Business Description: Provider of fully-financed solar PV and battery storage systems for commercial and industrial clients in East Africa, removing upfront costs for businesses going solar.
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Sawa Energy
Founded in 2021, Based in Uganda
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GRIPS Energy secures growth equity to expand solar and battery storage across Sub-Saharan Africa
October 15, 2026
The investment supports GRIPS as it expands its commercial and industrial (C&I) solar and battery storage footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Bisedge secures $11.2 million loan from Finnfund to expand electric forklift fleet in Nigeria and East Africa
October 15, 2026
The Mauritius company is the exclusive partner of Linde Material Handling in Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
Africa’s IPO wave: Five major listings to watch, from Dangote to OPay
October 15, 2026
This is IPO season in Africa, and here's everything you need to know about these IPOs.
Nigeria’s MAX extends Series B3 to $29 million with Nithio backing to expand electric mobility
October 15, 2026
MAX offers electric two-wheelers to commercial drivers on daily subscription plans, supported by solar-powered charging and battery-swapping stations.
Cascador and Sterling Bank launch $200 million fund to help Nigerian SMEs get loans
October 15, 2026
Cascador has launched a new fund following their whitepaper, "The Multiplier Model," which discusses the challenges faced by African businesses in growing.
Meet the 15 startups selected for the 2026 Google for Startups Accelerator South Africa programme
October 15, 2026
Google for Startups is a three-month hybrid programme that brings Google’s products, people and technology to tech startups in South Africa.
South Africa’s DCC Holdings secures $17 million in mezzanine debt from Kholo Capital
October 14, 2026
DCC distributes technology products and solutions to resellers across Southern Africa, from micro enterprises to large organisations.
Africa lending-as-a-service Kuunda completes oversubscribed secondary sale led by E4EAfrica
October 14, 2026
The company hasn't revealed how this transaction impacts its funding. Kuunda mentioned that this deal allows investors to access cash before an IPO or acquisition.
Africa Nature Impact Fund launches with $100 million target to back nature and carbon projects
October 14, 2026
The partners announced the fund at the Carbon Markets Africa Summit in Kigali. The fund plans to close its first $20 million in 2027.
Egypt’s Bank NXT extends partnership with Network International on payments
October 13, 2026
The bank says the move supports its expansion plans by building trust among existing and new customers. The announcement comes as Egypt’s banking sector goes through a fast digital shift, driven by the Central Bank of Egypt.
Bio Usawa to open Sub-Saharan Africa’s first monoclonal antibody plant in Rwanda
October 13, 2026
It says local production would create local expertise, strengthen health systems and bring therapies closer to patients. The company describes itself as building Africa’s first end-to-end monoclonal antibody company.
Standard Bank Group to invest in Nigeria’s OPay as the FinTech prepares for IPO
October 13, 2026
OPay filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and applied to list its American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
IFC and BlueOrchard launch private debt vehicle targeting $2 billion for emerging markets
October 13, 2026
The vehicle is aimed at private investors such as pension funds, insurers and sovereign wealth funds that want long-term exposure to private credit.
Mukuru appoints former Jumia executive Jean-Jacques Maïkere as Group Chief Customer Officer
October 12, 2026
Mukuru initially focused on international money transfers and later expanded its services to cover a wider range of financial needs.
Guyana Development Bank opens with interest-free loans for SMEs
October 12, 2026
The government says the launch delivers a commitment from the PPP/C’s 2025 manifesto and follows earlier announcements by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
South African EV startup Everlectric exits Vumela Fund
October 12, 2026
Everlectric now plans to grow its fleet, add more charging infrastructure, expand across South Africa and raise a larger funding facility.
South Africa-founded Healthleap raises $38 million to help hospitals detect missed diagnoses with AI
October 9, 2026
Healthleap was founded in South Africa in 2022 by siblings Josiah and Jemima Meyer.
Nigeria’s Vatar, creator of viral browser game Lagos Life, raises $500k to scale its social worlds platform
October 9, 2026
The game, Lagos Life, was launched on October 1 after Rayhamen began building it the night before.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
Kredete buys South African crypto licence holder to grow stablecoin payments
October 9, 2026
The deal was paid for fully in shares and was done through a Kredete subsidiary set up to build stablecoin infrastructure. The price was not disclosed.
Meet the Kenyan startups that raised funding in Q3 2026
October 9, 2026
In Q3, several Kenyan companies attracted capital from pan-African funds, European development finance institutions and others in the form of debt, structured working-capital facilities and receivables-based financing, as founders look to scale without diluting equity in a market.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
South African booking platform LekkeSlaap acquired by local investor consortium as founders exit
October 9, 2026
Co-founders Jonathan Womersley and Marcel van de Ghinste are leaving the business, along with other long-time shareholders.
Velocity and CrissCross partner to develop stablecoin, real-time payment and virtual account products for Africa
October 8, 2026
Financial institutions and businesses will get a more direct way to move between onchain liquidity and the currencies and payment systems they use locally.
African Union-mandated AfCRA launches to offer independent ratings of African governments and businesses
October 8, 2026
AfCRA is an independent, private-sector-led credit rating and credit-intelligence agency headquartered in Mauritius and serving markets worldwide.
African FinTech M-KOPA acquires Finnish device-locking software firm KilpiTek for $8 million
October 8, 2026
In July 2026, M-KOPA announced that it has reached 10 million customers across its 5 African markets.
Moroccan FinTech Vantage Payment Systems secures AfricInvest backing to build an omnichannel payments platform
October 8, 2026
VPS will now focus on launching a Point-of-Sale (POS) service for in-person payments, while also continuing to invest in its e-commerce and SoftPOS products.
Kenya’s Cloud9 secures investment from Alliance to build borderless banking for African entrepreneurs
October 8, 2026
While informal agents can speed things up, they lack proper records and protection. Additionally, mobile money, used for most daily transactions in Kenya, cannot be used for cross-border payments.
Ocular AI raises $2 million pre-Seed to build voice AI training data
October 8, 2026
The company says NVIDIA, Thinking Machines Lab, OpenAI, and Google have each released or previewed full-duplex models that listen and speak at once.
Funding, News, United Republic of Tanzania
Tanzanian AgTech East Africa Foods secures $40 million to scale food supply chain infrastructure across East Africa
October 7, 2026
The equity round completes the broader capital raise of approximately $40 million, including investment from existing shareholders, along with debt funding from the Schmidt Family Foundation.
Jubilee Group and FSD Africa partner with seven InsurTechs to widen insurance access in Kenya
October 7, 2026
The seven firms will work with Jubilee for eight weeks to co-create products. Joint pilots will start in Kenya in November 2026.
FINCA Ventures Prize 2026: Six African startups win $400k in grants
October 7, 2026
In its third year, the competition received more than 700 applications across two categories: FinTech for financial inclusion and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Infinite Partners closes Core Equity Fund II at $168 million
October 6, 2026
The fund is backed entirely by South African institutional investors. These include pension funds, insurers, asset managers and banks.
Egyptian FinTech unicorn MNT-Halan plans 20% stake sale in EGX listing as CIB commits up to $38.23 million to the IPO
October 6, 2026
The listing of MNT-Halan will be one of the largest such listings on Egypt’s stock exchange in years and will see the company sell a 20% stake.
Cross-border payments startup Leatherback rebrands as Foren after Zedcrest acquisition
October 6, 2026
The company said the name was the last thing to change and that this is not just a new identity placed on the same business.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
RMB Ventures to buy South African sports retailer MoreCorp from Old Mutual Private Equity
October 6, 2026
The sale ends a 10-year investment during which MoreCorp's turnover tripled. The financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal still needs the usual regulatory approvals.
Nigeria launches $300 million fund for distributed solar and mini-grids
October 5, 2026
The fund is the first country-level demonstration linked to a continental financing platform under Mission 300, according to the International Solar Alliance.
Kenya’s Family Bank secures $10 million credit line from African Development Bank to expand SME and agribusiness lending
October 5, 2026
The facility not only aims to boost trade finance activities in Kenya but also targets critical foreign currency gaps by channelling resources to small businesses in the country.
UNDP and GSMA sign agreement to strengthen Africa’s AI ecosystem
October 5, 2026
Under the partnership, the two organisations will connect local talent with opportunities to build and deploy AI tools that respond to Africa's priorities.
KawiSafi Ventures invests $2 million in Orb Energy to expand solar in East Africa
October 5, 2026
In Africa, Orb serves customers in manufacturing, agro-processing, healthcare and hospitality. Businesses can buy a system outright or use financing that lowers the upfront cost.
Nairobi- and Sunnyvale-based Satlyt raises $8 million to build the intelligence layer for satellites
October 2, 2026
Founded in 2024, Satlyt is developing software that lets AI models run on satellites already in orbit, allowing multiple spacecraft to share large computing jobs.
