Startup Researcher - Africa: Week 25, 2025

June 23, 2025
 Startup Researcher - Africa: Week 25, 2025

Stay ahead of the continent’s fast-moving tech scene with our no-fluff roundup of the biggest headlines, deals, and opportunities shaping African innovation and venture capital.

In this episode

  • 00:21 Important News
  • 01:27 Top Funding Rounds
  • 02:21 Notable Exits
  • 02:47 About Investors
  • 03:01 Startup of the Week
  • 03:24 Investor of the Week
  • 03:58 Opportunity Radar

  • Nigeria’s Bosun Tijani becomes ITU Council vice-chair for 2025-26, ending a 50-year leadership gap
  • Mastercard × Enza team up to embed payments for African fintechs, driving digital inclusion
  • Sabi pivots to TRACE, a blockchain platform tracing minerals and agri-exports for ESG compliance
  • Chpter scales into 11 new markets via Flutterwave and launches Pluto, its AI chat-commerce tool
  • Swypex rolls out Approval-based Limits Card for SMEs in Egypt’s cash-heavy economy
  • Wetility raises 30 m USD to add 16 MW of solar capacity and power 1 m homes and businesses
  • Nawy, Octane, PaidHR, and Open Access Energy close fresh rounds to fuel regional expansion
  • LemFi acquires UK-licensed Pillar, while iSchool buys SEEDS to boost bilingual STEM and AI courses
  • Endeavor Catalyst launches a 300 m USD fund backing Series A-C startups across emerging markets
  • Opportunity Radar: Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards open until 24 June 2025

🎧 Listen now to get the full context, founder names, and strategic takeaways in under 5 minutes. 👉 Follow, rate, and share Startup Researcher Africa to stay plugged into the continent’s VC and startup pulse every week.