The NSIA Prize for Innovation (NPI) is designed to identify, support, and finance early-stage innovative solutions with the potential to:

Badili, a leading Kenyan re-commerce startup, has secured $400,000 in debt funding from Proparco. This investment will drive the expansion of its refurbished smartphone business, making mobile technology more accessible and sustainable across East Africa.

Sahel Capital has secured a $400,000 working capital loan for MM LEKKER to strengthen agricultural trade in Benin. This investment will help smallholder farmers access fairer prices, reduce post-harvest losses, and build more resilient livelihoods.

LoftyInc Capital secures $43 million for its third fund, LoftyInc Alpha, to propel African startups from late-seed to Series A. Backed by sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, and high-net-worth investors, the fund aims to bridge the funding gap in Africa’s growing startup ecosystem.

IFC has invested $6 million in Ventures Platform Pan-African Fund II to support early-stage African tech startups. With a focus on fintech, health tech, and digital infrastructure, the fund aims to enhance seed-stage financing and expand Africa’s digital ecosystem.

Khula, a leading South African AgriTech startup, has secured R126 million in funding from major investors, including Absa and AECI. The investment will support the expansion of its digital agricultural solutions, helping farmers access vital resources and markets. With this backing, Khula is set to redefine the future of agriculture in Africa.

Three Francophone African startups have been crowned winners of the latest Orange Summer Challenge, a program that helps young entrepreneurs transform their ideas into impactful businesses. The 2025 edition featured 282 participants from 14 countries, with the top three startups focusing on sustainability, healthcare, and environmental innovation.

Summit Africa has officially launched its Summit Private Equity Fund II (SPEF II) with a $20 million anchor investment from British International Investment (BII). Focused on financial services, ICT, and food security, the fund seeks to drive economic transformation and inclusion across Southern Africa. With plans to raise additional capital, SPEF II supports South Africa’s broader investment and development goals

Nigerian naira strengthens against the dollar, investors wonder if the rally will last. With inflation adjustments, monetary policy shifts, and FX market dynamics in play, the currency faces a crucial test in the coming weeks.

MANSA secures $10 million in funding to address cross-border liquidity challenges, leveraging stablecoins for faster and cost-effective payments. With rapid growth and strategic backing from Tether, MANSA aims to expand into Latin America and Southeast Asia, revolutionizing global payment infrastructure.

Microsoft has launched a $1 million AI training initiative in Nigeria, targeting one million participants over two years. While the program aims to boost digital skills, questions remain about its feasibility and impact. Read more about Microsoft's vision for AI in Africa.

Johnvents Group secures $40.5M from BII to boost Nigeria’s cocoa industry, enhance processing, and support sustainability. Learn how this investment will transform local farming and global competitiveness.

Oui Capital’s early $150,000 investment in Moniepoint turned into a 53x return, fueled by strong leadership and rapid business growth. Here’s how the firm turned conviction into one of Africa’s standout venture capital success stories.

VivaTech’s AfricaTech Awards are back for their fourth edition! Designed to spotlight African startups in green tech, e-health, and e-commerce/fintech, the awards offer valuable networking and mentorship opportunities.

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a significant drop in Nigeria’s inflation rate to 24.48% in January 2025, driven by food, transport, and accommodation costs. NBS also announced new indices to inform policymakers.

Haldane McCall PLC has announced a remarkable financial performance for 2024, with pre-tax profit soaring to N1.01 billion—a 168.44% increase from the previous year. Revenue also grew by 109.50%, reaching N3.6 billion, driven by strong land and building sales. Explore the full breakdown of their financial highlights, including asset growth and operational insights, in this detailed report.

Egypt’s Taager has raised $6.75 million in pre-Series B funding, marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize social commerce across MENA. The investment, led by Norrsken22, will fuel Taager’s expansion, enhance its AI-driven seller tools, and strengthen its logistics network. With operations in Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, Taager has already supported over 45,000 online sellers and is poised for rapid growth.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has secured a $6 million partnership with the UAE Office of Development Affairs and the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation to empower 1,000 African entrepreneurs.

Madica has announced $800,000 in pre-seed funding for four African startups, marking its first investments in North Africa. The selected companies, focused on healthtech, e-mobility, and AI, will receive mentorship and funding as part of Madica’s broader $6 million investment strategy.

Ghanaian fintech startup Affinity Africa has secured $8 million in seed funding to enhance its financial services. With backing from European venture capital firms, the company aims to serve more underserved individuals and micro-businesses. Since its launch, Affinity has onboarded 50,000+ users and disbursed $15 million in loans, strengthening financial inclusion in Ghana.

As an investor with a diversified portfolio across 4 continents—from power to oil & gas, financial services, and healthcare—I can tell you one thing: nowhere else offers the kind of ROI than Africa does.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (2025) supports African entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and training. Open to businesses aged 0–5 years, the programme fosters innovation and economic growth across Africa. Apply today!

EasyBank, a Tunisia-based fintech startup, has raised $370,000 to drive its expansion into new markets. With AI-powered financial services, the company simplifies banking and enhances accessibility. This investment will accelerate its growth and reinforce its position in the fintech industry.

SeamlessHR, a leading Nigerian HR-tech startup, has secured $9 million in Series-A extension funding from investors like the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. With this boost, the company is expanding into Nigeria’s public sector, targeting government agencies to modernize HR operations.

Resilience17, founded by Flutterwave CEO GB Agboola, has introduced Go Time AI, an accelerator program aimed at empowering African AI startups. With up to $200,000 in funding, mentorship, and technical resources, the program supports innovators in building scalable AI solutions. The first cohort includes startups like Catlog, Sahel AI, and FriendNPal, showcasing Africa’s potential in the global AI landscape. Applications for the next cohort open in May 2025.

Applications are now open for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), offering African startups training, mentorship, and $5,000 seed funding. Join a network of 10,000 entrepreneurs driving innovation and economic growth across the continent. Apply today!

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc is set to recapitalize its fintech subsidiary, Zest Payments, with ₦4 billion to enhance its competitiveness in Nigeria’s fintech space. Despite lagging behind peers like Hydrogen and HabariPay, Zest aims to leverage this investment to boost its e-commerce and payment solutions, paving the way for future profitability.

SC Ventures and Yabx have partnered to invest $10 million in Furaha, an innovative platform aimed at transforming education financing in sub-Saharan Africa. With a focus on increasing financial accessibility, Furaha is set to empower families and foster brighter futures for millions of children across the continent

Accrue, a Nigerian fintech startup, has raised $1.58 million in seed funding led by Lattice Fund. Originally launched as a crypto investment platform, Accrue pivoted to address cross-border payment challenges in Africa.

MoneyHash, an Egyptian fintech innovator, has secured $5.2 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its operations across the MENA region. By offering a unified API that simplifies payment management for businesses, the startup is addressing the challenges of fragmented payment systems. With backing from prominent investors, MoneyHash is poised to revolutionize how merchants streamline payments and combat fraud.

South African insurtech company Naked has raised $38 million in a Series B2 funding round led by BlueOrchard, with strong support from existing investors like Hollard and the IFC.

Conservio, a South African travel-booking platform, has raised US$1 million to expand its nature-based travel operations across Southern Africa. Founded in 2020, the platform supports sustainable accommodations while promoting conservation efforts.

FARO, a South African startup, has raised $6 million to revolutionize affordable fashion and combat textile waste across Africa. By leveraging surplus inventory from global brands, FARO offers high-quality, discounted fashion while promoting sustainability.

LemFi, a fast-growing fintech focused on cross-border payments, has secured $53 million in new funding to expand its services across Asia and Europe.