Egypt-founded Atta acquired by Replit to bring interactive charts into its AI chat
October 1, 2026
The deal was announced on 25 September 2026 and the financial terms were not disclosed. Post acquisition, Atta's charting technology and analysis approach will now be part of Replit.
Nigeria’s Prado Power secures REPP 2 debt financing to develop five solar mini-grids with battery storage
October 1, 2026
The debt will fund the construction and operation of the five mini-grids. The construction is also supported by the World Bank Group's DARES performance-based subsidy programme, which is facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria.
Cold Solutions Rwanda secures up to $18 million from Africa Go Green Fund for Kigali cold-storage facility
October 1, 2026
CS Rwanda has already opened its first temperature-controlled packhouse in Kigali and launched cold-chain logistics services in the country.
Nigeria’s Ororo Waste secures up to $1 million from Rising Tide Africa to expand used cooking oil collection
October 1, 2026
Ororo Waste received the first tranche of the corporate note on 16 September 2026. Further tranches may be funded until 16 December.
African startups that raised funding in September 2026
October 1, 2026
African startups raised over $2 billion in funding by the end of September, with the potential to reach $3 billion by the end of the year if trends continue.
Cameroon’s Prometal SA gets $45.6 million working capital facility from Afreximbank
October 1, 2026
Under the deal, Afreximbank will provide the financing and guarantees Prometal SA needs to meet its working capital needs.
Funding, News, Zambia, Zimbabwe
BII commits $65 million across Zambia and Zimbabwe to unlock investment in frontier markets
September 30, 2026
The announcement marks the local launch of BII's new five-year strategy in Zambia. The funding is paired with technical assistance for local financial institutions.
FSD Africa launches Manager Finance Facility to “finance the financiers” backing African businesses
September 30, 2026
The MFF is being launched with support from FMO and the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Nigeria.
Kenya’s Farm to Feed secures $171k from Proparco to cut food loss and boost farmer incomes
September 30, 2026
The company plans to use the funds to strengthen its technology platform, operations and network of partner farmers. It will also expand its value-added activities, so that more of the harvested produce can be sold.
Senegal-based SORAM Afrique raises $1.36 million funding round, marking its first ClimateTech investment
September 30, 2026
The deal was announced through Saviu's second-generation fund, Saviu II, and is the firm's first investment in Climate Tech.
Ethiopia’s Lersha named MIT Solve 2026 Solver, wins $100k Heifer Prize for Smallholder Agricultural Transformation
September 29, 2026
The prize was announced at the Solve Challenge Finals in New York, held during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. The award comes with $100k and a place in the 2026 Solver Class.
Octoco Group buys strategic stake in South African RailTech startup HisWay Labs
September 29, 2026
TrackView is a solar-powered sensor that monitors rail integrity and train positions. It has no copper cabling or batteries, two parts that make trackside equipment a common target for theft.
Exergy and Mercuria sign $250 million deal to finance power infrastructure across Southern and Eastern Africa
September 29, 2026
The deal marks Mercuria's entry into the region's power market and is described as one of the largest private capital commitments to Zambia's power sector.
Terra Industries partners with Promethean Resources to secure Nigerian mining operations with autonomous surveillance
September 29, 2026
Promethean Resources is a Nigerian mining company focused on exploring and processing various minerals, including tin, lithium, gold, lead-zinc, and rare earths.
Flutterwave hosts UNGA roundtable on infrastructure and capital for African businesses
September 28, 2026
The main message was that African companies need stronger financial infrastructure, more capital and closer ties between governments and the private sector if they are to grow globally.
Nigeria’s Tomato Jos secures $2 million as tomato paste import ban opens up local market
September 28, 2026
The facility, denominated in naira, is structured as impact-linked debt, a financing instrument that ties the investor's returns to social and economic outcomes.
Ghana’s Propartners to launch $207k crowdfunding note to finance local SMEs
September 28, 2026
The programme runs through PCS PLC, a special purpose vehicle set up to raise money from eligible investors and pass it on to selected small and medium-sized enterprises.
Zambian honey producer Wuchi Wami raises undisclosed investment from Inside Capital Partners
September 28, 2026
The company aims to create sustainable livelihoods through an outgrower scheme that supports over 2,500 small-scale farmers.
African Development Bank approves $34 million loan to Seychelles for public services, private sector growth and climate resilience
September 25, 2026
Approved on 22nd September, the loan funds the third and final phase of the Economic Resilience and Green Recovery Support Programme (ERGRSP-III).
Zambezi Basin countries agree climate resilience priorities for $130 million programme
September 25, 2026
The programme rests on four components: natural resources management, community climate resilience, institutional capacity and knowledge, and coordination.
Dar Ventures and Plug and Play team up to launch new DarE cohort
September 25, 2026
The programme is open to Pre-Seed to Pre-Series A startups that have a working MVP or market-ready product, address a clear industry challenge, show early market validation and have a strong, committed founding team.
Kenswitch launches Kenya’s first national domestic card scheme, eyes Tap to Pay and digital wallets
September 25, 2026
The Kenswitch Card was unveiled on Monday at Digital Issuance Unlocked, a banking technology showcase held at Strathmore University in partnership with TAI FINTECH and Stanchion Payments.
Afreximbank issues $29 million guarantee to scale EAC Customs Bond across East Africa
September 24, 2026
The facility is meant to strengthen the financial capacity behind the Bond and support the transition to a more digital, integrated customs environment.
Moroccan FinTech Chari appoints former Visa executive Aurélien Pichon to its board
September 24, 2026
The move strengthens the company's governance as it scales its agency banking and fintech-infrastructure-as-a-service businesses across the region.
Kenya’s SunCulture closes $10 million securitisation with Mirova to expand solar irrigation access
September 24, 2026
Founded in 2012, SunCulture designs, manufactures and finances solar-powered irrigation systems for smallholder farmers, and has sold more than 85,000 solar irrigation systems and pumps to date.
Zambia-based Sun King raises $5 million from Acumen to scale pay-as-you-go solar
September 24, 2026
The investment supports Sun King's expansion in Zambia, a market with significant unmet demand, and is designed to unlock local-currency financing for its growth.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
South African FinTech Luno acquires cross-border payments startup GTXN
September 24, 2026
The deal gives Luno licensed rails to collect and pay out money across corridors linking developed and emerging markets, offered to enterprise clients as one settlement flow.
LemFi appoints former Central Bank of Nigeria adviser Dr. Haydar Daudu as Head of Regulatory Affairs and Policy for West Africa
September 23, 2026
In this role, Daudu will lead LemFi's efforts to engage with regulatory and policy issues across West Africa, beginning with Nigeria.
Pan-African fund 3IF Ventures makes debut investment in Kenyan InsurTech Turaco
September 23, 2026
Turaco raised a $2 million Seed round in 2020, followed by a $10 million Series A in 2022 that funded its entry into Nigeria.
Meet Morounke Olufemi: The new global CFO of African FinTech unicorn Flutterwave
September 23, 2026
Morounke joined Flutterwave in June 2025 as CFO for EMEA, overseeing operations across more than 30 countries. She brings over 24 years of experience in finance, strategy, and banking.
EV.Tech raises undisclosed funding from Enko Capital to scale EV charging infrastructure
September 23, 2026
This support will enable EV.Tech to capitalise on the increasing demand for electric mobility in Côte d'Ivoire and the surrounding area.
Cairo-based Anees Health raises Seed funding to scale its integrated home healthcare model
September 22, 2026
Anees Health says it has already delivered more than 1,000 medical and care services and is now targeting an operational capacity of over 20,000 visits in 2027.
Egypt’s Career 180 launches KEMET-X to connect Egyptian and African startups with global investors
September 22, 2026
The flagship event is scheduled for 14–15 December 2026 at the Great Pyramids of Giza, and is expected to bring together more than 200 partners, startups, and VC firms from over 50 countries.
South African FinTech Mission Mobile raises $30.9 million from DNI to scale smartphone financing
September 22, 2026
Designed specifically for prepaid networks in African markets, the platform emphasises transparency with published pricing and no hidden fees.
Kredete acquires stablecoin infrastructure platform Gravv
September 22, 2026
Since the acquisition, Kredete has opened Gravv to new businesses and developers beyond its existing customer base, inviting any bank, fintech, platform, or builder in emerging markets to build on it.
Enko Capital secures CDC Benin as investor in Francophone West Africa SME Strategy
September 21, 2026
CDC Benin has joined the fund as an institutional investor, indicating that public financial institutions in the WAEMU region are showing more interest in private equity to support local businesses and create jobs.
ATDC secures $500 million credit facility from Afreximbank to scale trade and distribution across Africa
September 21, 2026
Under the facility, Afreximbank will supply ATDC with trade-finance capacity to undertake and scale eligible trading and distribution deals across the continent.
