prosus to scale Arabic AI speech technology. The Invigilator raised 11 million dollars from Kaltroco to expand remote proctoring across education and workforce testing. Nigeria’s Babban Gona landed 7.5 million dollars in debt from British International Investment to back smallholder farmers. MOPO drew 6.7 million dollars from Norfund for solar battery rentals that extend off-grid access, and Justyol raised 1 million dollars to streamline cross-border e-commerce. On exits and M&A, Ora Technologies moved to acquire Cathedis in Morocco, tying digital payments to last-mile logistics pending regulatory approval.
On the ecosystem front, Oxford Saïd convened more than forty VC managers in its Africa Venture Finance Programme to drive inclusion and access. Tanzania’s Startup Association signed a three-year pact with Africapital to widen flexible financing and incubation support.
Our Startup of the Week is PalmPay, the Lagos-founded fintech scaling a multi-product platform with more than a thousand employees. Backed by 140 million dollars from Transsion, AfricInvest, and GIC, PalmPay is profitable, eyeing a 50 to 100 million dollar Series B, and partnering with AfriGo to issue five million cards.
Investor of the Week is Afrimobility, the Akwa Group–backed VC writing 100 to 500 thousand dollar checks across Africa, Europe, and North America, with portfolio bets including Quantum Dice, Chari, CloudFret, and Cathedis. We close with a call to founders in South Africa: applications are open for Google for Startups Accelerator South Africa Cohort 2025, an equity-free program running September to December with mentorship, global networks, and 57,300 dollars in support.
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This week on Startup Researcher Africa, we bring you a comprehensive roundup of the latest startup and venture capital developments shaping Africa’s innovation landscape.
We begin with key regulatory changes across the continent. In Kenya, the Central Bank is reforming lending practices by tying rates to the KESONIA benchmark to improve transparency and policy effectiveness. Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission has launched probes into fintech insurers and pension firms, ensuring compliance with data privacy rules. Ghana has officially classified digital credit services as non-bank financial institutions, tightening oversight in the sector. Meanwhile, the London Stock Exchange is rolling out new rules to attract African firms, as it competes with Nasdaq and the NYSE. Also in Kenya, mobility startup eBee Africa has downsized its team and scaled back e-bike operations amid weak demand and rising costs.
On the funding front, Poowa Internet secured $4 million in debt financing from Finnfund with backing from Nokia, aiming to expand affordable broadband and close Kenya’s digital divide. In Egypt, fintech startup Munify joined Y Combinator’s Summer 2025 batch and raised $3 million in seed funding to simplify global remittances. Additionally, TRANSFORM—an initiative by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY—awarded $663,000 to five East African enterprises advancing circular economy solutions and supporting local livelihoods.
In M&A news, AfriCar Group acquired Côte d’Ivoire’s Koto.ci, reinforcing its pan-African auto ecosystem that now reaches over 15 million users, while also pushing forward electric vehicle adoption across the region.
Our Startup of the Week is Nile, a B2B agritech marketplace founded in 2021. Backed by AfricInvest, Naspers Foundry, and FMO, Nile has raised $17 million, including $11.3 million in July 2025, to streamline trading, logistics, and financing for farmers across Africa.
Our Investor of the Week spotlight is on The Baobab Network, a Nairobi-based accelerator launched in 2016. The firm invests $100,000 for 12.5% equity and has supported over 65 startups, including Terminal Africa, Lemonade Payments, and Vove ID.
We close with an opportunity highlight: the Water Innovation Challenge 2025 by RootCamp and K+S, open for applications until September 7. The program targets startups working on water management, brine treatment, and salt valorization, with final pitches scheduled for October and November.
Tune in for insights that matter across Africa’s startup and VC scene.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa, we dive into the latest developments shaping the continent’s startup and venture capital ecosystem, from policy shifts and funding milestones to groundbreaking ventures and investor moves.
In Nigeria, Lagos State rolled out a $20 million Innovation Bill to strengthen the country’s technology ecosystem by funding startups, research, and hubs through a dedicated R&D&I fund. Meanwhile, Algeria introduced its first regulatory framework for digital wallets, requiring transactions in dinars, setting tiered limits, and enhancing consumer safeguards—marking a key step in fintech governance.
On the blockchain front, Nigerian exchange Roqqu partnered with SiBAN to enhance asset credibility and financial inclusion, while YC alum Oluwatomi Ayorinde launched Timon, a travel-fintech platform providing global cards to Africans abroad, tackling persistent issues with cross-border banking and fraud. In Egypt, ITIDA’s Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre selected eight startups for its 47th Start IT incubation round, providing funding and mentorship to early-stage founders.
