2025's Funding Rush Begins 💰🔥

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⟹ 🚀 STARTUPS WATCH 🚀 ⟸

Here are the 5 top startups in the African eco-system we think you need to know:

Raseedi is transforming telecom management for dual SIM users in Egypt, helping them maximize their telecom spending effortlessly. The app automates SIM selection for calls, keeping costs low, providing tariff recommendations, and updating users on the latest offers.

Beyond telecom, Raseedi offers instant cash loans through Raseedikash, cashback on bill payments, and loyalty rewards for calls via its dialer. By combining cost optimization and financial convenience, Raseedi empowers users with smarter, budget-friendly connectivity solutions. 🌍📞

Egoras, a Nigerian startup, provides uncollateralized loans to small entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking. Its EGS cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar, ensures stable value and financial reliability.

By leveraging blockchain, Egoras delivers transparent and efficient microfinance solutions, fostering economic growth and financial inclusion in underserved communities. 🌍💼

Nice Deer is an innovative InsurTech company revolutionizing Egypt's healthcare industry through its integrated digital ecosystem. The platform bridges insurance payers, medical service providers, hospitals, and self-funded corporations, offering seamless solutions for healthcare and insurance management.

A standout feature is Nice Deer's Advanced Payment solution, which ensures healthcare providers receive instant payments for insurance claims, enhancing cash flow and reducing financial stress. Trusted by partners like Orange Pharmacies, Nice Deer is simplifying healthcare operations, driving efficiency, and improving financial management for stakeholders across the ecosystem. 🌍💡

⟹ 💼 💰️ VENTURE CAPITAL WATCH 💼 💰️ ⟸

This week, Africa’s startup ecosystem showcased resilience and innovation with significant funding rounds and transformative developments across multiple sectors.

As fintech continues to lead Africa’s recovery from its funding winter, Nigerian fintech LemFi raised $53M in a Series B round, supporting its expansion into Europe. This development follows other notable fintech successes, reinforcing the sector’s resilience and investment appeal.

South African startup FARO raised $6M to expand its affordable fashion initiative while tackling textile waste, leveraging surplus inventory to drive sustainability in the fashion industry.

Kenyan-based Purple Elephant Ventures (PEV) raised $4.5M in seed funding to scale its tourism-focused portfolio, including ventures like Nomad Africa and Zafari. This investment highlights the growing potential for innovative solutions in Africa’s tourism industry.

South Africa’s The Awareness Company secured $1.6M in seed funding to enhance its AI-driven operational sustainability platform. The startup leverages AI, IoT, and data analytics to deliver impactful solutions across agriculture, conservation, and smart city operations.

In the fintech space, Egyptian startup Raseedi acquired its counterpart Kashat in an equity deal to expand its offerings with instant loans. This acquisition paves the way for replicating their digital financial solutions across Africa and Asia, serving underbanked populations.

Egyptian logistics startup Nowlun raised $1.7M to streamline freight forwarding with its platform offering real-time cargo tracking and competitive ocean freight pricing.

Similarly, Conservio, a South African travel-booking platform, secured $1M to scale its operations in nature-based tourism, focusing on eco-friendly travel.

These milestones highlight the incredible momentum in Africa’s startup ecosystem, with significant funding raised in just the third week of the year—2025 is off to a promising start! 🚀🌍

👀 This Week’s Featured Investor is Ambo Ventures 👀

Ambo Ventures is a Nairobi-based venture capital firm dedicated to fostering impact-driven and socially responsible startups across Africa.

Since its inception in 2015, Ambo Ventures has been on a mission to create self-sustaining ecosystems by addressing critical obstacles in value chains and investing in complementary companies to unlock untapped potential.

Focused primarily on Series A and B investments, with selective seed-stage opportunities, Ambo Ventures is raising a $50M fund to support innovative startups tackling the continent’s most pressing challenges, particularly in the fight against climate change.

Their deal flow spans key markets like Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, highlighting their pan-African approach to venture capital. Some of the startups in their portfolio include Roam Motors, Natrify, Inveko Green & Cinch Markets.

Ambo Ventures not only provides funding but also partners with founders to deliver strategic insights and resources, empowering entrepreneurs to drive transformative change.

Explore Ambo Ventures' profile on Startup Hub Africa and learn more about how Ambo Ventures is building a greener, more sustainable Africa. 🌍💼

⟹ 📺️ MEDIA WATCH 📺️  ⟸

Here are the 5 key things in the news this week that you need to know:

1. Lemfi raises $53 million Series B round, acquires European firm - Techcabal

2. FARO Secures $6 Million to Drive Affordable Fashion and Tackle Textile Waste Across Africa - Tech In Africa

3. SA’s The Awareness Company secures $1.6m to pioneer AI-driven operational sustainability - Disrupt Africa

4. Nowlun Secures $1.7 Million in Seed Funding to Accelerate Growth and Enhance Logistics Platform - Tech In Africa

5. Egyptian fintech Raseedi acquires counterpart Kashat to broaden its product offering - Disrupt Africa

And that’s your weekly dosage of the African startup ecosystem! If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email. We are always looking to hear from our community.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Gitonga, the Stoic Founder at StartupHub.Africa 🚀

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