You’d almost be forgiven for thinking Lagos was just traffic, yellow buses, and that one guy on Third Mainland Bridge selling phone chargers that mysteriously stop working after two days.
But beneath the chaos, Lagos is Africa’s largest startup ecosystem, with over five unicorns and a tech economy valued at $15.3 billion. The city hums with founders, engineers, and product folks building tools that power fintech rails, eCommerce engines, mobility platforms, and Africa’s fast-growing digital talent pipeline.
Earlier this year, the Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 by Dealroom.co crowned Lagos the world’s fastest-growing tech city. I remember reading that and thinking it explains why every café in Yaba now sounds like a venture pitch.
An ecosystem is only as robust as the companies shaping it. So, I spent time digging: funding trails, product influence, user scale, innovation, work culture, and how much each company is actually moving the needle.
In this guide, I break down the 10 top tech companies in Lagos, the players building products that scale, raising global capital, exporting talent, and quietly (or loudly) defining Africa’s digital future.
TL;DR: Key takeaways from this article
- Fintech runs Lagos. 7 out of the top 10 companies are in fintech.
- Lagos is not short of unicorns. Flutterwave, Andela, Interswitch, Moniepoint, and OPay lead the pack.
- The global footprint is strong, with most startups operating beyond Nigeria.
Top 10 tech companies based in Lagos
The following are 10 tech companies shaping Lagos today, from giants influencing payments across the continent to innovative teams redefining how we move, shop, and learn.
1. Flutterwave
| Year launched | 2016 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 3.8/5.0 |
| Valuation | $3 billion |
| Website | https://www.flutterwave.com |
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave solves a truly African problem, which is cross-border transactions. Its API-driven platform helps businesses accept cards, mobile money, and bank transfers from anywhere, without drama.
Over the years, Flutterwave has evolved from powering global players like Uber to serving creators and SMEs with products such as Flutterwave Store, Disha, and Flutterwave Capital. With hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions processed across 34 countries, it’s now one of Africa’s most valuable startups.
Why they made the list:
- Unicorn status and $3 billion valuation.
- Strong international footprint and expansion licences.
- Works with global leaders like Uber & MTN.
- Plays across consumers, SMEs, and enterprises.
Career opportunities
- Engineering (Backend, Platform, Security).
- Product (Product Manager, Product Designer).
- Compliance and Risk.
- Operations and Customer Success.
Work culture:
- Fast-paced, mission-driven.
- Hybrid work structure.
- High ownership and autonomy.
- Collaborative but performance-heavy.
2. Paystack
| Year launched | 2015 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 4.6 /5.0 |
| Valuation | Unavailable |
| Website | https://paystack.com/ |
Paystack, founded in 2015, set out to build the internet’s payment layer for Africa, starting with Nigerian merchants who desperately needed clean, reliable ways to accept online payments. The platform supports card payments, bank transfers, USSD, Apple Pay, and more, and has a reputation for stability that keeps devs hooked.
In 2020, Stripe acquired the company for over $200 million, instantly validating Africa’s fintech opportunity. Since then, Paystack has expanded into Ghana, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, processing hundreds of millions of dollars monthly and handling billions of API requests. In March 2025, Paystack launched Zap, its first consumer-facing product in nearly a decade.
Why they made the list:
- Acquired by Stripe for $200 million.
- Powers thousands of merchants across Africa.
- Excellent API and strong community.
- Methodical expansion and enduring product quality.
Career opportunities
- Engineering.
- Growth and Marketing.
- Design (Product & Brand).
- Customer Success.
Work culture:
- Customer-obsessed.
- Collaborative and thoughtful.
- Stable, product-focused.
- High standards; low noise.
3. Andela
| Year launched | 2014 |
| Industry | Software development and talent outsourcing |
| Glassdoor rating | 3.6/5.0 |
| Valuation | 1.5 billion |
| Website | https://www.andela.com/ |
Before remote work went mainstream, Andela was already living in the future. When the startup recognised that tech companies in Africa needed experienced developers who had brilliant talent ready to build, but lacked access to the right global opportunities, they took it upon themselves to address the pressing global issue. And soon, Andela became the bridge.
Their model involved identifying and training promising developers, then integrating them into engineering teams at top companies worldwide. Today, Andela operates as a comprehensive global talent marketplace, matching vetted engineers, designers, and product specialists with companies seeking to scale, offering fully remote work arrangements. In 2021, Andela raised $200 million from SoftBank.
Why they made the list:
- Remote-first before it was cool.
- Strong global partner network.
- High placement success rate.
- Built one of Africa’s strongest talent brands.
Career opportunities
- Engineering.
- People and Talent Ops.
- Marketplace Operations.
- Sales & Partnerships.
Work culture:
- Fully distributed.
- Learning-driven.
- Inclusive and mission-focused.