Funding activity was also strong this week. Hewatele raised $10.5 million to build East Africa’s first large-scale liquid oxygen facility using advanced air separation technology, addressing medical oxygen shortages and strengthening healthcare systems. On the investor side, Uncovered Fund and Monex Ventures launched a $20 million fund for early-stage African startups, particularly in fintech and mobility, while Impact Fund Denmark and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled a $54.6 million Africa facility to boost sustainable investment flows into the region.
Our Startup of the Week is Moove, founded in 2020, which has raised over $400 million and is expanding globally with its innovative drive-to-own vehicle financing model. The Investor of the Week is Silverbacks Holdings, a Mauritius-based permanent capital investor managing a $10 billion portfolio with major names like Flutterwave, Wave, and Moove, and successful exits such as Lemfay and Omniretail.
Finally, don’t miss the NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator 2025, now open for applications, offering mentorship, exposure, and up to $50,000 in support for early-stage startups in sports and the creative industries.
Tune in to stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving startup and VC landscape—where innovation meets investment, and the future of entrepreneurship is being built today.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa, we cut through the noise with a fast, data-rich sweep of African startup and VC activity.
Regional policy shifts lead the show: Nigeria launches Build with AI with Google and GOMYCODE to train 1,000 generative AI developers, TymeBank challenges South Africa’s ID verification fee hikes, Nigeria’s FCCPC rolls out new lending rules that tie fines to turnover in a 2.1 billion dollar market, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange onboards Thunder as the GCC’s first remote retail trading member, and Nigeria’s FIRS certifies 16 firms for e-invoicing with more than 1,000 companies already onboarded ahead of a November deadline.
Funding highlights span fintech, commerce infrastructure, and AI. Chowdeck secures 9 million dollars to scale ultra-fast delivery in Nigeria and Ghana, HoneyCoin raises 4.9 million dollars for a fiat-to-blockchain payments gateway, Street Wallet closes 350,000 dollars for QR payments that work without smartphones, Yamify picks up 100,000 dollars to build local AI infrastructure and GPU clusters with domestic billing, and Hypeo AI wins backing from Renew Capital to expand influencer marketing across Africa and the Middle East.
Consolidation is heating up. Nedbank acquires iKhokha for 92.4 million dollars to deepen SME digital payments, while customer experience players Ajua and Rate My Service merge, serving 45 clients and eyeing a Nigeria return with a broader product suite. On the investor front, Redimension Capital debuts a 13.8 million dollar proptech and sustainability fund in South Africa, TLcom Capital’s 5 million dollar TAPSI pre-seed fund hits 50 percent deployment feeding into its 154 million dollar TIDE Africa Fund, and 500 Global launches the Nairobi Sustainable Innovation Program with support from Shell Foundation and UK partners.
Country focus spotlights Morocco’s agritech wave, featuring Agri 4.0, DeepLeaf, Jodoor, PCS Agri, Sand to Green, SOWIT, and YoLa Fresh modernizing farming with precision tools, AI diagnostics, hydroponics, regenerative models, and tech-enabled supply chains.
Startup of the Week is Nawy, founded in 2016, now at 80 million dollars raised and expanding into the GCC via SmartCrowd.
Investor of the Week is A15, a Cairo firm backing 40 plus startups across 20 plus MENA markets with eight exits.
Opportunities close with EDP Energy Starter 2025 Track 2, offering funded pilots, 28-market access, and a Lisbon bootcamp in November.
"Stay ahead of Africa’s dynamic startup and venture capital landscape with this week’s Startup Researcher Africa podcast — your essential roundup of the continent’s biggest innovation and investment moves.
In policy shifts, Kenya is set to regulate all non-deposit lenders, enforcing Central Bank licensing for greater fairness and consumer protection. Cameroon’s fintech scene heats up as Wave enters the mobile money market with a Commercial Bank of Cameroon licence, challenging MTN and Orange with low fees and $136M in funding. OpenWay is pushing deeper into Francophone Africa via a Moroccan banking partnership, while Shiga Digital launches Tether-backed stablecoin solutions for cross-border inclusion. Plus, Visa welcomes 22 African startups into its fintech accelerator for 12 weeks of funding and partnership opportunities.
