Startups

EXCLUSIVE

Moniepoint investor takes over Egypt’s $105M Nclude with new venture fund

An aerial view of Egypt

EXCLUSIVE

From selling video games to building Trove Finance: The many lives of Oluwatomi Solanke

Oluwatomi Solanke, Trove Finance CEO

EXCLUSIVE

Umba secures $5m debt facility to grow loan book in Kenya

Umba co-founder Tiernan Kennedy

EXCLUSIVE

Moroccan fintech PayTic secures $4M to expand payment automation across Africa

Contactless and cashless payment through qr code and mobile bank

EXCLUSIVE

$51m USADF funding cut to African startups reignites calls for self-reliance

funding

EXCLUSIVE

Can a community-first strategy propel Fusion to super app success? 

Fusion super app

EXCLUSIVE

Shuttlers adds 20 CNG-powered vehicles to its fleet

Shuttlers bus

EXCLUSIVE

How to register a business in Nigeria – A guide 

A businessperson filling a form.

EXCLUSIVE

The expansion dynamics of African startups

African expansion

EXCLUSIVE

South Africa’s hearX merges with Eargo to tackle global hearing loss with $100m boost 

LXE Hearing leadership

EXCLUSIVE

Zap vs Zap: Zap Africa might not have a leg to stand on against Paystack

Paystack's Zap vs Zap Africa

EXCLUSIVE

8 other companies in Africa with Zap in their name

Zap in Africa

EXCLUSIVE

Cleva secures IMTO licence from Nigeria’s central bank amid unclear regulations

Founders of Cleva

EXCLUSIVE

Egyptian startup Stakpak raises $500,000 in pre-seed funding to build an AI-powered DevOps IDE 

Stakpak team photo

EXCLUSIVE

AltSchool wants to provide AI education in African languages including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

Altschool team

EXCLUSIVE

AltSchool to launch in-person programmes in Q2 with ‘Campus by AltSchool’

Campus by AltSchool team

EXCLUSIVE

How to start a business in Nigeria as a foreigner: A guide  

An ariel view of civic towers, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

EXCLUSIVE

The role of venture capital firms in exits and restructuring

The role of venture capital firms in exits and restructuring

EXCLUSIVE

The ultimate convertible note guide for startups, with terms and tips

The ultimate convertible note guide for startups,

EXCLUSIVE

How to calculate share dilution in a startup 

How to calculate share dilution in a startup 

UK-based DPI has assumed control of Egypt’s $105 million Nclude Fund, a move that shifts fintech investment leadership in North Africa. Backed by previous high-profile investments in Moniepoint and MNT-Halan, DPI’s entry reinforces its commitment to Africa’s digital economy and financial inclusion.



Umba, a digital bank in Kenya, has raised $5 million in debt financing from Star Strong Capital to expand its loan portfolio after seeing rapid growth thanks to strong demand for vehicle and SME loans.


Moroccan fintech PayTic has secured $4 million in funding to accelerate the growth of its payment automation platform with plans to expand into North and Sub-Saharan Africa.


With over $51 million in funding cut by the U.S. Africa Development Foundation, African startups and SMEs may face fresh challenges. As foreign aid dries up, the call for local, sustainable financing is louder than ever.



Shuttlers added 20 new CNG-powered vehicles to its fleet in Q1 2025. The startup has completed 1,484 trips with the CNG-powered buses and has recorded a 29% reduction in cost for its users.




South Africa’s hearX has joined forces with US-based Eargo in a $100m merger to form LXE Hearing to deliver accessible, tech-powered hearing solutions globally, highlighting Africa’s growing impact in healthtech innovation.




Cleva has secured an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) licence from the CBN to process inbound international money transfers to Nigerians. But the apex bank’s IMTO regulations raise questions.


Stakpak, an AI-powered DevOps platform founded by George Fahmy, simplifies infrastructure management for developers. Launched in 2021, it aims to reduce time spent on infrastructure tasks and has raised $500K in pre-seed funding.


AltSchool has launched AI for the 10M Africans initiative to help people across the continent learn to use AI in multiple languages to position Africans as AI leaders and not just consumers.


Starting in Q2 2025, AltSchool Africa will roll out hybrid programmes to enhance its students’ learning outcomes.






Moniepoint investor takes over Egypt’s $105M Nclude with new venture fund

Moniepoint investor, Development Partners International, has taken over Egypt’s Nclude Fund, marking a major leadership shift and strengthening its African footprint.

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From selling video games to building Trove Finance: The many lives of Oluwatomi Solanke

Oluwatomi Solanke has built three startups in a decade, but it’s Trove Finance Finance, a pioneering investment platform, that he’s best known for. In this article, he reflects on past failures, building with purpose, and how Trove Finance quietly hit profitability.

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Umba secures $5m debt facility to grow loan book in Kenya

Umba, a digital bank in Kenya, has secured $5M in funding from Star Strong Capital to grow its loan book. With a sixfold revenue increase driven by vehicle and SME financing, the fintech is poised to expand its offerings and solidify its position in Kenya’s market.

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Moroccan fintech PayTic secures $4M to expand payment automation across Africa

PayTic, a Moroccan fintech startup, has raised $4 million to scale its payment automation solutions across North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

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$51m USADF funding cut to African startups reignites calls for self-reliance

USADF’s $51M funding cut reveals African startups’ overdependence on foreign aid, prompting urgent calls for local, sustainable financing to support businesses.

