This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Paystack is fined for its unlicensed Zap app, Meta faces a potential $300 million penalty in Nigeria, and OmniRetail nets a $20 million Series A to digitize FMCG supply chains. Tune in for the week’s must-know moves:
Top Headlines
- Paystack hit with a ₦225 million (≈ $155 k) CBN fine over unlicensed Zap launch.
- Nigeria’s data watchdogs threaten Meta with $300 million in penalties, risking Facebook and Instagram shutdowns.
- Flutterwave CTO Gurbhej Dhillon exits amid ongoing leadership churn.
- Bokra issues a $58.9 million sukuk to fund SME financing in Egypt.
- i3 awards $1.5 million to seven pharmacy-tech startups across Africa.
Funding News
- OmniRetail closes $20 million Series A to expand West African B2B commerce and Omnipay.
- Zeepay secures $18 million venture debt for mobile money and remittances in Africa + Caribbean.
- Kofa raises $8.1 million to roll out AI battery-swap hubs in Ghana and Kenya.
- MYDAWA gains undisclosed backing to scale its e-pharmacy platform.
- Tendo picks up fresh capital to grow its reseller network in Ghana and Nigeria.
Exit Watch
- C-One Ventures acquires micro-finance platform Bankly to deepen agent-led digital finance.
- Miran merges with Welnes, creating a holistic wellness player in Saudi Arabia.
Investor & Ecosystem Moves
- Lagos-based Aruwa Capital raises $35 million toward a $50 million gender-lens Fund II.
- Silverbacks Holdings exits LemFi, banking a 29× return.
Spotlight
- Startup of the Week: OmniRetail – digitizing informal retail with B2B e-commerce and embedded finance.
- Investor of the Week: Aruwa Capital – female-led VC driving inclusive growth in Nigeria and Ghana.
Opportunity Radar
- Google for Startups Accelerator Africa 2025 – apply by 9 May 2025 for mentorship and up to $350 k in cloud credits.
Press play for a concise, data-driven tour of Africa’s startup and VC landscape.