On the funding front, Flood secures $2.5M to scale its no-code SuperApp-as-a-Service across emerging markets. Egypt’s Suplyd raises $2M to transform HORECA procurement, TurnStay closes $2M to cut cross-border tourism costs with stablecoins, and Wuilt lands $2M to expand its free e-commerce platform across MENA. Meanwhile, Fusepay picks up $350K to digitise payments in island economies.
Exits this week include ViFi Labs acquiring OneRamp to merge FX protocols with stablecoin payments for Africa and Latin America’s $540B market, and SYSPRO buying DATASCOPE to integrate ERP and warehouse management for industrial clients.
On the investor side, F6 Group emerges from the merger of Flat6Labs and F6 Ventures, managing $90M for early-stage startups across the Middle East and Africa.
Spotlights: Startup of the Week is Morocco’s ORA Technologies, founded by Omar Alami, offering Kooul — a culturally tuned food delivery app — and ORA Cash, a low-cost mobile payments service, with $11.9M in total funding. Investor of the Week is Addis Ababa-based Renew Capital, backing over 50 African startups with capital, mentorship, and operational support.
Plus, applications are open for QUBIC Labs Accelerator Cohort 2, a 12-week hybrid programme for Blockchain, Web3, Fintech, and AI startups, offering $100K+ in benefits and investor access in Boston.
Follow us on Spotify, for your weekly guide to the trends, deals, and opportunities shaping Africa’s innovation economy.
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Stay current on Africa’s fast-moving startup and venture capital scene with this week’s Startup Researcher Africa video, your concise briefing on the forces reshaping innovation across the continent.
Inside, we break down five headline stories: Chowdeck’s 1 000-orders-a-day milestone in Ghana, Peach Payments’ Bitcoin tie-up with MoneyBadger, Algeria’s sweeping crypto ban, MAX’s off-grid solar battery swap debut for e-mobility, and the court order stalling 54gene’s asset sale. Funding news spans Sun King’s record-setting 156 million-dollar solar raise, Payaza’s 13.5 million-dollar commercial-paper approval, biotech bets at Altera Biosciences, Libyan-backed e-commerce play Mataa, and Cameroon’s logistics newcomer Swyft. Exit highlights feature Adapt IT’s hospitality push via ResRequest and Admyt’s Mallpass pivot after acquiring SHôPING. On the capital side, HAVAÍC closes a fresh 25 million-dollar fund to scale African disruptors.
Spotlights this week: Startup of the Week is Andela, the AI-powered talent cloud connecting 150 000 engineers to global enterprises, while Investor of the Week is Oui Capital, celebrating a full Fund I return and a new 12 million-dollar war-chest. Plus, seize the Environmental Tech Lab 2025 challenge from NYC DEP before the 8 August deadline.
Follow us on Spotify for weekly deep dives and resources shaping Africa’s innovation future.
Stay sharp on Africa’s startup and venture capital pulse with this week’s Startup Researcher Africa podcast — your no-fluff roundup of what’s shaping innovation across the continent.
This episode unpacks critical updates in fintech regulation, funding trends, crypto, and investor shifts. Nigeria’s tax authority is gearing up to launch real-time VAT tracking for banks and fintechs by 2026, aiming to plug digital tax gaps. Ghana is finalizing long-awaited crypto regulations by September 2025, a move set to boost cross-border commerce. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority approved five fintech initiatives to unlock innovation in the non-banking space.
In regional news, AfriLabs and the ATU linked a strategic MoU to align policies and infrastructure for frontier tech growth. Luno made headlines by launching Nigeria’s first crypto staking service, offering up to 18% annual returns—zero fees, no lock-in.
On the funding front, BURN raised $10 million from the African Development Bank and SEFA to deploy clean cooking tech across East Africa. Egypt’s Flend secured $3 million to grow SME lending, while Eyone Medical raised another $3 million to scale digital health in West Africa. Tru, founded by Temilola Giwa (ex-Paystack) and Temilola Famuboni, raised $130K via Kickstarter for its wearable step tracker. Rujo Agri-Trade also closed funding to expand Ghana’s rice and soybean supply chains, supporting 3,000+ farmers.
Exit activity sees Verod Capital complete its full exit from TAG West Africa, owners of Lancaster University Ghana, after eight years of backing.
On the investor front, 54 Collective collapsed after Mastercard Foundation withdrew $114 million over governance concerns. But Egypt’s Breadfast delivered a bright spot, hitting $150 million ARR and a $382 million valuation, while expanding into fintech with Breadfast Pay.
