This week on Startup Researcher Africa: Kenya’s Finance Bill 2025 puts stock-option perks at risk, Medsaf shuts down after a $7 million raise, and PalmPay targets a $50–100 million Series B as it scales across Africa and Asia. Tune in for a sharp, data-driven briefing:
Top Headlines
- Kenya’s Finance Bill 2025 aims to tax employee stock options and scrap incentives, sparking backlash from founders and investors.
- Medsaf, the Nigerian healthtech that raised $7 million, closes amid FX turmoil, debts, and a failed sale.
- Fincra secures a Payment System Provider license in Tanzania to power regulated cross-border fintech services.
- Twiga pauses Nairobi operations while it relocates and restructures for leaner growth.
- Ghana’s Central Bank readies digital-lending rules for August 2025 to curb fees and cap bad loans.
Funding News
- PalmPay lines up a $50–100 million Series B to deepen its 35 million-user fintech play.
- Thunder Code (Expensya founders) scores $9 million seed for AI-powered QA testing.
- Kumulus Water raises $3.5 million to turn air into drinking water across EMEA.
- Salpha Energy secures $1.3 million to expand off-grid solar assembly in Nigeria.
- OceansMall nets $150 k to scale its cold-chain platform in Ghana.
Exits & Acquisitions
- Moniepoint wins approval to buy 78 percent of Kenya’s Sumac Microfinance Bank.
- dLocal moves to acquire AZA Finance, boosting cross-border payments reach.
Investor & Ecosystem Moves
- Technopark Morocco teams with Plug and Play to launch a national acceleration program under Morocco Digital 2030.
- Egypt rolls out a national VC-reporting standard with MSMEDA and the World Bank.
Spotlight
- Startup of the Week: PalmPay – profitable hybrid fintech serving the underbanked.
- Investor of the Week: Plug and Play – Silicon Valley giant expanding in North Africa.
Opportunity Radar
- Techstars New York City Accelerator – applications close 11 June 2025; ideal for early-stage founders in AI, fintech, health, climate, and SaaS.
Hit play for the full analysis and stay ahead of Africa’s fast-moving startup and VC landscape.