Editor’s note: African-Startups is a sister publication of EU-Startups, bringing trusted coverage of startups, venture capital, and innovation across Africa.
ChipMango, the semiconductor technology company with operations across the US, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Malta, has raised $1.9 million in a round led by Atlantica Ventures, an investor backing the next generation of African entrepreneurs.
DFS, Kaleo Ventures, Madica, Trilinear Technologies, and Malta Ventures also participated.
Founded by Ola Fadiran (CEO) and Jovan Andjelich (COO), ChipMango develops semiconductor engineering talent and delivers commercial chip design, verification, edge-AI, and intelligent hardware solutions.
The company’s model connects industry-aligned training directly to commercial semiconductor programmes: it develops engineers, deploys them on real design work for global customers, and converts that expertise into proprietary edge-AI and semiconductor IP.
“The next era of AI will not be defined by software alone. It will depend on who can design the chips, systems and intelligent hardware that power it. ChipMango is expanding access to those capabilities so more regions can help build the technologies shaping the future,” said Ola Fadiran, founder and CEO of ChipMango.
The funding will expand ChipMango’s engineering and product-development capacity, support new commercial design engagements, scale its AI-native learning and workforce platform, and advance its edge-AI and intelligent-sensor technologies. The company will also grow operations across the United States, Africa and Europe.
The African links run through the business. ChipMango works with the Carl Emily Fuchs Institute for Microelectronics at the University of Pretoria in South Africa to bridge the gap between academic learning and commercial engineering practice.
It has operations in Nigeria and is advancing ecosystem-building initiatives in Kigali, Rwanda focused on semiconductor capability, workforce development, and AI infrastructure. Lead investor Atlantica Ventures backed ChipMango specifically because of its ability to convert Africa’s engineering talent into production-grade chip design capability.
“The semiconductor industry’s binding constraint is no longer capital, it is people. ChipMango converts Africa’s deep engineering talent into world-class chip-design capability, already proven through production-grade work for global customers,” said Anikó Szigetvári, founding partner at Atlantica Ventures.
ChipMango is now part of the Arm Approved Training Partner program, allowing it to offer official Arm training. It collaborates with Synopsys and Ohlone College in California, providing online access to professional semiconductor design tools.
The company plans to open a European Design Centre in Malta with Malta Ventures and promote initiatives in Kigali, Rwanda, to develop semiconductor capabilities, workforce skills, and AI infrastructure.
ChipMango Co-Founder and COO Jovan Andjelich said, “This funding gives ChipMango the foundation for its next phase of growth. We will expand engineering capability, deepen industry and academic partnerships, and create opportunities for exceptional engineers to contribute to cutting edge semiconductor and AI programs while delivering measurable value for customers.”
The announcement comes after ChipMango launched a three-month Chip Design Pilot Program in Uganda for aspiring engineers. In collaboration with Lwera Electronics and Semiconductors, the program will help 50 university students gain the knowledge and skills needed for careers in semiconductor engineering.