Startup of the Week: Flutterwave — the $3 billion fintech juggernaut revolutionizing global payments from Africa.
Investor of the Week: Future Africa, led by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, doubling down on deep tech and climate via its newest challenge fund.
Plus: Applications are open for Startup Elevate Japan 2025 — a golden chance for healthtech, deep tech, and sustainability founders to gain global exposure.
🎧 Follow us on Spotify for weekly deep dives into Africa’s venture, startup, and innovation landscape.
Stay ahead of Africa’s grind‑forward innovation scene with this week’s Startup Researcher Africa. We unpack headline‑worthy moves in fintech, policy, funding, and exits so founders, investors, and operators can make sharper bets in real time.
Africa’s fintech footprint keeps expanding as ten names, including OPay and PiggyVest, break into CNBC’s global top 300—a milestone that signals growing global competitiveness. Ethiopia finally ratifies its first Startup Law, unlocking long‑awaited legal clarity, tax breaks, and a national fund‑of‑funds to drag red‑tape hurdles into the modern era. We also break down boardroom drama at truQ after CEO Williams Fatayo steps aside, and dive into Kenya’s BNPL shake‑up as Wabeh pauses merchant activity under default pressure. On the blockchain front, SuiHub Lagos launches to arm African devs with fresh tooling and mentorship.
Funding momentum stays hot: Rwazi tops the charts with a USD 12 million Series A to scale its real‑time market‑insights engine across 190+ markets. Moroccan super‑app ORA Technologies bags USD 7.5 million to stitch payments, e‑commerce, and logistics into one friction‑free experience. Egypt’s PALM secures a seven‑figure pre‑seed to build goal‑based savings for the mass market, MoneyBadger pulls in USD 400k to spread Lightning‑powered Bitcoin payments, and EATO clinches undisclosed capital to plug African food SMEs into global buyers.
Exits get interesting too. Engage Capital bids USD 24.5 million for the core assets of collapsed Kenyan BNPL player Lipa Later, testing a playbook for distressed fintech turnarounds. Tactful AI’s founders reclaim their customer‑experience platform from Dstny to regain product speed and regional control.
Investor news features Village Capital’s new USD 4 million facility for ecosystem‑led bets in Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania, plus a Technopark Maroc‑Azur Innovation Fund tie‑up to supercharge Moroccan deal flow. Operations‑driven VC A15 touts a 10x DPI from Fund I.
Startup of the Week, Nowlun, offers an AI‑powered freight marketplace that compresses quote comparisons, tracking, and customs into one dashboard after extending its seed round to USD 2.3 million. Investor Spotlight lands on LoftyInc Capital Management, fresh off a USD 43 million first close to bridge Series A gaps across Africa’s deep‑tech frontier.
Opportunities close fast: apply to the DTTT Accelerate Founders Programme by 31 July 2025 if you are building at the crossroads of tourism and tech.
Hit follow on Spotify for weekly, no‑fluff insights on Africa’s venture, funding, and exit landscape. Like, share, and tag a founder who needs the intel.
#AfricanStartups #VentureCapital #Fintech #StartupFunding
Stay ahead of Africa’s fast-evolving startup and venture capital scene with this week’s episode of Startup Researcher Africa. We cover the most important funding rounds, acquisitions, and market moves shaping the continent’s innovation landscape.
In this edition, we spotlight major fintech milestones as Moniepoint, Flutterwave, and Tyme Group land on Time magazine’s 2025 list of the world’s most influential companies. Discover how these African fintech leaders are transforming payments, financial inclusion, and cross-border transactions. We also break down new regulations from the Bank of Ghana targeting virtual-asset service providers and what this means for crypto startups.
Funding activity remains strong: South African fintech Pay me now has raised $22.4 million from Standard Bank to expand earned-wage access solutions across low-income markets. AI infrastructure innovator Cerebrium secured $8.5 million to scale lean GPU platforms for language models and video processing. Meanwhile, Bfree, a Nigerian ethical debt-recovery platform, obtained $3 million to buy distressed loan portfolios and support borrower rehabilitation.
On the M&A front, Egyptian proptech firm Nawy acquired UAE-based SmartCrowd to enter the Gulf’s fractional real estate market, while Stitch in South Africa purchased Efficacy Payments to enhance its card-acquiring capabilities and reduce merchant costs. Nigerian crypto exchange Roqqu has acquired Kenya’s Flitaa, leveraging M-PESA integration and local licensing to accelerate East African growth.
