Kano, located in Northern Nigeria, is home to a burgeoning tech ecosystem. In recent years, the city has experienced a notable increase in startup activity, ranking 304th among the top 1,000 cities worldwide and emerging as the seventh leading startup hub in Nigeria.
Known as the commercial capital of Northern Nigeria, Kano has built a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurs and a tech community.
As of October 2023, Kano leads the startup scene in Northern Nigeria with a 25% market share, while Abuja and Kaduna follow behind with 17% and 12% respectively.
While Lagos dominates the tech and startup headlines, Kano is quietly gaining traction, fuelled by its youthful, innovative and digitised landscape.
Once primarily known for its historic and agricultural economy, Kano is now a budding ground for Agritech startups as the sector remains a dominant industry in the city. Platforms like AgroEknor and Vora Robotics are helping farmers increase productivity and access financial tools. Retailers are also leveraging WhatsApp channels to boost the sale of agricultural and market products.
Online shopping has led to the rise of e-commerce and logistics startups. These startups are developing systems that cater to Kano’s infrastructure and market landscape.
There has also been increasing support from government initiatives and international NGO focused on education, youth employment, digital literacy and entrepreneurship.
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of tech startups in Kano increased from five to approximately sixty. This growth can be attributed to the success of local entrepreneurs and a supportive community that encourages innovation.
Some emerging startups in Kano include;
- Northino: This e-learning platform is based in Kano and provides tech-related digital education and skill acquisition programs in local languages like Hausa. Courses are tailored to the linguistic and cultural contexts of the learners, making them more accessible and effective.
- Abinci: This is a meal delivery platform situated in the heart of Kano’s logistics and food delivery sector.
- Zainpay: A fintech infrastructure that provides payments, settlements, POS services, API’s and wallet services in Kano. Other companies that offer Kano-based financial services include Bellbank MFB, Banki and the Kayi app.
- Kallo.ng: Launched in 2021, Kallo.ng is Nigeria’s first Hausa language streaming service and has gained a loyal subscriber base with original content in the local language.
- Cromakod Academy: Founded in 2015, this is a digital training institute/ software company based in Kano that equips individuals with in-demand digital skills to thrive in the modern workforce.
- Diboruwa Home Services: This platform offers home services, shopping and logistics services across Kano.
Several hubs that have also been key elements in Kano’s startup scene include;
- Kano Digital Innovation Network: This innovation hub was founded in 2023 during the inaugural conference. This platform provides training, resources, and support for tech startups, entrepreneurs and digital enthusiasts. Its initiatives include digital literacy programs like the Digital Kano Conference and Northern Investment Summit & Startup Expo (NISS-Expo24) and projects like Arewa talents, Noma link and Kano trade hub.
- Startup Kano: This initiative was founded in 2016 by a group of tech enthusiasts and was the first tech innovation hub in Kano. Known for its startup incubation programmes, this community-driven initiative offers mentorship, networking opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. The incubator programs have supported 50,000 youths and have helped raise $1 million for early-stage entrepreneurs in Kano.
Several factors contribute to Kano’s growing tech ecosystem, one of which is its young tech-savvy population solving real problems with local solutions.
Abdulsalam Abdurrashid Maiturare, Founder, Anwar IT Solutions Hub (AITS HUB) and Co-founder Kano Digital Innovation Network (KDIN), told Techpoint Africa that the tech ecosystem in Kano is growing.
“Years back, many people were not really into tech, but now you can see startups, startup hubs, people going into IT services and learning digital skills. With the rise of e-commerce, agritech, and climatetech, there are new startups which show that the ecosystem is thriving.”
However, for Ibrahim Saliman Zainab, CEO of Dibo Ruwa, startup funding and adoption rate are a major challenge in Kano.
“Most startups have won hackathons and incubator programs, but in the real sense, most of the money is not used to further grow the business, which is why you will see startups win big and then afterwards, there is nothing to show for it,” Saliman says.
“Reports will show that there are various startups in Kano or that this startup won this hackathon; well, where are those startups now, where are their offices, and you will see you cannot find them. That is a problem. The numbers may be good, but reality is slightly different.”
Although Kano’s emerging startup ecosystem still faces challenges, including funding access, Internet infrastructure, and security concerns, its rapid growth and increasing national visibility show that Kano is a city with unrivalled startup potential.
With continuous investments and support initiatives, Kano is poised to become a significant player in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
Many emerging startups like these will be showcased at the Lagos Startup Expo 2.0, which will be held on June 18 and 19, 2025. This event offers a valuable opportunity to display startups, their products, and solutions. Don’t miss the chance to either exhibit or attend. Click here to participate.
