Google Backs Leta with $5M💰️

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⟹ 🚀 STARTUPS WATCH 🚀 ⟸

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

Founded in 2016, KiaKia is a Nigerian fintech platform using AI and alternative data to provide fast, flexible credit to individuals and MSMEs. It also powers a peer-to-peer lending marketplace where everyday Nigerians can lend directly to borrowers, earning competitive returns in a secure and transparent environment.

With over ₦32 billion in transactions, KiaKia is bridging the financial gap by offering tailored loan solutions, real-time lending, and smart investment opportunities. Whether you’re a borrower or a lender, KiaKia makes accessing or offering capital simple, safe, and rewarding. 💸📲

Klump is a Nigerian Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platform that simplifies consumer access to what they need when they need it. With flexible payment plans, users can shop online or in-store and split payments over 3 to 12 months with just a 25% upfront deposit. 

No hidden fees, no long paperwork—just quick, secure, and convenient access to credit.

For merchants, Klump offers a seamless integration to boost conversion rates and enhance customer experience at checkout. With a growing network of partner stores and a smooth onboarding process, Klump is redefining how Africans pay—bringing the “easy life” to everyday spending. 💳🛍️

Stellr is a global prepaid content distribution platform connecting top brands with consumers across India, South Africa, and Israel. Through a strong network of retail, digital, and corporate partners, Stellr enables fast, secure activation of prepaid cards and vouchers across categories like gaming, entertainment, software, and lifestyle—all via seamless POS and online integrations.

With support for 13,000+ stores and 85+ network partners, Stellr offers services like bulk buying, incentives, and POS merchandising, backed by proprietary tech and end-to-end logistics. It’s changing how brands scale in emerging markets through smarter prepaid distribution. 💳🌍

⟹ 💼 💰️ VENTURE CAPITAL WATCH 💼 💰️ ⟸

🇳🇬 Cascador Catalytic Fund Launches
Nigeria’s premier accelerator Cascador unveils its $2M annual Catalytic Fund, targeting mid-stage entrepreneurs to bridge the capital gap and drive sustainable growth in high-impact sectors.

🇪🇬 Grinta Expands in Pharma
Cairo-based Grinta raises additional funding and acquires Citi Clinic, gaining access to over 150K patients while transforming the pharmaceutical supply chain with its digital-first approach.

🇪🇬 Mysten Labs Fund Empowers Tech Talent
Mysten Labs co-founder Adeniyi Abiodun launches a $1.3M endowment fund via Semicolon Africa to train software engineers, addressing Africa’s critical tech talent shortage.

🌍 Startup 360 Connect Programme
East African startups are invited to join the UK-backed Startup 360 Connect Programme, designed to accelerate global expansion with mentorship, investor matchmaking, and strategic networking.

These moves underscore robust investor confidence in Africa’s dynamic tech ecosystem, with strategic capital driving innovation across fintech, healthcare, ed-tech, and logistics.

👀 This week’s featured investor is Outliers Venture Capital 👀

Outliers Venture Capital is an early-stage VC fund based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a bold mission: to back outlier founders building category-defining, compounding businesses across the US and MENA regions. Built by operators and entrepreneurs, Outliers brings more than capital to the table—they offer hands-on support, deep operational insights, and long-term partnerships to help startups scale globally.

Founded in 2020, the firm focuses on founders with unique insights into emerging or underserved markets, backing solutions that blend technology with real-world impact. Their dual-regional portfolio reflects this vision, featuring standout startups from MENA like:

• Lean – APIs powering financial innovation across the Middle East.

• Noon Academy – A leading social learning platform redefining online education.

• Tabby – A fast-growing BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) platform.

• Homzmart – The region’s largest furniture and home goods marketplace.

• Breadfast – An e-grocery and same-day delivery pioneer in Egypt.

• Amwal – A fintech innovator simplifying financial transactions and digital identity.

• FlapKap, Vault, Penny, Kingpin, Soum – Other high-potential startups transforming commerce, fintech, and logistics.

On the US front, Outliers backs deep-tech and enterprise startups like StrikeReady, Normalyze, AccuKnox, and Matter, showcasing their belief in global innovation and cross-market synergies.

Through initiatives like the Outliers Builders Summit, they foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among founders, experts, and visionaries shaping the future.

Outliers is more than a fund—it’s a committed partner to exceptional founders solving real problems with scale in mind. 🌍💡

Explore more at outliers.vc.

⟹ 📺️ MEDIA WATCH 📺️  ⟸

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

1. Google, Speedinvest back Kenya’s Leta, which uses AI to make logistics cheaper - Techcrunch

2. Baobab Nigeria acquisition delivers 3x return for Alitheia and Goodwell - Techcabal

3. Cascador Launches Inaugural $2M Catalytic Fund for Nigerian Entrepreneurs - Disrupt Africa

4. Yango Group Launches $20M Venture Fund for Startups - Tech in Africa

5. Egyptian pharma startup Grinta raises funding, makes key acquisition - 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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