We also feature the SECO Startup Fund as Investor of the Week. Backed by Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO has committed $6.3 million in fresh debt financing to back high-impact African ventures focused on inclusive growth and climate-smart solutions.
Our Startup of the Week is Pay me now, founded by Bryan Habana and Deon Nobrega, providing early wage access across Southern Africa.
Finally, don’t miss this week’s opportunity spotlight: the XTC AI Energy Innovation Startup Showcase. Founders developing energy-efficient AI hardware or data centre technologies can apply by July 30, 2025, for a chance to pitch in Palo Alto.
Subscribe for weekly insights into Africa’s startup ecosystem, venture trends, and funding news.
#AfricanStartups #VentureCapital #Fintech #StartupFunding #StartupResearcherAfrica
African tech is moving fast—catch up in one listen. We break down Afreximbank’s PAPSSCARD rollout, Flutterwave’s Kenya & SA retrenchment, Ghana’s near-final Innovation & Startup Bill, Cassava’s GPU-as-a-Service gambit, Moove’s planned $1.2 B Waymo-linked debt raise, Wave Mobile Money’s $137 M expansion line, Knife Capital’s new Series A bets, Stanbic Bank Kenya’s $100 M Catalytic Fund, and the Wave 7 call from Qatar FinTech Hub. Expect crisp insight on capital flows, policy shifts, and the founders reshaping Africa’s venture scene. Subscribe for weekly no-nonsense briefings on startups, VC, and growth trends across the continent.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: TymeBank challenges rising national ID fees in South Africa, Flutterwave expands to Cameroon, and Google for Startups unveils its latest AI accelerator cohort. We dive into the biggest headlines, funding rounds, and acquisitions shaping the continent's tech landscape.
In this episode, we cover:
Top Headlines:
TymeBank (South Africa): The digital bank is set to contest the proposed hike in national ID verification fees, warning it could hinder financial inclusion.
Flutterwave (Cameroon): The fintech giant launches digital payments in Cameroon after securing a key license, deepening its presence in Francophone Africa.
Google for Startups (Africa): Fifteen AI-first startups from seven African nations are selected for the latest accelerator, gaining access to mentorship and up to $350,000 in credits.
Peach Payments (South Africa): A look at the new "Digit Pro" point-of-sale system, integrating buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) for omnichannel retailers.
Wahu (West Africa): The e-mobility startup rolls out the "Wahu Hero" app, a super app for its electric bike riders.
Funding News:
Better Auth ($5M Seed): The open-source authentication platform, our featured startup, closes a major seed round led by Peak XV Partners to fuel its growth.
Complete Farmer ($2.5M): The Ghanaian agritech startup secures EU-backed funding to expand its platform for smallholder farmers.
Nowlun ($600k): The Egyptian logistics startup scales its AI-powered freight solutions with fresh capital.
Shoptreo (Undisclosed): Rebel Seed Capital backs the e-commerce platform for artisans.
Roomz.rent (Pre-Seed): The AI-driven co-living platform for MENA cities attracts pre-seed investment.
Acquisitions & Exits:
Lesaka Technologies & Bank Zero: Lesaka agrees to a $61.6M deal to acquire the digital bank.
Amazon & Valu: Amazon takes a 3.95% stake in the Egyptian fintech following its IPO.
BAS Group & Zuvy: The Nigerian investment group acquires a majority stake in the invoice financing startup.
Chowdeck & Mira: The delivery platform acquires restaurant tech company Mira to enhance vendor operations.
Investor & Ecosystem News:
Aria Ventures (Egypt): Our investor in the spotlight, this venture studio launches a $1M program for deep-tech startups.
Beltone Leasing (Egypt): Secures $20M to boost financing for MSMEs and green projects.
Northern Light Accelerator (Finland): An opportunity for African startups looking to expand into Europe.
Tune in to get the full story on these developments and more. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just passionate about African tech, this is your essential weekly briefing.
Stay ahead of the continent’s fast-moving tech scene with our no-fluff roundup of the biggest headlines, deals, and opportunities shaping African innovation and venture capital.
