Eight Africa-focused venture capital firms have revealed the startups they’re closely watching in 2025. These startups were chosen for their impressive growth potential, capacity to disrupt markets, and strong prospects of achieving (or having already achieved) product-market fit.
Here are the 10 startups that captured our attention:
1. Apollo
Founded in 2016 by Eli Pollak, Benjamin Njenga, and Earl St Sauver, Apollo supports modern farming in Kenya and the Gambia. Leveraging agronomic machine learning, remote sensing, and mobile technology, Apollo provides farmers with access to credit, quality farm inputs, and personalized advice. These tools help farmers adopt advanced farming methods and boost profits. To date, Apollo has raised over $88.5 million.
Investor’s Rationale: African climate tech startups are gaining unprecedented traction, surpassing fintech as the continent’s leading investment sector. By September 2024, these startups had attracted $413.9 million in funding, comprising one-third of Africa’s total startup investments. Apollo’s innovative approach to tackling climate challenges while enhancing agricultural productivity positions it for continued growth and impact in 2025.
2. Zone
Zone, launched in 2022 by Obi Emetarom and Wale Onawunmi, is a regulated blockchain network facilitating payments and the issuance of digital currencies. Its Layer-1 Blockchain digitizes fiat payments and enables a seamless transition to digital currencies. The company secured $8.5 million in funding in March 2024.
Investor’s Rationale: Zone’s decentralized infrastructure has the potential to revolutionize payment networks, not only in Nigeria but globally, by enabling secure, efficient, and scalable digital payment solutions.
3. Motherbeing
Launched in 2022 by Nour Emam, Yousef Elsamaa, and Ahmed Abuo Hashem, Motherbeing is an Egypt-based health tech startup focused on empowering Arab women. It offers culturally relevant, evidence-based education on sexual and reproductive health through an Arabic AI chat assistant, educational content, and diagnostic services. The platform is currently raising a seed round.
Investor’s Rationale: With few alternatives in the market, Motherbeing fills a critical gap in women’s healthcare in the MENA region. Rapid user growth, high engagement, and a growing base of paid subscribers highlight the platform’s potential for sustainable impact and long-term success.
4. Vendy
Founded in 2021 by Kayode Disu and Peter Ekunkoya, YC-backed Vendy transforms WhatsApp into a comprehensive ecommerce platform for merchants. The platform automates inventory management, orders, invoicing, payments, and deliveries. Buyers can browse catalogs, place orders, and pay—all within WhatsApp, without requiring app downloads or sign-ups. Vendy has raised undisclosed pre-seed funding from Ventures Platform, Voltron Capital, and Y Combinator.
Investor’s Rationale: Vendy simplifies ecommerce by consolidating buying, selling, and payments within WhatsApp. This frictionless solution is bolstered by partnerships with Paystack, enabling automated tools for merchants while streamlining commerce for millions of users.
5. Pixii Motors
Founded in 2021 by Anis Fekih and Wafa Difi, Pixii Motors addresses urban transportation and last-mile delivery challenges with electric scooters. These scooters feature smart dashboards, customizable designs, and software scalability. The Tunisia-based startup is currently raising $1.5 million in seed funding.
Investor’s Rationale: Pixii Motors combines strong unit economics with environmental sustainability. Its subscription-based model achieves breakeven per unit within 18 months, while low maintenance costs enhance profitability. By reducing CO2 emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, Pixii Motors positions itself strategically for expansion into the European market, leveraging its African operations as a competitive edge.
6. GoBeba
Founded in 2019 by Peter Ndiang’ui and Lesley Mbogo, GoBeba is a Kenyan e-commerce platform for purchasing household essentials. The company employs a network of micro-warehouses to ensure efficient and convenient distribution. In 2024, GoBeba secured an undisclosed pre-seed funding round.
Investor’s Rationale: GoBeba’s focus on strengthening partnerships has fostered customer loyalty and repeat business. By blending operational excellence with a customer-centric approach, the company is well-positioned to thrive in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.
7. EarthBond
Launched in 2023 by Chidalu Onyenso, EarthBond is a Nigerian clean energy marketplace that connects small and medium businesses (SMBs) with solar energy solutions tailored to their energy needs and credit capabilities.
Investor’s Rationale: EarthBond’s asset-light model enables rapid scalability and broad adoption. The company’s ability to unlock the potential of carbon offset credits brings significant value, generating foreign currency inflows for African SMBs and strengthening the credit portfolios of financing institutions by mitigating risks.
8. Tagaddod
Founded in 2013 by Nour El-Assal and Mariam Afifi, Tagaddod is an Egypt-based cleantech startup that converts used cooking oil into biodiesel for export to European markets. Through a user-friendly app, the company collects oil from households, restaurants, and hotels, processes it, and sells it as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), earning revenue in hard currencies. Tagaddod raised $1.3 million in funding, including a $1 million pre-seed round led by Kepple Africa Ventures and LoftyInc Capital in 2021.
Investor’s Rationale: Tagaddod bridges climate change mitigation with waste management in Africa by turning waste into a globally demanded export commodity. Its innovative model integrates Africa’s waste resources into the international energy supply chain, creating both environmental and economic value.
9. Talstack
Launched in 2023 by Seni Sulyman and Kayode Oyewole, Talstack is a Nigerian edtech platform that identifies skills gaps, recommends microlearning content, and tracks progress in real time. The platform aims to bridge the gap between skills acquisition and workforce demands. In 2023, Talstack raised $850,000 in pre-seed funding, with Ventures Platform leading the round and contributions from TLcom, Voltron Capital, and Golden Palm Investments.
Investor’s Rationale: Talstack addresses Africa’s urgent need for workforce upskilling by offering tailored training solutions that align with local business environments. Its unique approach, leveraging local expertise to deliver practical, relevant courses, positions it as a key player in Africa’s talent development landscape. With the growing demand for digital skills, Talstack is poised to drive workforce transformation across the continent.
10. Lengo
Founded in 2022 by Max A. Smith, Roger-Xavia Macia, and Ismaila Seck, Lengo is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that combines AI and on-ground agents (Lengo Eagles) to connect retailers and FMCG companies. The platform provides real-time data on inventory, pricing, and sales from informal retailers across Africa.
Investor’s Rationale: Lengo delivers critical insights to FMCG companies and retailers, filling a major visibility gap in informal markets. By enabling data-driven decisions, Lengo helps businesses optimize operations and scale efficiently. Its innovative platform is set to become indispensable as companies increasingly prioritize analytics to drive growth and profitability in Africa’s retail ecosystem.
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