Ethiopian-founded startup Better Auth has raised $5 million in seed funding to advance its open-source authentication platform. The company, founded by Bereket Engida and Kinfe Michael Tariku, is focused on enabling developers to build and own their authentication systems without relying on expensive, centralized platforms. The startup’s flagship product

Nigerian e-commerce startup Shoptreo has raised fresh funding to scale its operations and boost global access to locally made artisanal products. While the exact amount remains undisclosed, the round was led by early-stage investor Rebel Seed Capital, which typically backs startups with investments between $10,000 and $50,000. Shoptreo

Kenyan clean cookstove manufacturer BURN has raised Sh10.4 billion ($80 million) in financing from the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) Group to support the expansion of clean cooking solutions in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Zambia. The funding package, a combination of debt and results-based financing,

Lagos-based HR-tech startup PaidHR has raised $1.8 million in seed funding to build a comprehensive salary, benefits, and payments ecosystem for African businesses. The round was led by Accion Venture Lab, with participation from Zrosk, Chui Ventures, and Zedcrest Capital. Founded in 2020 by CEO Seye Bandele and CTO

Proudly South African (Proudly SA) is set to launch two e-commerce platforms aimed at strengthening the local economy and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Developed in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the platforms Shop Proudly SA and the Market Access Platform (MAP) will officially

Google has announced the selection of 15 startups for the ninth cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa program. The companies, chosen from over 1,500 applicants across the continent, are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address pressing challenges in sectors such as logistics, agriculture, healthcare, compliance, and finance.

Four young agricultural technology entrepreneurs have been named winners of the AYuTe NextGen 2025 competition, a platform aimed at advancing youth-led solutions in African agriculture. The competition, which drew over 100 applicants from 10 African countries, focused on scaling innovations that benefit smallholder farmers. Finalists competed in two key categories:

Pesalink has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Fintech Alliance to strengthen ties between banks and fintech firms in Kenya, with a focus on advancing instant payments and improving interoperability across networks. The MoU seeks to simplify the integration of fintechs with banks, encourage wider adoption of account-to-account

Peach Cars, a Tokyo-founded startup operating in Kenya, has secured $11 million in Series A funding to address the persistent challenges plaguing the country’s used car market. In Kenya, purchasing a second-hand car is often riddled with risks, unclear pricing, lack of reliable condition reports, and hidden faults that

Tesla has officially entered the African market with the launch of its first office on the continent, located in Casablanca, Morocco. The move establishes a formal presence for the U.S.-based electric vehicle and clean energy company, which quietly tested the waters in 2021 by installing a limited number

Kenyan software startup Chpter has entered 11 new markets through a strategic partnership with fintech leader Flutterwave. The expansion adds Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Zambia to Chpter’s existing presence in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Founded to support small and

CFAO Mobility Kenya and Almasi Financial Services Limited have launched a financing partnership targeting entrepreneurs and small businesses. The initiative offers up to 90% Sharia-compliant financing for commercial vehicles, repayable over 60 months. The deal covers a range of commercial trucks and buses, including brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Hino, and

Senegalese logistics startup Logidoo has expanded its cross-border trade network with the launch of a new corridor linking Belgium to Casablanca and Dakar to strengthen commercial flows between Europe, North Africa, and West Africa. The expansion follows a $1.5 million funding round secured in 2023, which was earmarked for

South African solar startup Wetility has secured $27 million in a structured funding agreement with alternative asset manager Jaltech. Founded in 2019 by Vincent Maposa and Ikenna Oguguo, Wetility delivers solar and battery bundles through a subscription-based model tailored for middle-income households and small businesses. The company targets those most

Cross-border fintech startup Pesa has completed the acquisition of UK-licensed e-money issuer Authoripay Emoney Ltd. The deal, finalized at the end of 2024, positions Pesa, formerly known as Pesapeer, to deepen its footprint across Europe as regulatory hurdles push fintechs toward acquisition-led market entry. Launched in 2021 by Nigerian founders

An Ethiopian startup is aiming to formalize and simplify the fragmented digital advertising ecosystem on Telegram, the country's most widely used messaging app. Kelemat Ads, a newly launched web-based platform, offers businesses a centralized space to browse Telegram channels, view audience data, and place ad orders without relying

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled the 2025 edition of its Generative AI Accelerator (GAIA), a global initiative aimed at supporting early-stage startups developing transformative generative AI technologies. The eight-week hybrid program offers up to $1 million in cloud credits alongside technical mentorship, go-to-market support, and access to enterprise-grade AI

Kenyan fintech startup Oye has secured a KES 5 million investment ($38000) from BetaLab, the innovation arm of insurance giant Britam, to reshape access to insurance and fuel credit for over two million boda boda riders across the country. Founded in 2021 by Nairobi entrepreneur Kevin Mutiso, Oye operates a

LemFi, a Nigerian fintech focused on cross-border payments, has acquired UK-based credit startup Pillar in a strategic move aimed at deepening financial inclusion for immigrant communities. Pillar, founded by former Revolut executives Ashutosh Bhatt and Adam Lewis, has developed a model that uses global credit insights and non-traditional data to

South African vehicle leasing startup MyNextCar (MNC) has secured $10 million in its first institutional funding round. The capital injection is set to fuel the rollout of 1,500 new vehicles, primarily Bajaj Bikes for Bolt Lite, the budget ride-hailing service operated by Bolt. Lerato Motsoeneng, senior general manager at

WhatsApp is rolling out new features aimed at turning its Updates tab into a serious revenue stream without touching its core chat experience. The Meta-owned platform now allows channel subscriptions, promoted channels, and ads in Status, marking its biggest shift yet toward monetization. Used by over 1.5 billion people

Global delivery platform Glovo has signed a strategic partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, marking one of the largest private-sector investments in the country’s gig economy. Backed by a $123 million (KSh 16 billion) commitment through 2030, the company aims to establish Kenya as its

Jumia is undergoing a major strategic shift as it works to rebuild investor trust, sharpen its focus, and return to profitability by 2027. Once valued at over $1 billion during its 2019 IPO, the African e-commerce platform has seen its market cap fall to around $400 million. Since taking over

Orange Middle East and Africa has entered a three-year partnership with risingSUD, the economic development agency of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, to accelerate the global expansion of African and Middle Eastern startups. Through this collaboration, startups connected to the ODC ecosystem will gain direct access to risingSUD’s localized

The Ugandan government is introducing a three-year income tax holiday for new, locally owned startups in a bid to spur innovation and business formalization. Announced as part of the 2025/26 national budget by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, the tax break will apply to Ugandan-founded businesses registered after July 1,