In this episode
Nigeria’s Bosun Tijani becomes ITU Council vice-chair for 2025-26, ending a 50-year leadership gap
Mastercard × Enza team up to embed payments for African fintechs, driving digital inclusion
Sabi pivots to TRACE, a blockchain platform tracing minerals and agri-exports for ESG compliance
Chpter scales into 11 new markets via Flutterwave and launches Pluto, its AI chat-commerce tool
Swypex rolls out Approval-based Limits Card for SMEs in Egypt’s cash-heavy economy
Wetility raises 30 m USD to add 16 MW of solar capacity and power 1 m homes and businesses
Nawy, Octane, PaidHR, and Open Access Energy close fresh rounds to fuel regional expansion
LemFi acquires UK-licensed Pillar, while iSchool buys SEEDS to boost bilingual STEM and AI courses
Endeavor Catalyst launches a 300 m USD fund backing Series A-C startups across emerging markets
Opportunity Radar: Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards open until 24 June 2025
🎧 Listen now to get the full context, founder names, and strategic takeaways in under 5 minutes.
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#AfricaStartupNews #VentureCapital #Fintech #SolarEnergy #Blockchain #StartupFunding
Stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving tech landscape with this week’s Startup Researcher Africa podcast.We unpack headline-making stories, including:• Address Me’s victory at the Innovate Africa Fund hackathon, solving verifiable addresses for township residents• Nigeria’s new AI accelerator with Meta that leverages Llama models to fuel health, agriculture, and security startups• Binance compliance lead Tigran Gambaryan’s exit amid the exchange’s wider leadership churn• Yellow Card’s regulatory stance after Ghana’s central bank warning and Moniepoint’s $889 k stock disputeFunding spotlight: Moove is in talks for a $300 m round that could push it to unicorn territory, while South Africa’s Nile secures $11.3 m to scale its agri-marketplace, MyNextCar raises $10 m for affordable ride-hailing, Salus Cloud banks $3.7 m for AI-native DevOps, and WeThinkCode lands a $2 m Google.org grant to train 12 000 AI learners.We also cover CreditChek’s strategic acquisition of US-based CreditCliq, Super Capital’s new MEA investment club, and Silverbacks Holdings’ fivefold return from OmniRetail. Our Startup of the Week is Nile, reshaping fresh-produce trading with end-to-end transparency, and Investor of the Week is Super Capital, now targeting high-growth MEA sectors. Finally, the Opportunity Radar features the DPI for People and Planet Challenge—up to $100 k in grants and a COP30 pitch.Listen now for a concise, data-rich roundup of funding rounds, exits, and ecosystem trends that matter to founders, investors, and analysts tracking Africa’s innovation boom.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Kenya’s Finance Bill 2025 puts stock-option perks at risk, Medsaf shuts down after a $7 million raise, and PalmPay targets a $50–100 million Series B as it scales across Africa and Asia. Tune in for a sharp, data-driven briefing:Top HeadlinesKenya’s Finance Bill 2025 aims to tax employee stock options and scrap incentives, sparking backlash from founders and investors.Medsaf, the Nigerian healthtech that raised $7 million, closes amid FX turmoil, debts, and a failed sale.Fincra secures a Payment System Provider license in Tanzania to power regulated cross-border fintech services.Twiga pauses Nairobi operations while it relocates and restructures for leaner growth.Ghana’s Central Bank readies digital-lending rules for August 2025 to curb fees and cap bad loans.Funding NewsPalmPay lines up a $50–100 million Series B to deepen its 35 million-user fintech play.Thunder Code (Expensya founders) scores $9 million seed for AI-powered QA testing.Kumulus Water raises $3.5 million to turn air into drinking water across EMEA.Salpha Energy secures $1.3 million to expand off-grid solar assembly in Nigeria.OceansMall nets $150 k to scale its cold-chain platform in Ghana.Exits & AcquisitionsMoniepoint wins approval to buy 78 percent of Kenya’s Sumac Microfinance Bank.dLocal moves to acquire AZA Finance, boosting cross-border payments reach.Investor & Ecosystem MovesTechnopark Morocco teams with Plug and Play to launch a national acceleration program under Morocco Digital 2030.Egypt rolls out a national VC-reporting standard with MSMEDA and the World Bank.SpotlightStartup of the Week: PalmPay – profitable hybrid fintech serving the underbanked.Investor of the Week: Plug and Play – Silicon Valley giant expanding in North Africa.Opportunity RadarTechstars New York City Accelerator – applications close 11 June 2025; ideal for early-stage founders in AI, fintech, health, climate, and SaaS.Hit play for the full analysis and stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving startup and VC landscape.