Madica, a pre-seed investment programme focused on African startups, has added three new companies to its portfolio, committing up to $600,000 in total funding.
The latest investments span Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria, as the programme continues its push to expand access to early-stage capital beyond Africa’s traditional startup hubs. Each of the selected startups Kilimo Fresh, Hakimu, and Biovana will receive up to $200,000 in funding, alongside entry into Madica’s 18-month structured support programme.
Beyond capital, the cohort will benefit from hands-on mentorship, executive coaching, access to global investor networks, and immersion trips designed to connect founders with other innovation ecosystems. Since its launch in 2022, Madica has focused on backing founders often left out of traditional venture funding whether due to geography, sector focus, or limited investor access.
“Each new investment brings us closer to the portfolio we set out to build, one that reflects the full breadth and diversity of African entrepreneurship. The opportunity across the continent is enormous, and we’re committed to being a crucial and consistent partner in realising it,” said Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica.
The three startups operate in sectors that remain underfunded relative to fintech but are gaining steady momentum. Kilimo Fresh works in agritech, linking smallholder farmers in Tanzania to urban markets to reduce post-harvest losses and improve earnings. Hakimu is building AI-driven legal infrastructure aimed at improving access to legal services across Africa, a space still in its early stages of digitisation. Biovana, based in Nigeria, focuses on health data infrastructure, harmonising and certifying datasets for pharmaceutical and AI research, and is co-founded by two women.
Alongside the investments, Madica has also released a 75-page guide titled Zero to Funded: A Founder’s Guide to Pre-Seed Fundraising in Africa, designed as a practical toolkit for first-time founders navigating venture capital. It addresses common investor misconceptions, the trade-offs of equity funding, and includes templates and checklists for early-stage fundraising.
The programme is also deepening its ecosystem engagement efforts, with upcoming convenings including a gathering in Morocco timed around GITEX Africa, bringing together portfolio founders and ecosystem players as it continues to build visibility and cross-border connections for early-stage startups.