Spiro secures additional $18 million in debt financing from Africa Go Green Fund
September 21, 2026
The company has developed an integrated electric mobility platform that combines electric motorcycles with a large-scale battery-swapping network, aiming to lower the upfront cost and operational barriers of electric vehicle adoption.
Egypt-based FinTech Paymob raises $35 million in pre-Series C round
September 21, 2026
Paymob runs a unified omnichannel payments gateway that gives merchants access to more than 60 payment methods.
Biochar Industrial Group secures $1.5 million to turn waste into durable carbon removal
September 18, 2026
Biochar Industrial Group is a climate tech startup that provides biochar as a service to agricultural processing facilities, converting waste such as nut shells and husks into soil-improving biochar while earning carbon removal credits.
Funding, News, United Republic of Tanzania
Afreximbank extends $10 million facility to Azania Bank to support SMEs in Tanzania
September 18, 2026
The goal is to boost productivity and help SMEs take part in regional and global value chains, while closing financing gaps that hold back export growth.
Ghana’s Complete Farmer secures $2.4 million IFC-BIFT loan and $660k in advisory and grant support
September 18, 2026
Founded in 2017 by Desmond Koney, Complete Farmer is an AgTech company building a connected agricultural ecosystem across Africa.
Meet the 15 startups selected for Cohort 3 of Katapult Africa’s Climate Programme
September 18, 2026
The announcement comes as Africa is pressing for a shift from climate commitments to real action as it prepares for COP31 in Antalya and hosts COP32 in Addis Ababa in 2027.
Terra Industries leads $1 million pre-Seed round in Nigerian cybersecurity startup Aeon
September 18, 2026
Aeon is focused on important industries in the Global South, starting with Nigeria. Their solutions are designed to address local security challenges and regulations.
Pan-African Payment and Settlement System targets wider adoption after transaction volumes surge 1,000% across Africa
September 18, 2026
Mike Ogbalu III, Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, said its platform now operates in more than 30 African countries across all five regions of the continent.
Egypt’s Bekia raises $765k to digitise waste collection and launch its first B2B software product
September 17, 2026
Bekia will use the funding to grow its engineering team, take its first B2B product, Bekia Next, to market.
India’s Absolute takes AI-led biosolutions agriculture platform INERA to Africa, begins operations in Kenya
September 17, 2026
INERA has teamed up with a Kenyan agriculture firm that specializes in flowers, herbs, and horticulture to distribute and sell its products in Kenya.
South Africa’s NEF and NYDA launch $6.13 million fund for youth entrepreneurs
September 17, 2026
The agreement was signed on Monday, 14 September, at the NYDA's head office in Sunninghill. NEF Chief Executive Officer Mziwabantu Dayimani and NYDA Chief Executive Officer Ndumiso Kubheka signed on behalf of their organisations.
Centenary Bank secures $8.5 million from EIB Global to finance smallholder farmers and agri-food businesses in Malawi
September 17, 2026
The deal is backed by an EU-financed guarantee and forms part of the European Union's Global Gateway initiative for sustainable agriculture in Malawi.
VEA Capital Partners acquires stake in South African AI firm Bonisa Applied Insights
September 16, 2026
The deal positions Bonisa AI for its next stage of growth as global demand for data-driven decision-making keeps rising.
Africa Jobs Fund backs People Gateway to build job pathways from Africa to Italy
September 16, 2026
The investment funds PeopleGateway's first corridor – training hospitality workers on Kenya's coast to work in Italian hotels and restaurants.
All On invests $5 million in PowerGen to expand solar mini-grids across Nigeria
September 16, 2026
The capital, structured as a mezzanine facility, will support the development of isolated and interconnected mini-grid projects serving households, commercial and industrial customers in communities with limited or unreliable access to electricity.
Cape Town-based Iris Fresh raises growth capital to expand fresh produce exports
September 16, 2026
Iris Fresh sources premium fruit and vegetables from farmers across South Africa and neighbouring countries, then exports them to international buyers.
Nigeria Police Force appoints Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga Agboola as National Youth Ambassador
September 15, 2026
The appointment falls under the International Youth Day 2026 National Youth Security, Peacebuilding and Empowerment Initiative.
Kenya’s AgTech startup Twiga Foods enters administration after years of layoffs, debt and a failed asset-light pivot
September 15, 2026
The legal move strips its directors of executive control and hands management of the business to an appointed administrator.
Egyptian-founded FinTech startup Synapse Analytics raises $13 million to bring AI decisioning to banks
September 15, 2026
Synapse Analytics is now headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and works with banks, FinTechs and telecom companies across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
African EV soonicorn Spiro partners with China’s Yadea to scale affordable electric mobility across the continent
September 14, 2026
The partnership will combine Yadea's global manufacturing and R&D expertise with Spiro's battery-swapping network across seven African countries.
Africell secures $99.6 million EXIM loan to deploy American and European telecoms technology in Angola
September 14, 2026
The financing for Africell comes from the Trump administration as the US takes necessary steps to restrict the growth of China's Huawei in Africa.
PIDG and IFDK back Africa GreenCo with additional $11.5m investment
September 11, 2026
The investment follows the recent entry of new private-sector investor Sanlam Alternative Investments, one of Africa's largest institutional investors, bringing the total third close of the fundraise to $21.5 million.
Moroccan LegalTech Charikaty secures pre-Seed funding at $3.4 million valuation
September 11, 2026
The platform also offers services like updating company information, registration addresses, accounting packages, trademark registration, and business dissolution
Watu secures $7 million debt facility from AHL Venture Partners to expand mobility and connectivity lending
September 11, 2026
The new capital will fund working capital needs and support the continued growth of Watu's loan portfolio in several of its African markets, according to AHL.
“Patient capital, responsible growth, locally grounded solutions”: Millennial Legacy’s Simeon Ogonda on Africa’s institution-building gap, bootstrapping and pan-African expansion
September 11, 2026
In this wide-ranging interview with African-Startups.com, Ogonda discusses why he chose to keep the company lean, how he separates its commercial and nonprofit arms, what excites and worries him about Africa's wider startup ecosystem.
Flutterwave powers online payments for Dangote Refinery’s IPO, widening access for retail and diaspora investors
September 11, 2026
Investors can subscribe through Chapel Hill Denham’s subscription platform, with a minimum purchase of 10 shares at $0.40 per share, for a total investment of $4.00.
Moroccan water company SNCE secures investment from CDG Invest Growth and MCP
September 11, 2026
The founding Laraqui family will remain SNCE's key shareholder. The deal is still subject to customary regulatory approvals. No financial terms were disclosed.
Kenyan creator-commerce platform HustleSasa raises new funding led by Impacc
September 10, 2026
HustleSasa started with a vision and has grown into a comprehensive system that supports live entertainment and sports in Africa, serving over 4,000 clients in six countries.
Cape Town’s Grindstone Ventures launches $31.1 million fund to back African startups from Seed to Series A
September 10, 2026
The new fund is targeting a first close of R150 million and plans to build a portfolio of 15 to 20 businesses, primarily in South Africa and selectively elsewhere on the continent.
Paris-based Amethis backs Zamara Holdings to build leading pan-African financial services platform
September 10, 2026
The deal is aimed at helping Zamara deepen its digital capabilities, expand its regional footprint and cement its position as the leading financial services platform in Africa.
Egyptian-UK FinTech firm Zeal raises $10 million to expand payment terminal loyalty tools
September 10, 2026
The FinTech company partners with acquirers, payment service providers, ISOs, and merchants to enhance the checkout experience and provide valuable information for managing their operations.
TLG Capital invests $3 million in Nigeria’s Drive45
September 10, 2026
The facility improves Drive45's financial position as the need for mobility services increases nationwide, supported by a guarantee from Cascador in collaboration with Morgan Stanley.
Creditchek acquires Uganda-based core banking and lending platform Algosys
September 9, 2026
The acquisition is part of Creditchek’s broader strategy to bring multiple components of the lending lifecycle onto a more connected infrastructure layer.
Africa Jobs Fund backs labour mobility startup Velocity as it expands nurse placements into Malawi and Zambia
September 9, 2026
While the exact size of the investment was not disclosed, the investment will help Velocity expand its language training programme into Malawi and Zambia.
Kopo Kopo launches K2 Connect V2 APIs for faster in-app payments
September 9, 2026
The new API version adds features including payment reversals, payment links, bulk payments, expanded Daraja payload support and improved webhooks.
Vodafone Business and Cassava Technologies partner to build Egypt’s first sovereign AI factory
September 9, 2026
The initiative aims to position Egypt as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and technology while strengthening the country's data hosting and processing capabilities.
ZARU adds Absa as banking partner to strengthen Rand-backed stablecoin infrastructure
September 8, 2026
The banking expansion comes as ZARU seeks to build infrastructure capable of meeting the requirements of institutional participants.
