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.