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Madica, an Africa-focused pre-Seed investment programme backing pre-Seed stage African startups, has announced that it has grown its portfolio by investing $600k across three new startups.
Each of these startups has secured up to $200k in funding and joins Madica’s 18-month programme, which includes hands-on mentorship, executive coaching, curriculum support, and two fully funded immersion trips. The founders will also gain access to Madica’s global network of investors to support their long-term growth.
Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, said, “Each new investment brings us closer to the portfolio we set out to build, one that reflects the full breadth and diversity of African entrepreneurship. These three startups join a growing community of founders we’re backing with the resources, relationships, and runway they need to succeed at this early stage. The opportunity across the continent is enormous, and we’re committed to being a crucial and consistent partner in realising it.”
Founded in 2022, Madica is an Africa-focused pre-seed investment program supporting underrepresented, mission-driven founders. It addresses barriers such as limited access to capital, a shortage of active investors, and insufficient mentorship opportunities. Through structured support, the program helps early-stage startups overcome key hurdles and drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.
The three selected startups are:
Kilimo Fresh: The Tanzania-based startup was founded in 2018 by Baraka Chijenga and Justice Mangu. It connects smallholder farmers to urban markets by aggregating, processing, and distributing fresh produce through a technology-enabled supply chain, helping to reduce food waste.
Hakimu: The Kenyan startup, co-founded by Rawan Dareer, Ahmed Ahmed, and Ahmed Elbashir, is developing a pan-African legal infrastructure powered by artificial intelligence. It aims to empower judges, researchers, and legal professionals to access and understand case law.
“Joining the Madica portfolio is a significant moment for Hakimu. We’re revolutionising access to justice across Africa, and having a partner that understands the specific challenges and opportunities of scaling in Africa makes a real difference. We’re grateful for the trust, looking forward to the hands-on support, and clear-eyed about the work ahead,” said Rawan Dareer, co-founder and CEO of Hakimu.
Biovana: This Nigerian startup, co-founded by Estelle Dogbo and Dr Jumi Popoola, is a data harmonisation and certification platform designed to unlock African health datasets for global pharmaceutical, AI, and clinical research use. It is building a national health-data infrastructure across Africa. The company harmonises biobank, registry, and clinical datasets into research-ready, globally trusted assets that power discovery, innovation, and precision medicine.
In addition to its investments, Madica has launched the inaugural edition of its fundraising guidebook series, ‘Zero to Funded: A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa.’ This 75-page guide aims to assist early-stage African founders in managing their initial fundraising efforts, especially those who lack access to strong networks, accelerators, or prior experience.
According to Madica, the guide addresses common misconceptions that can hinder early investor conversations, explains how to evaluate whether raising venture capital is the right path, and explains how to align local market conditions with the expectations of global investors. It also provides practical tools, templates, and checklists to support founders throughout their fundraising journey.
It has also appointed Tauriq Brown as a mentor. Brown is a seasoned venture builder and former CEO of TooMuchWiFi, one of Africa’s fastest-growing internet infrastructure companies. He has experience from Rocket Internet and Mountain Partners, offering founders practical guidance to support scaling.
Madica is actively exploring new investment opportunities across Africa. Startups wishing to apply can visit the Madica website. Eligible applications must feature a minimum viable product (MVP), early customer traction with paying users, full-time founders, minimal or no institutional funding, and be headquartered in Africa.