South Africa’s Capitalworks secures $15 million from Proparco for fourth private equity fund
September 8, 2026
Capitalworks IV will invest primarily in high-potential local businesses, providing them with the capital and strategic support needed to accelerate their growth and long-term resilience.
Kenya’s ARC Ride raises $33.3 million to expand electric mobility across Africa
September 8, 2026
Existing investors Musashi Seimitsu, a Japanese automotive supplier, and African impact investor Talanton also provided additional capital.
Digital Realty opens 6.4 MW Nairobi data centre as iColo rebrands in Kenya and Mozambique
September 8, 2026
The rebrand and launch were marked at a ceremony in Nairobi attended by Kenyan and US government officials, including Principal Secretary John Kipchumba Tanui, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia, Special Envoy on Technology Philip
Injini launches AI for Education Venture Builder to develop African EdTech Startups
September 8, 2026
The program will support 12 teams in creating affordable EdTech solutions for learners and educators in Southern Africa, guiding them through stages from idea development to early market testing.
Oxano Capital backs Ugandan dairy processing company Mujuni Ventures to strengthen the country’s dairy value chain
September 7, 2026
Founded in 2020 by Dickson Mujuni, the Ugandan company has grown from a milk aggregation business into an integrated dairy company.
Village Capital expands into Nigeria with $450k first investments in Trade Lenda and AirSmat
September 7, 2026
The $4 million pilot facility is managed by Village Capital and backed by FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Kili Ventures makes fourth investment, backing African B2B payments startup Jenzy
September 7, 2026
Jenzy addresses a persistent problem in African trade: roughly one in four B2B payments across the continent's $400 billion-plus trade market fails or stalls.
DHL Express and Absa join hands to help African SMEs expand cross-border trade
September 4, 2026
The partnership was established under DHL GoTrade, an initiative designed to help SMEs overcome barriers to cross-border commerce and participate more effectively in global markets.
Johannesburg-based Syspro launches Torque, an AI platform for smarter manufacturing decisions
September 4, 2026
Torque works with existing ERP, manufacturing execution systems (MES), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platforms and warehouse systems.
Latin American FinTech Meru launches in Africa, expanding to 15 countries
September 4, 2026
Meru users in Africa will now have the ability to get US and European virtual accounts, hold and move dollars globally, use Visa cards, earn yield, invest, and access financial services that traditionally depend on where you live.
IFAD and AgDevCo sign $10 million loan to boost Africa’s next generation of agribusinesses
September 4, 2026
The initiative will initially focus on Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, supporting up to 15 early-stage agricultural enterprises across production, agricultural inputs, aggregation and processing.
Funding, News, United Republic of Tanzania
EU-backed MSME Impact Grant Fund launches in Tanzania with non-repayable grants of up to $11k for women and youth-led businesses
September 4, 2026
Beyond grant capital, participating enterprises will receive business development support to strengthen operations, scale their businesses, build resilience, and improve readiness to access future financing.
Africa50 appoints Cheick-Oumar Sylla as Project Development Fund CEO while DRE Fund secures $71 million in commitments
September 3, 2026
He brings to the helm more than three decades of experience across infrastructure investment, project development, development finance, and private-sector growth spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
AXIAN and African Development Bank launch Programme to support 34,000 women-led businesses
September 3, 2026
The programme will use AXIAN’s Mixx and Mvola digital financial services platforms to provide tailored financial products, digital lending, financial literacy and business development support.
AfricInvest Small Cap Fund invests in Mauritius-based Spoon Consulting to expand AI services across Africa
September 3, 2026
Spoon Consulting focuses on AI-first digital transformation, helping enterprises integrate artificial intelligence into their existing technology platforms.
Egypt’s 3C Coding School raises $3 million Seed round to scale its AI-powered learning platform
September 3, 2026
Its programmes cover software development, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, game development and cybersecurity.
Instarc secures $1.43 million to bring cloud-native compliance technology to South Africa’s regulated businesses
September 3, 2026
The funding will support Instarc's growth in South Africa, where compliance obligations under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) are among the most rigorous on the continent.
French health insurance unicorn Alan enters Africa with acquisition of Senegal’s Tanel
September 2, 2026
The deal marks Alan's first entry into Africa and a notable exit for Francophone Africa's HealthTech ecosystem. Deal terms were not disclosed.
WIOCC Group secures $300 million from AFC and Vision Invest to expand digital infrastructure across Africa
September 2, 2026
The deal was formalised through a Shareholder Subscription Agreement signed on 1 September 2026, at the LEAP 2026 Global Technology exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
South African investment firm Pallidus appoints former PwC executive Keith Ackerman as CEO
September 2, 2026
The appointment follows 11 years of building the business from an independent corporate finance advisory firm into an integrated platform focused on private capital.
ChipMango raises $1.9 million to turn African engineering talent into global chip-design capability
September 2, 2026
ChipMango develops semiconductor engineering talent and delivers commercial chip design, verification, edge-AI, and intelligent hardware solutions.
Abwaab acquires Eduact to expand tech-enabled learning across MENA
September 2, 2026
The acquisition strengthens Abwaab's strategy of connecting offline and online education while expanding access to technology for teachers, learning centers and students across the region.
Cybastion plans $75 million AI-powered data centre and power plant in Cameroon
September 2, 2026
The planned investment was announced by the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon on August 27 during the inaugural U.S.-Cameroon Bilateral Economic and Commercial Dialogue in Douala.
Spiro appoints Auroasish Choudhuri as managing director for West and Central Africa
September 1, 2026
Choudhuri brings more than two decades of automotive leadership across Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
Dutch impact investor DOB Equity backs Uganda’s water infrastructure company Irrisol Engineering
September 1, 2026
The capital is meant to help Irrisol strengthen its operations and expand its network of community water mini-grids beyond Western Uganda.
African companies that raised funding in August 2026, and 9 of them are hiring now
September 1, 2026
August 2026 carried that momentum forward, with deals spanning FinTech, mobility, AI, AgriTech, HealthTech, and clean energy. Here are the African startups that raised funding last month.
All On and Energise Africa invest $4 million in Maskh to expand solar mini-grids in Nigeria
August 31, 2026
The investment will support the development and deployment of renewable energy infrastructure to provide reliable and affordable electricity to households, businesses, schools, health facilities, and other public institutions that currently lack dependable power access.
Abu Dhabi’s ePointZero to acquire 90% stake in pan-African power producer Azura Power
August 31, 2026
The acquisition will give ePointZero an immediate foothold in Africa's power generation market through a platform with 752 MW of operational capacity and a development pipeline exceeding 1.5 GW.
Small Foundation backs venture builder Unmarkets to launch four new agribusinesses in Kenya
August 31, 2026
Rather than helping founders build businesses from the ground up, Unmarkets co-creates ventures with established agricultural firms that already have production facilities, brands, supplier relationships and customers.
Mamor Capital reaches $18.6 million first close for debut fund to back South African tech businesses
August 31, 2026
The firm is targeting a final close of $34 million (R550 million) and will invest in post-revenue South African technology businesses that use technology to widen access to digital and financial services.
Afrikrea relaunches under original name to mark 10th anniversary
August 28, 2026
Afrikrea has a new structure where it will serve as a consumer marketplace. At the same time, ANKA Pay and ANKA Ship will focus on business-to-business software.
Invest Kenya and EAVCA sign renewed partnership to boost investor confidence in Kenya
August 28, 2026
Both the organisations see the partnership as a way to reinforce Kenya's standing as a leading private capital hub in East Africa.
South African neocloud provider Stratos Lab partners with ECOBLOX and Digital Parks Africa to launch continent’s most powerful AI cloud
August 28, 2026
The deployment will deliver 7.2 exaflops of performance, powered by more than 50 NVIDIA B300 HGX GPU servers containing over 400 GPUs supplied by Taiwanese OEM Giga Computing, a GIGABYTE Group company.
Swedfund backs Africa Go Green Fund with $20 million to finance clean cooking, green buildings, and transport
August 28, 2026
The investment will increase access to debt financing for businesses working in green buildings, clean cooking, clean transport, and industrial energy efficiency.
Tyms partners with Seedstars to bring AI accounting to emerging market entrepreneurs
August 27, 2026
Tyms has built an integration that plugs directly into SIGMA, the platform Seedstars uses to support the programmes it runs for founders in emerging markets.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
Integrity360 acquires South Africa and UK-based identity security specialist CyberIAM
August 27, 2026
CyberIAM will form a new strategic services practice within Integrity360, sitting alongside the group's seven existing practices.
BasiGo and NCBA Group partner to finance 1,000 electric vans for Kenya’s public transport market
August 27, 2026
The deal combines BasiGo's Pay-As-You-Drive model with NCBA's asset financing to make it easier for transport operators to switch from diesel to electric.
Egypt’s Minapharm receives $16.5 million from CEPI to advance Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine towards clinical trials in Africa
August 27, 2026
The funding will take the vaccine through preclinical development and into a Phase 1 clinical trial in Africa to assess safety and immunogenicity.