- High-trust, asynchronous teams.
4. Interswitch
| Year launched | 2002 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 4.2/5.0 |
| Valuation | $1 billion |
| Website | https://interswitchgroup.com/home/ |
Interswitch pioneered Nigeria’s digital payments infrastructure, enabling seamless electronic transactions in a market still dominated by cash. Today, its processing network powers banks, government agencies, telcos, and businesses at scale.
Interswitch is best known for Verve, Africa’s leading domestic payment card scheme, and Quickteller, the ubiquitous bill-payment and lifestyle platform used across Nigeria. With Visa’s strategic minority investment valuing it at over $1 billion, Interswitch became one of Africa’s earliest unicorns and remains a backbone of the continent’s financial rails.
Why they made the list:
- One of Nigeria’s earliest fintech success stories.
- Infrastructure-first approach powering banks & merchants.
- Unicorn valuation via Visa minority acquisition.
- Deep product stack: cards, payments, billings, lending.
Career opportunities
- Software Engineering.
- Product Management.
- Compliance and Risk.
- Business Development.
- Customer Operations.
Work culture:
- Structured and high-performance.
- Mission-driven, execution-focused.
- Strong professional development.
- Hybrid work in major hubs.
5. Moniepoint
| Year launched | 2015 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 4.1/5.0 |
| Valuation | $1 billion |
| Website | https://moniepoint.com/ |
Moniepoint (formerly TeamApt) has grown from a banking software provider into one of Africa’s most widely used digital financial platforms. Fundamentally, Moniepoint helps small and medium businesses move money, access credit, and run day-to-day operations with ease. Its infrastructure powers payment acceptance, digital banking, and working capital for millions of retailers, traders, and SMEs.
In 2024, Moniepoint became a unicorn after a $110 million Series C round led by British private equity firm Development Partners International. Recognised on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies, Moniepoint now serves 10M+ users, offers business accounts, credit, and POS services, and is actively expanding across Africa, including acquiring a majority stake in Kenya’s Sumac Bank.
Why they made the list:
- Unicorn status and global recognition (TIME100).
- Massive adoption among SMEs, traders & informal markets.
- Expanding internationally (e.g., Kenya and the UK).
- B2B and B2C growth engine.
Career opportunities
- Software Engineering.
- Product and Payments Ops.
- Risk and Compliance.
- Customer Success.
- Sales and Merchant Acquisition.
Work culture:
- Fast-growth and impact-driven.
- Local-market obsessed.
- Field-centric support culture.
- Collaborative and execution-first.
6. Jumia
| Year launched | 2012 |
| Industry | eCommerce |
| Glassdoor rating | 3.5/5.0 |
| Valuation | $1.3 billion |
| Website | https://www.jumia.com.ng/ |
Jumia is widely recognised as the Amazon of Africa, operating an online marketplace that connects millions of consumers with sellers across multiple verticals, from electronics and fashion to food delivery and logistics. The company provides a robust eCommerce ecosystem that includes marketplace services, payments (via JumiaPay), and last-mile delivery.
Jumia became the first African startup to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2019, a historic milestone that cemented its reputation as a continental tech leader. Although its valuation has shifted over time, Jumia remains a dominant consumer internet brand across Africa, with activity in Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and more.
Why they made the list:
- First African startup to list on the NYSE.
- Pan-African brand reach and logistics footprint.
Career opportunities
- Marketplace Operations.
- Logistics and Supply Chain.
- Finance and Risk.
- Software Engineering.
- Customer Experience.
Work culture:
- Dynamic and metrics-driven
- Customer-focused.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration.
7. Moove
| Year launched | 2020 |
| Industry | Mobility fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 2.7/5.0 |
| Valuation | $2 billion |
| Website | https://moove.io |
Moove is a mobility-focused fintech that offers revenue-based vehicle financing to gig economy drivers. Rather than require traditional collateral, Moove uses performance and earnings data to underwrite loans. This gives mobility workers, who are often excluded from formal credit systems, access to vehicle ownership.
Through strategic integrations with platforms like Uber, Moove offers cars, electric motorcycles, and other vehicles under flexible financing models. Moove now operates across Africa, including Nigeria and South Africa, and has expanded into additional markets such as India, the UAE, and the UK. The company raised $105 million in Series A2 financing in 2022 to scale internationally.
Why they made the list:
- Huge play at the intersection of mobility and fintech.
- Integrations with Uber, Bolt, and delivery platforms.
Career opportunities
- Operations.
- Risk and Credit.
- Data and Analytics.
- Growth.
- Customer Support.
Work culture:
- High-execution and fast-moving.
- Global, distributed teams.
- Data-driven decision-making.
