Etop Ikpe is one of the most successful serial tech entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Here, he shares his journey building five tech businesses, exiting two, and what it feels like to be a serial entrepreneur in these parts.
Tage Kene-Okafor
Endlessly amused by technology. @ulonnaya
Nigerian edtech startup, uLesson, raises $7.5m Series A led by Owl Ventures
Nigerian learning tech platform, @uLessonApp is kickstarting 2021 on a high note. The startup has raised $7.5m in Series A, led by US-based Owl Ventures, bringing its total investments to $10.6m in just two years.
Ghanaian-based fintech startup, OZÉ raises $700k seed to drive growth for African MSMEs
OZÉ, the Ghanaian fintech startup founded in 2017 to help MSMEs with capital has raised $700k in seed funding. Anorak Ventures, Matuca Sarl, and Rising Tide Africa joined Ingressive Capital and MEST to fund the round.
With 17k users and $270k in revenue, Selar wants to build the passion economy of Africa
Selar is a Nigerian eCommerce tool that lets creatives and entrepreneurs sell their content. Founder and CEO, Douglas Kendyson tells us about the startup’s journey and how it is building Africa’s passion economy.
Flutterwave remains the most valuable YC-backed African startup
US seed-stage accelerator, Y Combinator released its updated Top Companies list which includes companies with $150m+ in valuation. Flutterwave is the only African startup on the list despite Paystack’s $200m+ exit.
Why Nigerian fintech startup, TeamApt is changing business model and expanding across West and North Africa
Finding success with Monnify and Moniepoint, TeamApt has made plans to shift its focus from bank products to direct consumer and business-facing ones. Also, there are plans to expand across West and North Africa.
African startups raised at least $1.3b in 2020, according to Briter Bridges
Investments went off to a flying start in Jan & Feb 2020 before fluctuating throughout the year. In the end, not less than $1.3b was deployed into African startups, and when M&A come into play, this figure rises to $2.4b.
Tokunbo Adetona to lead Nairabox as Jay Chikezie steps down from co-CEO role
Nairabox, one of Nigeria’s largest lifestyle concierge platforms, wants to pursue growth aggressively in 2021. Tokunbo Adetona will be tasked with carrying this out going forward, a responsibility he previously shared.
In 2020, Nigerians traded more than $400m worth of crypto on local crypto exchange platforms
In October 2020, UsefulTulips reported that $32.3m worth of bitcoin was traded in Nigeria. And judging by the numbers of different crypto-exchange platforms, Nigerians likely traded $400m+ worth of crypto the past year.
An insight into how Lagos and US-based VC, GreenHouse Capital invests in African startups
A spin-off from Venture Garden Group, Nigerian fintech conglomerate, GreenHouse Capital launched as an investment firm in 2014. With startups like CredPal and Flutterwave in its portfolio, here’s how the firm invests.