ThriveAgric secures $3.94 million in first commercial paper raise to expand agricultural operations across Nigeria
August 26, 2026
The transaction marks ThriveAgric’s first entry into Nigeria’s debt capital markets and gives the company a new source of funding to support its expansion and working capital needs.
Ventures Platform closes $84 million pan-African Fund II to back early-stage African startups
August 26, 2026
The fund reached its final close three years after Ventures Platform closed its first institutional fund, despite a more cautious global venture capital market.
Moniepoint pulls plug on MonieWorld UK Remittance service in less than two years
August 26, 2026
Instead of continuing to invest in the UK remittance business, the company plans to direct more of its technology, capital and operational resources toward markets where it already has a stronger presence, particularly Nigeria and Kenya.
AFC Capital Partners launches Infrastructure Climate-Resilient Fund Nigeria as wider ICRF targets $3.7 billion
August 25, 2026
It will give Nigerian pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers and other institutional investors access to a diversified portfolio of commercially viable infrastructure projects.
South Africa’s Verascient raises $1.2 million pre-Seed to scale enterprise AI knowledge platform
August 25, 2026
Through Verascient, the founders want to organise the consolidated data by developing customised workflows and AI agents designed to operate inside clients' day-to-day operations.
Vyntra marks 10 years in East Africa as transaction screening surpasses 2 billion annually
August 25, 2026
Vyntra’s offering has expanded from IT log monitoring and behavioural fraud analytics to a wider range of fraud prevention, AML monitoring and payment operations capabilities.
South Africa’s Edge Growth launches $46.8 million debt fund, reaches $21.8 million first close
August 25, 2026
Managed by Edge Growth Ventures, it focuses on impact investing and will offer catalytic debt and hybrid capital to growing businesses that have validated their models but may struggle to get conventional bank loans.
CardinalStone Capital Advisers reaches $76 million first close of second fund to back West African SMEs
August 24, 2026
It will provide growth capital to high-potential small and medium-sized businesses and help them expand into larger regional companies.
Nigeria’s Blockradar crosses $1 billion in stablecoin transaction volume
August 24, 2026
The transaction milestone comes as the two-year-old firm scales across dozens of countries.
AfDB and Canada launch integrated investment framework backed by over $457 million
August 24, 2026
The move follows a visit to Canada in April 2026 by Bank Group president Sidi Ould Tah, during which the Canadian government announced a series of commitments totalling more than $457 million (CAD 633 million).
Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, News, Nigeria
Three African FinTech startups selected for Stellar and CV Labs’ first accelerator cohort
August 21, 2026
Each startup may receive up to $150k in XLM development funding, plus access to perks worth over $200k, mentorship from more than 50 industry experts, and investor introductions.
CIB Egypt secures preliminary licence for yomo digital bank, backs it with $300 million investment
August 21, 2026
CIB, which has operated in Egypt for more than 50 years, said the preliminary licence for yomo starts a broader effort to reshape the future of banking in Egypt through "innovation, trust and technology."
Nairobi-based SunCulture launches RainDrops profit-sharing programme for all employees
August 21, 2026
This initiative aims to provide financial benefits to all full-time employees, regardless of their roles within the organisation.
AgDevCo Ventures reaches $49 million first close to back early-stage agribusinesses across East Africa
August 21, 2026
The vehicle is now fully operational and led by Christine Mwangi, who has been with AgDevCo's East Africa team in Nairobi for six years.
Terra Industries hires former SpaceX executive Ben MacWilliams as VP of Strategy
August 20, 2026
Previously, MacWilliams worked at SpaceX as Director of Starlink Market Access, where he launched the service in over 20 African countries and collaborated with government officials.
South Africa’s Comsol enters wholesale 5G home broadband market with fresh backing from new shareholders
August 20, 2026
The company says it began building the network six months ago and already covers more than a million households in Gauteng.
Meta launches AI Academy Nigeria to accelerate local talent and startup innovation
August 20, 2026
The initiative directly supports the 3MTT programme's mission to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone, powering the local digital economy while positioning the nation as a net exporter of tech talent.
Cape Town-based Yellow raises Series C to scale smartphone and solar financing across Africa
August 20, 2026
The company now operates across seven African markets, including Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria.
AfriLabs and EYCONET join forces to connect Algerian and North African startups with investors, partners and new markets
August 19, 2026
The partnership centres on the AfriLabs Connect Deal Room (ACDR), a platform designed to facilitate structured deal sourcing and investment readiness.
NairaHost acquires KingHost to expand Nigerian web hosting services
August 19, 2026
Following the deal, KingHost is now wholly owned by Adedeji Innovations Ltd, the parent company behind NairaHost.
West African energy firm Genser Energy raises €456M debt facility to scale gas-to-power platform
August 19, 2026
Founded in 2006, Genser Energy is a privately owned integrated energy solutions and infrastructure company focused on industrial growth and energy security across West Africa.
Ninety One Closes Africa Credit Opportunities Fund 3 at $404M
August 19, 2026
The ACO3 Fund is the third in Ninety One's Emerging Market Senior Credit series, continuing their experience in private credit investments in Africa and other emerging markets.
After UK and EU approvals, Blockchain.com enters Nigeria SEC sandbox to deepen Africa presence
August 18, 2026
The admission means Blockchain.com has been approved by the SEC to operate in a limited capacity while the agency reviews digital asset business models and works on long-term regulations.
Lagos-based Pouchers raises $500k pre-Seed funding to scale stablecoin-powered multicurrency wallet
August 18, 2026
The round was led by Stack Directory LLC, a Dubai-based internet investment firm, with participation from other strategic angel investors.
YC-backed Afriex partners with Global Innovations Bank to strengthen cross-border payments across 35+ countries
August 18, 2026
The relationship strengthens the banking infrastructure behind Afriex's B2B Payments API, enabling faster settlement, expanded regulatory coverage, and Global USD Account access.
Cape Town’s Jem raises $8.4 million to manage Africa’s deskless workforce through WhatsApp
August 18, 2026
Jem now serves more than 250,000 employees across over 200 companies, including Servest, KFC, Meridian, The Capital, Edgars, and Illovo.
AfDB and Italy’s CDP commit $35 million to RMBV North Africa Fund III targeting mid-market growth companies
August 17, 2026
RMBV North Africa Fund III will invest in mid-market growth companies across sectors including consumer goods and services, healthcare, education, and financial services.
Saudi VC firm Khwarizmi Ventures completes partial exit from Egyptian logistics company Bosta with 3x return
August 17, 2026
The exit is the Saudi VC's sixth, following earlier exits from Tamara, POSRocket, Fatura, Melltoo, and Qawafel.
Danish infrastructure investor A.P. Moller Capital to acquire Morocco’s Globex Investissement to fuel green logistics push
August 17, 2026
The deal is funded by A.P. Moller Capital's Emerging Markets Infrastructure Fund II and its APM Capital Morocco Fund, which together will acquire the controlling stake in Globex.
Terra Industries raises additional $18 million and closes Seed round at $52 million; opens London office
August 17, 2026
According to the company, the London office will give "direct access to key institutions that impact global defence and infrastructure markets, as well as top operations and AI talent."
Helium Health co-founder Goke Olubusi steps down as CEO; fellow co-founder Dimeji Sofowora takes over
August 14, 2026
Dimeji Sofowora, who co-founded the company with Olubusi and Tito Ovia and has been its Chief Financial Officer from the start, assumes the role of CEO. Ovia left the company in 2022.
Cape Town-based AMSOL taps Zycus to bring agentic AI to marine procurement
August 14, 2026
The Zycus platform will streamline the procurement process by replacing email and disconnected tools with one unified system.
Flutterwave partners with Caliza to give African businesses direct access to USD accounts and stablecoin payment rails
August 14, 2026
Through the partnership, Flutterwave customers can now receive USD through ACH, Fedwire, RTP, SWIFT, and other local payment methods, hold balances in their own name, and move funds between currencies.
10 South African DeepTech startups to watch in 2026
August 14, 2026
Between 2013 and mid-2023, DeepTech startups in Africa raised around $3 billion across 360 deals, making up 15% of total continental startup funding.
Silverbacks’ $37 million Moove bet grows to over $62 million as mobility unicorn hits $2.1 billion valuation
August 13, 2026
Silverbacks first invested in Moove during its A1 round and has followed on in subsequent rounds, including the recently closed $250 million Series C.
Africa Finance Corporation raises $431 million in record Swiss franc digital bond
August 13, 2026
It is structured as a tokenised security using Distributed Ledger Technology, with ownership recorded on a regulated digital register and settlement taking place through SIX Digital Exchange.
World Bank Group’s IFC invests $25 million in Jumia to scale Africa’s digital commerce infrastructure
August 13, 2026
In addition to expanding the digital commerce infrastructure across Africa, the investment will also support Jumia's next phase of growth across its core African markets, strengthening its integrated marketplace and logistics network.