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Can a community-first strategy propel Fusion to super app success? 

LetsChat’s 2024 shutdown highlights the challenges of building social media in Africa, but Fusion remains hopeful. Focusing on communities, events, and finance, it aspires to become Africa’s WeChat.

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Shuttlers adds 20 CNG-powered vehicles to its fleet

Nigerian mobility startup, Shuttlers added 20 new CNG-powered vehicles to its fleet in Q1 2025. Having completed 1,484 trips with the buses, it wants to reduce costs for customers while ensuring environmental safety.

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How to register a business in Nigeria – A guide 

This guide simplifies the entire process of registering a business in Nigeria, which enables foreign business owners and investors to navigate the system easily.

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The expansion dynamics of African startups

African startups must carefully consider their next best market when it comes to expansion. And very often, the next best market is not within the continent.

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South Africa’s hearX merges with Eargo to tackle global hearing loss with $100m boost 

Backed by a $100 million investment, South African healthtech hearX has finalised a merger with Eargo to provide accessible hearing solutions.

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Zap vs Zap: Zap Africa might not have a leg to stand on against Paystack

While Paystack and Zap Africa have not proven that either of them have trademark rights to Zap, sources reveal that the trademark registrations may have been erroneous.

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8 other companies in Africa with Zap in their name

Paystack’s new product, “Zap,” has sparked controversy over its name. While some claim its originality, many other companies also use it. Here are eight brands with “Zap” in their names.

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Cleva secures IMTO licence from Nigeria’s central bank amid unclear regulations

Cleva has obtained an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria, yet concerns persist regarding the scope of activities the apex bank permits for fintechs.

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Egyptian startup Stakpak raises $500,000 in pre-seed funding to build an AI-powered DevOps IDE 

Stakpak, an AI-powered DevOps platform, helps developers automate infrastructure tasks. With $500K in pre-seed funding, the startup aims to save businesses time and costs in DevOps management.

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AltSchool wants to provide AI education in African languages including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba

AltSchool has launched AI for 10M Africans initiative to help people across the continent learn to use AI in multiple languages including Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Igbo.

Follow the story

AltSchool to launch in-person programmes in Q2 with ‘Campus by AltSchool’

Starting in Q2 2025, AltSchool Africa will roll out hybrid programmes aimed at enhancing learning outcomes for its students.

Follow the story

How to start a business in Nigeria as a foreigner: A guide  

This guide outlines the key steps for foreigners starting a business in Nigeria, including company registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), tax compliance, banking requirements, and sector-specific regulations.

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The role of venture capital firms in exits and restructuring

VC: Funds growth, manages exits (M&A, IPO) & restructuring for returns. Seeks strong teams, large markets, innovation. Exits provide capital. Restructuring fixes issues. Impacts markets & finance.

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The ultimate convertible note guide for startups, with terms and tips

Convertible notes: Early startup funding. Loan converts to equity in future (funding round). Postpones valuation. Features: interest, maturity date, valuation cap, discount. Unlike SAFEs (no debt). Good for early stage but understand dilution risk. Seek legal advice.

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How to calculate share dilution in a startup 

Dilution: New shares decrease your ownership %. Necessary for startup growth funding. Occurs via investment, options, debt. Affects founders, staff, early backers. Reduce impact with smart planning. Use tools like Capboard to calculate.

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UK-based DPI has assumed control of Egypt’s $105 million Nclude Fund, a move that shifts fintech investment leadership in North Africa. Backed by previous high-profile investments in Moniepoint and MNT-Halan, DPI’s entry reinforces its commitment to Africa’s digital economy and financial inclusion.



Umba, a digital bank in Kenya, has raised $5 million in debt financing from Star Strong Capital to expand its loan portfolio after seeing rapid growth thanks to strong demand for vehicle and SME loans.


Moroccan fintech PayTic has secured $4 million in funding to accelerate the growth of its payment automation platform with plans to expand into North and Sub-Saharan Africa.


With over $51 million in funding cut by the U.S. Africa Development Foundation, African startups and SMEs may face fresh challenges. As foreign aid dries up, the call for local, sustainable financing is louder than ever.



Shuttlers added 20 new CNG-powered vehicles to its fleet in Q1 2025. The startup has completed 1,484 trips with the CNG-powered buses and has recorded a 29% reduction in cost for its users.




South Africa’s hearX has joined forces with US-based Eargo in a $100m merger to form LXE Hearing to deliver accessible, tech-powered hearing solutions globally, highlighting Africa’s growing impact in healthtech innovation.




Cleva has secured an International Money Transfer Operator (IMTO) licence from the CBN to process inbound international money transfers to Nigerians. But the apex bank’s IMTO regulations raise questions.


Stakpak, an AI-powered DevOps platform founded by George Fahmy, simplifies infrastructure management for developers. Launched in 2021, it aims to reduce time spent on infrastructure tasks and has raised $500K in pre-seed funding.


AltSchool has launched AI for the 10M Africans initiative to help people across the continent learn to use AI in multiple languages to position Africans as AI leaders and not just consumers.


Starting in Q2 2025, AltSchool Africa will roll out hybrid programmes to enhance its students’ learning outcomes.