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Fincra clinches a South African payments license, Blockchain.com opens in Nigeria, and Zero Carbon Charge scores $5.5 million to power solar-driven EV charging. Tap in for your no-fluff briefing:Top HeadlinesFincra: South African license unlocks compliant cross-border payments.Blockchain.com: Lagos office marks deep push into Africa’s crypto scene.Heroshe: Nigerian e-commerce shipper faces shutdown after delivery failures.GITEX Kenya 2026: New East Africa tech expo to spotlight AI and innovation.Paymob × Bit68: Partnership brings AI-powered e-commerce and payments across MENA.Funding NewsZero Carbon Charge raises $5.5 million to build off-grid EV stations every 150 km on South African highways.Cutstruct secures $1.5 million to scale its construction-procurement marketplace in Nigeria.Sycamore lands $628 k local debt to expand its consumer-lending book.Beemi grabs seed funding to gamify live streaming across Africa.TooMuchWifi wins fresh capital to widen affordable internet in underserved South African communities.Exit WatchValu prepares EGX listing via share distribution from EFG Holding.Investor & Ecosystem MovesDisrupTech readies a $70 million fintech-and-AI fund for MENA and Africa.COREangels launches a $10 million early-stage MEA fund after backing five fintechs.Oui Capital urges infrastructure bets to unlock $10 billion in cross-border-payments value.Kosmos Innovation Center and Mastercard Foundation invest $200 k across 22 agritech startups.SpotlightStartup of the Week: Zero Carbon Charge – solar-powered, ultra-fast EV charging for inclusive growth.Investor of the Week: DisrupTech – Cairo VC doubling down on fintech and AI with Fund II.Opportunity RadarCartier Women’s Initiative Awards – apply by 24 June 2025 for funding, visibility, and a global fellowship.Press play for the full analysis and stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving startup and VC landscape.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: A 5 % U.S. remittance tax rattles African fintechs, Wahu Mobility locks in a carbon-credit e-bike deal, and Thndr and Sylndr each raise $15.7 million in Egypt. Hit play for the facts you need:Top HeadlinesU.S. House passes 5 % tax on non-citizen remittances, squeezing migrants and fintechs such as LemFi and NALA.Wahu Mobility signs Swiss carbon-credit pact to deploy 117 000 e-bikes by 2030.Terrahaptix wins $1.2 million deal to install AI drones guarding Nigerian hydro plants.Vendease CFO exits amid shift to a software-led model during Series A extension.Algeria’s NESDA unveils three startup funds worth up to $75 000 each.Funding NewsThndr lands $15.7 million to launch Alpha and ThndrX and pursue an asset-management license.Sylndr secures $15.7 million to scale its AI-driven used-car marketplace in Egypt.Carrot Credit raises $4.2 million to let users borrow against crypto, stocks, and bonds.Seeds & Pennies nets $1.1 million for inclusive retail lending and BNPL for women-led SMEs.ElGameya closes a seven-figure round to expand its savings-circle app.Exit WatchCatalyst Partners acquires digital lender Qardy for $23 million in Egypt’s first fintech SPAC.MaxAB-Wasoko buys Fatura to deepen digital retail reach in Egypt.Valu wins $27 million from Saudi investors and EGX listing approval.Investor & Ecosystem Moves“Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec joins Shark Tank Egypt S4 as guest shark.CIB teams with Lantern Ventures to blend finance and hands-on support for Egyptian SMEs.SpotlightStartup of the Week: Thndr – democratizing investments with new platforms and license push.Investor of the Week: Robert Herjavec – cybersecurity titan bringing global capital to Egypt.Opportunity RadarEntrepreneurs for Resilience programme – apply by 1 June 2025 for funding to scale healthcare ventures in low-income markets.Listen now for a crisp, data-rich tour of Africa’s startup and VC landscape.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Stripe widens its tax-automation service to five more African markets, PalmPay tops FT’s growth list with 35 million users, and Nawy lands a $75 million war chest for AI-driven real estate. Press play for the essentials:Top HeadlinesStripe expands tax-compliance automation to five additional African countries, easing cross-border scaling for startups.PalmPay, crowned Africa’s fastest-growing fintech by the Financial Times, plots entry into four new markets.Cross Switch acquires Pesawise to launch Kenyan payments infrastructure.Nigeria’s Central Bank unveils a digital BVN for the diaspora, targeting $1 billion in monthly remittances.Chowdeck debuts in Ghana with 30-minute delivery