Moove rival Naran raises $10 million to finance ride-hailing fleets across Africa and Latin America
August 13, 2026
By 2030, Naran aims to operate across 10 countries, create 30,000 income opportunities, and deploy fleets of 10,000 cars and 20,000 motorcycles
South African FinTech TurnStay eyes Series A after processing $61.1 million in H1 2026
August 12, 2026
The company plans to raise funds through a Series A investment to support its growth across Africa.
Africa50 lands US$50 million from European DFIs to advance climate-resilient projects across Africa
August 12, 2026
The signing took place at the 2026 Infra for Africa Forum, hosted by the Government of Tanzania at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
South Africa’s SBS Tanks acquired by 124-year-old Australian manufacturer Ahrens Group
August 12, 2026
The acquisition strengthens Ahrens' growing international water infrastructure portfolio, which already includes Pioneer Water Tanks, Southern Cross Water, and Altanks.
BluePeak Private Capital invests $12 million in Monty Mobile to scale messaging infrastructure across Africa
August 11, 2026
The investment will fund new mobile network operator agreements, increase messaging volumes, and strengthen the digital infrastructure supporting financial services, e-commerce, and other platforms across the continent.
Afreximbank signs largest-ever $127 million financing deal with Chad to back trade and infrastructure projects
August 11, 2026
Under the terms of the agreement, proceeds from the facility are to be deployed by the Chadian government toward trade-enabling infrastructure projects that have been approved under the country's 2026 Finance Law.
Egyptian FashionTech startup Venduo facilitates $794k in transactions since launch, targets 100,000 brands and manufacturers
August 11, 2026
During the first six months of 2026 alone, transactions reached nearly $397k (EGP 20 million) through the first digital B2B marketplace, claims the company.
Egyptian EdTech startup UMAMI launches AI-powered Learning Operating System backed by $1 million+ investment plan
August 11, 2026
The platform is designed to serve governments, ministries, educational institutions, and large enterprises across Egypt and the wider MENA region.
Cape Town’s Tennsa secures pre-Seed funding from family-backed AI fund Oakvale Invest
August 10, 2026
Tennsa is an AI software development company building Tennsa OS, which is an always-on intelligence layer for the operations of growing businesses.
Digital African Woman and LEAP Africa launch DAW Marketplace to connect women entrepreneurs with markets, mentorship and capital
August 10, 2026
The tie-up brings together LEAP Africa's work developing young women leaders through its Leadership Accelerator Programme with Digital African Woman's decade of building entrepreneurial ecosystems for African women.
Small Foundation backs AgDevCo Ventures to provide patient finance for early-stage agribusinesses across East Africa
August 10, 2026
The partnership is part of a broader blended finance structure that allows the vehicle to offer financing on terms better suited to agricultural businesses operating with seasonal revenues, climate exposure, and long production cycles.
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and InnoPower Africa partner to launch a free AI skills programme
August 10, 2026
The programme will also train and certify 100 AI trainers to deliver the curriculum across communities in the city.
Africa-focused stablecoin infrastructure company Yellow Card raises $40 million
August 7, 2026
The round pushes Yellow Card's total equity financing past $120 million and will use the funding to scale Global USD Accounts while expanding the stablecoin payment rails linking it to markets worldwide.
Climate Fund Managers’ SA-H2 Fund reaches $184.6 million first close to accelerate green transition in Southern Africa
August 7, 2026
SA-H2 uses a blended finance structure that deploys public capital strategically to balance risk, making it possible for institutional investors to participate in projects they might otherwise consider too early-stage or risky.
FinDev Canada invests $46.1 million in NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire to back SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and climate finance
August 7, 2026
The loan is part of a $115.2 million (€100 million) syndicated facility led by Citibank with participation from KEXIM Global Singapore.
AHL Venture Partners secures additional $15 million for Africa Credit Fund, bringing total to $45.5 million
August 7, 2026
The latest close follows the fund's first close at $30.5 million in May 2026, which was completed in under 12 months.
Liquid Intelligent Technologies announces plans to expand Tara Link beyond Lagos into three Nigerian cities
August 6, 2026
Each Taara link delivers up to 20 Gbps of capacity over distances of up to 20 kilometres using narrow, invisible beams of light transmitted through the air.
African EV soonicorn Spiro opens seventh mega battery-swap station in Rwanda
August 6, 2026
According to Gagan Gupta, Rwanda's overall motorcycle sales grew 28% last year, largely driven by electric motorcycle sales, which recorded 700 per cent growth in a single year.
EFG Finance backs Egyptian remittance infrastructure company Balad
August 6, 2026
Balad's founder and CEO, Adham Azzam, will continue to lead the company, with EFG Finance providing institutional capacity and access to its broader financial services ecosystem.
“Africa has the answers”: ARED founder Henri Nyakarundi on fixing a broken ecosystem, building for local realities, unlocking untapped potential, and more
August 6, 2026
In this interview, Nyakarundi discusses his journey back to Africa, why the US startup model doesn't work on the continent, and the transformative opportunity in green industries and distributed digital infrastructure.
Kenyan FinTech lender 4G Capital partners with IFC to expand financing for micro and small businesses
August 6, 2026
The 4G Capital deal is part of IFC's first batch of CFLG transactions in Africa, alongside Equity Bank Kenya and KCB Bank Kenya.
Funding, News, United Republic of Tanzania
Tanzanian HealthTech startup Dawa Mkononi secures investment from Africa Health Ventures to modernise medicine distribution
August 5, 2026
Africa Health Ventures, which focuses on early-stage health startups across the continent, said it will work with the Dawa Mkononi team to accelerate growth in the coming years.
Flutterwave powers Xara’s WhatsApp payment platform in push for conversational banking
August 5, 2026
Launched in June 2025, Xara turns WhatsApp into a personal banker for Nigerians.
Johannesburg-based Flowgear launches advisory service to help enterprises prepare for operational AI
August 5, 2026
The announcement comes two months after the announcement of Builder MCP, a way to build workflows directly from an AI chat.
Lagos-founded Moove raises $250 million at $2.1 billion valuation from Mubadala, Toyota, BlackRock, others
August 5, 2026
By the end of the year, Moove plans to increase its workforce for autonomous vehicles from about 150 to around 500, which is a 220% growth.
Ghana launches national project to train community journalists in cybersecurity reporting
August 4, 2026
The project aims to give journalists working in community media the knowledge and skills to cover cybersecurity topics accurately, while also strengthening public awareness and promoting responsible digital behaviour across Ghana.
British International Investment commits $20 million to Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund
August 4, 2026
The investment is part of a broader effort by African and global development finance institutions (DFIs) to close Africa's infrastructure financing gap.
Cape Town-based Moment raises $22 million to scale payments and billing platform across Africa
August 4, 2026
Moment offers merchants one platform to collect payments from various methods, allowing customers to pay their way.
EBID signs $91 million financing agreement with Coris Holding to support food, energy, and agriculture across West Africa
August 4, 2026
The financing will enable Coris Holding to support projects across the food, energy, and agricultural value chains through its banking network.
Nigerian FinTech Payaza signs MoU with Lebara Nigeria to become its official payment partner
August 3, 2026
The deal will see Payaza provide the payment infrastructure underpinning Lebara's payment ecosystem as the telecoms brand expands its footprint in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Terra Industries partners with Miva Open University to open robotics and drone lab in Abuja
August 3, 2026
Under the partnership, students will get hands-on training in designing, assembling, testing and flying drones as part of their academic coursework.
Beltone Venture Capital completes partial exit from Egyptian PropTech BirdNest with 3.5x return
August 3, 2026
The company says it has grown dollar-denominated revenue by more than 10x over the past two years while reaching profitability.
Italian startup Aflabox bags $1.54 million to tackle mycotoxin risks across African supply chains
August 3, 2026
The funding will help Aflabox speed up its shift from testing technology to developing and selling its products. It will also help the company to finalise its device certification, expand its presence in Kenya, Nigeria and Italy.
CBZ Bank secures $190 million from Afreximbank to support trade, SMEs, and energy in Zimbabwe
July 31, 2026
The package is designed to strengthen CBZ Bank's capacity to provide financing products to companies across Zimbabwe.
Meet the African startups that raised funding in July 2026
July 31, 2026
In H1 2026, African startups raised $1.44 billion through 146 deals, slightly more than the $1.42 billion raised in the same period of 2025, but with fewer overall deals (252 last year).
Madrid’s Konecta advances $100 million Egypt investment plan with new regional HQ and global AI hub
July 31, 2026
Central to the New Cairo campus is Konecta's first global Centre of Excellence (CoE) for AI, the first such facility across the entire Konecta Group, positioning Egyptian talent at the centre of the company's worldwide AI strategy.