8. Opay
| Year launched | 2018 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 4.0/5.0 |
| Valuation | $2.75 billion |
| Website | https://www.opayweb.com/ |
OPay (short for Opera Pay) began as a super-app experiment that combined ride-hailing, logistics, and food delivery services. While those services later shut down, its payments arm became the breakout star, transforming OPay into one of Nigeria’s most widely used fintech solutions. The platform serves millions of users, offering easy transfers, bill payments, and merchant collections through its mobile app and enormous agent network.
Funded heavily by Chinese investors, OPay hit a valuation of $2 billion after raising $400 million in 2021. Since then, its financial services have helped drive financial inclusion among Nigeria’s unbanked and underbanked population.
Why they made the list:
- Massive product + service reach.
- Deep customer adoption across urban & informal markets.
Career opportunities
- Sales and distribution.
- Customer Success.
- Compliance.
- Engineering.
- Operations.
Work culture:
- High-growth.
- Operations-heavy.
- Strong customer-centric execution.
9. SystemSpec
| Year launched | 1991 |
| Industry | Fintech |
| Glassdoor rating | 3.8/5.0 |
| Valuation | Unavailable |
| Website | https://systemspecs.com.ng/ |
SystemSpecs is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most influential indigenous fintech companies. Best known as the creator of Remita, the payments platform powering Nigeria’s Treasury Single Account (TSA), SystemSpecs has played a defining role in modernising public-sector and enterprise financial operations across the country.
Over the years, the company has expanded beyond Remita to deliver additional products, including HumanManager (HR/payroll) and Paylink (instant payment collection).
Why they made the list:
- Creators of Remita, Nigeria’s TSA engine for 13 years.
- Major influence on public-sector digitisation.
- Pioneer fintech transforming enterprise operations.
Career opportunities
- Engineering.
- IT Infrastructure.
- Customer Support.
- Product and Business Analysis.
- Sales.
Work culture:
- Structured.
- Mission-driven.
- Enterprise and regulatory focus.
10. TLcom Capital
| Year launched | 2016 |
| Industry | Venture Capital |
| Glassdoor rating | Unavailable |
| Valuation | Unavailable |
| Website | https://tlcomcapital.com/ |
TLcom Capital is a venture capital firm backing Africa-focused technology entrepreneurs solving large-scale market challenges. While TLcom has global roots dating back to 1999, its Lagos office opened in 2016, positioning it as one of the continent’s most active VC firms.
The firm invests in companies leveraging technology to address critical gaps in fintech, mobility, ed-tech, climate, logistics, data, and digital infrastructure. TLcom has backed several leading African startups, including Andela, Twiga Foods, Autochek, Vendease, Pula, and uLesson.
Why they made the list:
- Backs top African startups shaping the ecosystem.
- Early-stage and growth stage focus.
- Strong portfolio and continental presence.
Career opportunities
- Investment.
- Portfolio support.
- Research and operations.
- VC fellowships/internships.
Work culture:
- Fast-paced.
- Analytical and entrepreneurial.
- Ecosystem-first mindset.
Key insights and trends
Here’s what stood out while I researched:
1. Fintech dominance
Lagos is basically Fintech Island. From Flutterwave to Interswitch to Opay, Lagos has clearly decided that payments and digital finance are the new oil, and honestly, it shows.
2. Unicorn boom
Names like Flutterwave, Interswitch, Andela, and Opay have achieved unicorn status. It’s wild to think that not too long ago, many of these founders were wrestling with uncertainty and makeshift office desks.
3. Global footprint
I also noticed that nearly all of the companies on the list now operate beyond Nigeria, proving that Lagos is building for the world. Whether it’s talent pipelines, product adoption, or investment flows, these companies are deeply plugged into global markets.
Conclusion
Every company on this list has a story, a culture, and a reason to be here. From fintech powerhouses changing how money moves to bold investors betting on Africa’s future, Lagos has clearly earned its spot as the continent’s loudest, brightest tech hub.
Whether you’re a builder, a job seeker, or someone who just likes being around smart people doing big things, Lagos is where the action is.
These companies are rewriting how we work, pay, learn, and even dream on the continent. And somehow, in the noise and chaos, they’re pushing Africa’s digital story forward.
FAQs
Which Lagos tech company pays the best?
Based on my research and a few insider whispers, Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela typically offer some of the most competitive compensation packages, particularly for engineering and product roles.
Are these companies hiring?
The short answer is yes. Most of these companies are in constant talent-hunt mode. To see current openings, check their career pages, LinkedIn, and job board listings.
How do I get hired by top Lagos tech companies?
Start with strong skills, a solid portfolio, and show tangible results. Tailor your CV, network aggressively, and don’t sleep on referrals, as they are one of the most effective ways to get a job in Lagos.
How many tech startups are in Lagos?
As of November 2025, there are over 550 startups in Lagos, accounting for approximately 72% of the total startups in Nigeria.
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