and rider-rewards.Funding NewsNawy raises $75 million (equity + debt) and acquires ROA to boost AI-powered proptech across MENA.AURA closes $15.1 million to globalize its smart emergency-response API.BURN secures $5 million to deploy 100 000 electric stoves in Kenya.Sycamore nets $935 k to scale SME lending tools.THE WHITEGUARD scores a six-figure pre-seed to advance AI cybersecurity in MEA.Investor & Ecosystem MovesEIB Global and Family Bank launch a $111 million credit line for women- and youth-led SMEs in Kenya.SpotlightStartup of the Week: Nawy – end-to-end proptech with fractional ownership and BNPL options.Investor of the Week: Family Bank – championing inclusion via a major SME financing package.Opportunity RadarTechstars NYC Accelerator – apply by 11 June 2025 for hands-on support and a 4 800-startup network.Catch the full rundown to stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving startup and VC scene.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Cape Verde unveils a $51.5 million TechPark, Klivvr debuts FRA-approved BNPL in Egypt, and MNT-Halan issues Egypt’s largest corporate bond at $49 million. Hit play for the week’s essential rundown:Top HeadlinesTechPark CV launches in Cape Verde to link West Africa with Europe and the Americas.Klivvr rolls out FRA-approved BNPL in Egypt for instant app-based payments.PalmPay maps pushes into South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Tanzania.Nigerian court denies bail to Afriq Arbitrage CEO over $854 k crypto-fraud charges.Treepz partners with Miva Open University to handle nationwide staff transport in Nigeria.Funding NewsMNT-Halan completes a record $49 million bond issuance to power SME lending.Money Fellows raises $13 million to grow its digital ROSCA platform across Africa and MENA.iSUPPLY secures $3 million Sharia-compliant financing for ethical pharma distribution.Platos Health lands $1.4 million pre-seed for AI health monitoring in Nigeria.Career 180 gets six-figure backing to export its LMS into the Gulf and Europe.Exit WatchHenk Pretorius acquires no-code agency Tinkso to scale AI-driven software solutions.Investor & Ecosystem MovesAGF × OAPI unlock $70 million to fund patent-backed deep-tech SMEs in Francophone Africa.Swedfund injects $15 million into TLG Africa Fund II for SME resilience.Teranga Capital raises $3.4 million to expand into Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde.Madinet Masr launches a VC arm for proptech innovation in Egypt.SpotlightStartup of the Week: MNT-Halan – Egypt’s first fintech unicorn, now fueling growth via landmark bond.Investor of the Week: TLG Capital – private-credit specialist scaling impact with a $200 million fund.Opportunity RadarY Combinator Summer 2025 – apply by 13 May 2025 for $500 k funding and a global founder network.Stream the episode for a crisp, data-rich tour of Africa’s startup and VC landscape.
This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Paystack is fined for its unlicensed Zap app, Meta faces a potential $300 million penalty in Nigeria, and OmniRetail nets a $20 million Series A to digitize FMCG supply chains. Tune in for the week’s must-know moves:Top HeadlinesPaystack hit with a ₦225 million (≈ $155 k) CBN fine over unlicensed Zap launch.
Nigeria’s data watchdogs threaten Meta with $300 million in penalties, risking Facebook and Instagram shutdowns.
Flutterwave CTO Gurbhej Dhillon exits amid ongoing leadership churn.Bokra issues a $58.9 million sukuk to fund SME financing in Egypt.i3 awards $1.5 million to seven pharmacy-tech startups across Africa.Funding NewsOmniRetail closes $20 million Series A to expand West African B2B commerce and Omnipay.Zeepay secures $18 million venture debt for mobile money and remittances in Africa + Caribbean.Kofa raises $8.1 million to roll out AI battery-swap hubs in Ghana and Kenya.MYDAWA gains undisclosed backing to scale its e-pharmacy platform.Tendo picks up fresh capital to grow its reseller network in Ghana and Nigeria.Exit WatchC-One Ventures acquires micro-finance platform Bankly to deepen agent-led digital finance.Miran merges with Welnes, creating a holistic wellness player in Saudi Arabia.Investor & Ecosystem MovesLagos-based Aruwa Capital raises $35 million toward a $50 million gender-lens Fund II.Silverbacks Holdings exits LemFi, banking a 29× return.SpotlightStartup of the Week: OmniRetail – digitizing informal retail with B2B e-commerce and embedded finance.Investor of the Week: Aruwa Capital – female-led VC driving inclusive growth in Nigeria and Ghana.Opportunity RadarGoogle for Startups Accelerator Africa 2025 – apply by 9 May 2025 for mentorship and up to $350 k in cloud credits.Press play for a concise, data-driven tour of Africa’s startup and VC landscape.