Onafriq partners with Stripe-owned Privy to build stablecoin infrastructure for businesses across Africa
July 30, 2026
The initial phase focuses on cross-chain stablecoin transfers and treasury and settlement workflows, with plans to expand into broader cross-border payment and liquidity solutions.
Kenyan macadamia processor Orient Enterprises secures $1 million to expand exports and restore farmland
July 30, 2026
By 2030, the partnership targets more than 275,000 trees planted and over 100 new jobs created.
Lagos-based GoLemon shuts down after failing to secure fresh funding for grocery delivery business
July 30, 2026
The startup adds that the decision to wind down operations came down to timing rather than a single fatal flaw.
Afreximbank and Gebeya launch $50k “CANEX Create-thon” for African creators in music, video, and gaming
July 29, 2026
Unlike a conventional pitch competition, the Create-thon requires participants to build and submit working prototypes or completed creative projects during an intensive four-day creation sprint from 20 to 24 August 2026.
A startup’s unfair advantage: The business case for brand
July 29, 2026
“Brand” is not just a visual identity. These decisions: who your audience is, what matters to them, and how to differentiate from your competitors - are the positioning inputs that form the foundation for a strong brand.
S&P Global to acquire majority stake in Pan-African credit rating agency Agusto & Co
July 29, 2026
The companies said the partnership deepens and strengthens S&P Global Ratings' presence in Africa's domestic credit markets.
Funding, Kenya, News, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania
develoPPP Ventures selects six African startups for Cohort 10 across agriculture, nutrition, and FinTech
July 29, 2026
The programme aims to support young companies working to improve living conditions in developing or emerging countries and looking to grow.
KCB Bank Kenya secures $100 million EBRD facility to expand SME financing
July 29, 2026
Under the framework, 35% of the facility will be directed towards women- and youth-led enterprises. Around 30% will finance eligible green investments, enabling businesses to adopt climate-smart technologies and sustainable business practices.
Moroccan MedTech T2S Group lists on Casablanca Stock Exchange in $120 million IPO at $520 million valuation
July 28, 2026
The offering was 44 times oversubscribed, attracting demand from both Moroccan and international investors. The listing is one of the largest on the Casablanca Stock Exchange in recent years.
Egypt’s Sahl partners with Klivvr to enable in-app instalment payments
July 28, 2026
The integration gives customers an additional digital payment option for managing recurring financial commitments.
Egyptian CNC manufacturing startup Simplex unveils second factory with $50 million investment
July 28, 2026
The factory was inaugurated by Egypt's Minister of Finance, Dr Ahmed Kouchouk, along with investors, international partners, diplomats and senior government officials.
Nigeria’s Dimension Data raises $2.9 million in first tranche of $14.7 million bond programme to expand fibre infrastructure
July 28, 2026
The proceeds will fund the expansion of the company's fibre infrastructure to meet Nigeria's growing demand for digital connectivity.
Nigerian financial services group Zedcrest acquires UK-founded cross-border payments startup Leatherback
July 27, 2026
Leatherback will continue to operate as an independent subsidiary within the Zedcrest Group, retaining its brand, current management team, and existing customer accounts.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
South African HealthTech firm Healthbridge acquires strategic stake in surgeon-founded software platform Alchemed
July 27, 2026
The announcement follows Healthbridge’s acquisition of Nora, an AI medical scribe that helps doctors save up to three hours a day by automating clinical paperwork.
Cape Town-based Biovac lands up to $15 million AfDB loan to boost African vaccine production
July 27, 2026
The financing forms part of a broader expansion programme that will raise Biovac's total annual manufacturing capacity to as much as 500 million doses.
Egypt’s Fincart raises $2.8 million to scale its AI-powered e-commerce platform
July 27, 2026
Fincart will use the new funding to develop its AI platform, grow its team, build strategic partnerships, and expand into MENA and African markets.
Africa, Funding, Morocco, News
AfDB approves $113.7 million loan to develop Africa’s first lithium-ion phosphate battery gigafactory in Morocco
July 24, 2026
The project will establish the first integrated battery manufacturing plant in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa region.
African startups raised $1.44 billion in H1 2026, with EV startup Spiro securing the single biggest deal
July 24, 2026
What the data shows is more money, fewer bets. Rather than spreading smaller investments across the ecosystem, investors are doubling down on companies they already believe in.
Maputo-based LCP launches pan-African startup initiative; selects 20 ventures for Mozambique pilot
July 24, 2026
The initiative will also prepare them to attract diverse forms of funding, ranging from angel investment and venture capital to donor grants and impact funds.
M-KOPA’s Kenya Mobility lands $30 million debt facility as FinTech reaches 10 million customers
July 24, 2026
They offer a variety of bikes, including the locally made Roam Air, as well as the Ampersand Turaco and Spiro models that come with battery-swapping technology.
Acquisitions, Africa, News, Technology
US-based agentic intelligence firm Native acquires African traditional trade intelligence platform Frontline Research Group
July 24, 2026
The acquisition extends Native's footprint from Latin America into Africa, marking the next step in the company's plan to serve the world's largest offline consumer markets.
African EV soonicorn Spiro publishes first sustainability report, targets net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040
July 23, 2026
The report comes a few weeks after Spiro secured an additional $55 million investment from NewTrails Capital, bringing its latest funding round to a close at $270 million.
Kenyan FinTech startup Sevi secures Oxano Capital backing to expand working capital access
July 23, 2026
By joining Oxano Capital, Sevi will be able to widen access to working capital for micro and small businesses across the country.
Fusepay launches AI-powered platform to replace spreadsheets and manual invoicing for African trade businesses
July 23, 2026
Fuse360 includes AI-powered credit intelligence that analyses payment behaviour, outstanding exposure, and historical payment patterns to help wholesalers make more informed decisions before extending trade credit.
Acquisitions, News, South Africa
Cape Town-based safari booking startup Conservio acquired by Dutch platform Glampings.com
July 23, 2026
The deal adds over 1,000 bookable nature lodges to Glampings.com's existing collection of more than 4,500 accommodations across 18 European countries.
BioLite secures $10.7 million from Africa Go Green Fund to roll out clean cookstoves across Zambia
July 22, 2026
The carbon credits generated by the project will be sold to Switzerland's KliK Foundation under a Mitigation Outcomes Purchase Agreement, implemented pursuant to the Article 6.2 bilateral agreement between Zambia and Switzerland.
LemFi partners with BVNK to move cross-border payments onto regulated stablecoin rails
July 22, 2026
The partnership delivers near-instant value transfers between markets at a fraction of traditional costs, without changing anything about how customers experience the LemFi app.
After Rivia and VDL Fulfilment, Village Capital invests $500k in three more Ghanaian startups
July 22, 2026
The latest round completes the facility's initial portfolio in Ghana, spanning SME enablement, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and logistics.
Botswana Tech Fund announces $6.7 million first close to back digitisation across Sub-Saharan Africa
July 22, 2026
BTF invests across the full stack of digitisation in southern Africa, from foundational infrastructure and payment rails through to the software application layer that transforms how businesses operate day to day.
South Africa’s Zazu secures Seed funding from Launch Africa Ventures to scale SME banking platform
July 21, 2026
The new backing marks the startup's latest milestone as it works to build out a full finance operating system for entrepreneurs across the continent.
Egypt’s Elevate Capital acquires Nile Scan & Labs, marking exit of Misr Capital and Bank Misr
July 21, 2026
The transaction also marks the exit of previous investors Misr Capital and Bank Misr and gives Elevate Capital sole control of the company.
France-based CFAO Healthcare enters Botswana with acquisition of 75% stake in Medswana
July 21, 2026
The deal marks the latest step in CFAO Healthcare's strategy to build an integrated pharmaceutical distribution network across southern Africa, following its launch of operations in South Africa in 2024.
BasiGo partners with Rubis Energy to build EV fast-charging network across Kenya
July 21, 2026
The first charging station under the partnership is now operational at the Rubis service station in Sabaki, Athi River, with three additional sites in Meru, Nanyuki, and Nyeri scheduled to go live later this month.
Nigerian FinTech startup Busha partners with Tether to expand stablecoin infrastructure across Africa
July 21, 2026
The collaboration helps companies access globally connected stablecoin liquidity for faster cross-border payments, more efficient treasury management, and quicker settlement of international transactions.
Master Power Technologies unveils $3 million data centre experience centre in Midrand
July 20, 2026
It features a 2 MVA UPS test platform and a 400kW cooling systems test centre, which MPT describes as the most comprehensive of its kind on the continent.
RiseUp, A15, and BitRoot partner with NVIDIA to launch SIGNALS programme in Egypt
July 20, 2026
Led by Basil Fateen from NVIDIA, the launch event highlighted trends in the industry, strategies for scaling using NVIDIA technology, and key factors that investors consider when evaluating early-stage AI startups.
