Hello there,
Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Asia, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌏️
If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.
📰 Important News
- Nigeria’s central bank ordered banks and PSPs to route PoS transactions via NIBSS and UPSL, mandating dual connectivity to reduce downtime.
- Moniepoint will issue its own GBP accounts to MonieWorld users after acquiring a UK EMI, enabling access to Faster Payments, Bacs, and CHAPS.
- UAE-based tpay secured Egypt’s first direct carrier billing license, enabling citizens to pay government services via mobile balance without cards.
- South Africa’s FSCA fined Banxso over R2B, debarred key executives for up to 30 years, and referred the case to the police for financial misconduct.
- NALA received Bank of Ghana approval to launch remittances with BigPay, enabling compliant cross-border payouts and West Africa expansion.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Sun King raised $40 million to scale off-grid solar across Africa and Asia, expanding pay-as-you-go energy systems toward 200 million people by 2030.
- Algerian traveltech Völz secured $5 million led by Tell Group, marking the first exit for the state-backed Algerian Startup Fund.
- South African enterprise AI startup Ageiro landed a $3 million round to scale its agentic platform, turning business intent into production-ready apps.
- African healthtech CarePoint received a $3 million JICA-backed PSIF loan to expand tech-enabled clinics across West and East Africa.
- FSCA-regulated Ezeebit raised a $2.05 million seed led by Raba Partnership to scale stablecoin payment infrastructure.
💰️ Notable Exits
- Capitec agreed to acquire fintech Walletdoc for $17.6 million plus a $5.8 million earn-out to expand affordable digital payments and e-commerce.
- South Africa’s Community Wolf acquired Namola to combine WhatsApp-based community intelligence with nationwide emergency response.
🏦 About Investors
- Business Partners launched the $4 million Basadi Women Growth Fund to finance women-led SMEs with flexible loans and mentorship across South Africa.
- Visa hosted the Demo Day of its Africa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 4 in Cape Town, showcasing 22 startups from 12 countries and strong women-led teams.
🚀Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Sun King
Founded in 2007, Sun King has grown into a global leader in off-grid solar, delivering clean and affordable energy across Africa and Asia. The company offers pay-as-you-go solar systems, energy-efficient appliances, and clean energy services designed for households and businesses beyond the reach of traditional power grids. Sun King recently raised $40 million from impact investor Lightrock, strengthening its ability to scale operations and product innovation. Led by CEO and co-founder Patrick Walsh, the company has already delivered over 29 million solar products, with most customers accessing electricity for the first time. Sun King’s mission is clear close the global energy access gap while accelerating the transition to sustainable power at scale.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Business Partners
Founded in 1981 in South Africa, Business Partners is one of the country’s longest-standing SME financiers, backed by major corporates and institutional shareholders. The firm operates as a growth investor and debt provider, focusing on early and growth-stage SMEs across multiple sectors. Its latest move, the launch of the $4 million Basadi Women Growth Fund, directly targets the structural financing gap for women-led businesses, combining flexible capital with mentorship and networks. Led by CEO Ben Bierman, Business Partners differentiates itself through patient financing structures and hands-on operational support. Its mission is clear enable inclusive entrepreneurship and turn underserved founders into scalable, resilient businesses.
🤑Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: Y Combinator Spring 2026 Batch
Applications are now open for the Y Combinator Spring 2026 Batch, a globally recognized accelerator program for early-stage startups. The application deadline is 9 February 2026 at 8:00 PM PT, and the program will run from April to June 2026, taking place in person in San Francisco. Selected founders gain access to early-stage funding, hands-on mentorship from experienced startup partners, a powerful global alumni network, and investor introductions. Early-stage founders and startup teams can begin their application now to be considered for the Spring 2026 cohort.
Thank you for joining us this week! We trust you found value in our latest edition. 🚀
Your feedback is invaluable to us, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts by replying to this email. We're committed to continuously improving and delivering content tailored to your interests and needs 📩
If you're interested in staying updated on global startup and investment trends, don't miss our other newsletters.
Additionally, stay connected with us on LinkedIn for more insights and updates 🔗
Looking forward to staying connected and bringing you more exciting content next time!