After $500k GIF backing, Egypt’s Reme-D raises $1.45 million to expand molecular diagnostics manufacturing
July 20, 2026
The funding comes just months after the startup secured a $500k equity investment from Global Innovation Fund in April.
Vercel acquires Egyptian-founded DevOps startup Stakpak days after Better Auth deal
July 20, 2026
Stakpak was founded in 2023 by George Fahmy with the goal of creating "self-driving infrastructure" using AI to automate software deployment and infrastructure management.
Acumen’s impact Agri VC fund secures $90 million to back climate-resilient agribusinesses across Africa
July 17, 2026
ARAF is an impact fund managed by Acumen Capital Partners, a wholly owned subsidiary of Acumen, that backs fast-growing food and agribusinesses whose models help African smallholder farmers adapt to a changing climate.
Renew Capital selects these 15 African startups for its inaugural Renew Venture Lab: EmFi Series
July 17, 2026
This selection is part of its inaugural Renew Venture Lab: EmFi Series, a programme focused on embedded finance opportunities targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
South Africa’s Creation Capital lists private credit fund to bridge $21 million SME financing gap
July 17, 2026
The Creation Yield Fund is among the first in the country to combine privately originated debt investments within a regulated, exchange-listed note structure.
Raxio secures over $380 million as Roha and Meridiam boost stakes to scale African data centre footprint
July 16, 2026
The move follows a sixfold jump in contracted power capacity during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Mylerz raises $2 million to scale its logistics infrastructure across Egypt
July 16, 2026
Lorax Capital Partners led the round, marking its continued backing of the company since first investing in 2022.
Kenyan FinTech Flowt reaches first close of pre-Seed round to finance Africa’s climate-smart SMEs
July 15, 2026
Flowt aims to grow its loan book up to $1 million by the end of 2026 and is seeking capital to achieve this target.
Cape Town-based Cue raises $5 million to scale AI-powered customer service agents
July 15, 2026
Cue already powers customer conversations for more than 500 companies across the UK and South Africa, spanning the automotive, retail, insurance, finance and education sectors.
Nigerian agribusiness Noma Service secures $650k working capital and capex loan
July 14, 2026
The financing was extended through Sahel Capital's Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA).
Moroccan super app ORA Technologies raises $2 million, taking Series A funding to $10 million
July 14, 2026
The latest raise brings its total funding to date to nearly $12 million since launching in 2023, making it one of Morocco's better-funded consumer technology startups.
South Africa’s HyperDev, founded by ex‑OpenAI and Google experts, secures over $1 million pre-Seed funding
July 10, 2026
The pre-Seed round was backed by a network of venture capital investors from Europe and the UK.
Impact Fund Denmark commits $28.58 million to NSIA Bank to expand MSME financing in Côte d’Ivoire
July 10, 2026
The investment will strengthen the lender's capital base and enable it to expand financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
Ethiopian-founded Better Auth acquired by US-based Vercel a year after raising $5 million Seed round
July 9, 2026
Better Auth's TypeScript authentication library has amassed more than 4.7 million weekly downloads on npm and draws contributions from over 850 developers.
South Africa’s Wamly secures $3.05 million Series A to scale all-in-one hiring platform
July 9, 2026
The new capital will go toward three priorities: expanding Wamly's AI capabilities across the hiring workflow, growing the team, and entering new international markets.
South African FinTech Bridgement secures $20.3M to expand AI-powered SME lending
July 8, 2026
The funding will enable the company to increase its lending capacity, helping thousands more South African businesses gain faster access to working capital.
Meet the five African winners of Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2026 tackling healthcare and food security
July 8, 2026
The award, run by the Bayer Foundation in partnership with the Impact Hub Network, saw 1,172 applications from Africa and the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
After Ripple backing, Flutterwave secures Circle Ventures investment to expand USDC payments and settlement in Africa
July 7, 2026
The latest investment from Circle Ventures will support Flutterwave's efforts to integrate USDC settlement directly into its existing payment infrastructure.
Sango Capital appointed manager of nearly $460 million in committed capital across three African fund portfolios
July 7, 2026
A consortium of institutional limited partners initiated the management change, according to Sango.
Emirates NBD partners with Techstars to fast-track agentic AI and FinTech startups into its banking ecosystem
July 6, 2026
The partnership pairs Techstars' international founder network spanning more than 11,000 entrepreneurs with Emirates NBD's existing analytics infrastructure, which the bank says already runs over 50 active AI use cases.
Adenia acquires majority stake in Minet Group to tap Africa’s growing insurance brokerage market
July 6, 2026
The acquisition from Capitalworks marks its latest investment in the continent's financial services sector as demand for insurance products continues to grow.
Nigerian-founded LemFi acquires Wealth8 to enter WealthTech and expand investment services
July 3, 2026
The acquisition follows the company's decision in April to establish London as its global headquarters.
Catalyst Fund reaches $30M second close for pan-African ClimateTech fund, eyes final close later this year
July 3, 2026
The second close attracted a mix of development finance institutions, foundations, venture investors and private investors.
Kenyan FinTech startup Lemonade Payments lands Plug and Play backing to scale payment infrastructure across Africa
July 2, 2026
Founded in 2023 by Mark Machiri Kihara and Andrew Kibe, Lemonade Payments set out to address what its founders identified as a persistent trust problem in African digital payments.
TLG Capital’s Africa Growth Impact Fund II hits $120M second close to back African SMEs
July 2, 2026
AGIF II's lending model, known as BOMA (Bank Originated & Mitigated Assets), sees TLG originate loans to African SMEs in partnership with local banks.
South Africa’s Nesa Power secures $9.14 million mezzanine debt funding to scale solar PPA portfolio
July 1, 2026
The capital will be used to acquire solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) sites and grow the company's long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) portfolio as it scales its integrated solar, storage and energy solutions across South Africa.
BrainsMingle secures $400k Seed investment to scale its video-first professional networking platform
July 1, 2026
The Seed funding comes as the company looks to scale its AI-driven, video-first platform for experts and professionals worldwide.
Angola and AfDB launch Luanda Tech Park to connect academia, research and young entrepreneurs
June 30, 2026
The park, known as Luanda Tech, was inaugurated as part of the broader Science and Technology Development Project (STDP), a partnership between the Angolan government and the African Development Bank.
AfricInvest Europe invests in France’s HTDS to power security and detection growth in Africa
June 30, 2026
The investment round allows the Moudarres family, who founded and lead HTDS, along with the company's management team, to increase their stake in the business as part of what is described as the group's second leveraged buyout.
IFC backs CrossBoundary Access with $10 million equity investment to scale mini-grid deployment across Africa
June 29, 2026
The investment will finance the continued construction of projects and technology expanding energy access on the continent.
France’s Proparco backs Luanda-based Anda to expand affordable mobility and EV transport
June 29, 2026
The financing will support the company's drive-to-own vehicle financing programme while accelerating the rollout of its electric vehicle fleet and battery-swapping network.
Three Kenyan ClimateTech startups selected among Tencent CarbonX 2.0 winners sharing nearly $30 million
June 26, 2026
The winners were announced during an event at the London Science Museum, co-hosted with TED as part of London Climate Action Week 2026.
From Lagos to Lisbon: Why the EU–Africa startup partnership is the most important economic story of our time
June 26, 2026
The EU–Africa partnership is not a development story in the old sense of that word. It is not about aid or philanthropy. It is about two regions with complementary strengths, complementary needs, and a shared interest in building an equitable and technologically advanced future.
IFC backs Madagascar-based WeLight in $30.7 million funding round to scale mini-grid deployment in Africa
June 25, 2026
The funding will also support the company's expansion into Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while strengthening its existing operations in Madagascar and Mali.
Lagos-based Daya raises $2.4 million pre-Seed to build stablecoin-powered cross-border payment infrastructure for Africa
June 25, 2026
The startup's founding team previously built Helicarrier, one of Nigeria's earliest crypto remittance platforms, and brings experience from major technology and FinTech companies.
Dubai-based FinTech Credable rebrands to _able to expand financial infrastructure platform across Africa
June 24, 2026
The new name, _able, drawn from the Latin habilis, meaning capable and ready, is intended to signal movement from belief to enablement.
Tunisia’s RoboCare secures investment to scale AI-powered precision agriculture across Africa and the Middle East
June 24, 2026
The funding will be channelled into new market entry, commercial team expansion, and the continued development of the startup's AI models.
4G Capital surpasses $1 billion in loans to African entrepreneurs; reports $3 billion economic impact
June 23, 2026
The company pairs supply chain financing with customised business training, enabling micro and small enterprises to strengthen cash flow and build resilience.
Spiro closes $270 million funding round after securing $55 million from NewTrails Capital; nears unicorn status
June 23, 2026
This deal follows Spiro's $215 million equity round announced earlier this month, which was backed by Impact Fund Denmark alongside Equitane and FEDA.
