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⟹ 🚀 STARTUPS WATCH 🚀 ⟸

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

Solar Sister, based in Lagos, Nigeria, is a female-empowered startup dedicated to distributing solar energy solutions in developing countries. With over 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to electricity and more than 700 million relying on harmful cooking fuels, Solar Sister focuses on empowering women, who disproportionately bear the burdens of energy poverty and climate change. The organization believes that women are crucial to addressing the clean energy challenge, investing in women’s enterprises within off-grid communities.

By combining innovative solar and clean cooking technologies with a woman-centered direct sales network, Solar Sister aims to bring light, hope, and opportunity to remote areas of rural Africa. Their mission is to economically empower women and eradicate energy poverty through entrepreneurship, envisioning a more prosperous world fueled by women entrepreneurs who drive sustainable solutions to climate change and other developmental challenges.

Zembo, based in Kampala, Uganda, is a pioneering startup leading the transition to e-mobility in Africa. By providing low-cost electric motorcycles to local motorbike drivers, known as "boda-boda" drivers, Zembo aims to reduce carbon emissions in the transport industry. The company offers a PayGo model, making electric two-wheelers accessible to low-income riders. Additionally, Zembo features solar-powered battery swapping stations, allowing drivers to quickly exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones, significantly enhancing convenience and operational efficiency.

Recognizing the critical role of boda-bodas in Uganda—transporting 60% of the population—Zembo addresses the financial challenges faced by over 600,000 self-employed drivers affected by fluctuating fuel prices. Committed to gender inclusion, 30% of Zembo's team consists of women, and the company actively empowers female clients through training programs. By promoting sustainable transport solutions and inclusivity, Zembo strives to create a more equitable and environmentally friendly mobility landscape in Africa.

Nuru, meaning "light" in Swahili, is a renewable energy company focused on enhancing connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established in August 2015 as Kivu Green Energy and rebranded in September 2019, Nuru has been a pioneer in the region, deploying Congo’s first solar-based mini-grid in 2017.

Currently, Nuru is constructing a 1.3MW solar hybrid site in Goma, the largest off-grid mini-grid in sub-Saharan Africa, along with additional solar hybrid sites in Beni and the Oriental Province. With a vision to provide world-class power to 10 million delighted Congolese people by December 2030, Nuru is dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions and improving the lives of individuals and communities across the DRC.

⟹ 💼 💰️ VENTURE CAPITAL WATCH 💼 💰️ ⟸

In this week’s VC Watch, African startups continue to secure strategic funding, though this week has been much slower than previous ones.

Notable deals include Egypt’s Bokra launching a $207k fund for student entrepreneurs, and Ivorian insurtech WiASSUR raising investment from AXIAN Group to scale its insurance platform.

African startups have the potential to scale globally but require sufficient funding, access to networks, and market knowledge to realize their ambitions, according to VCs at the Moonshot by TechCabal event. While African companies like TymeBank, Flutterwave, and Moove have successfully entered regions like Southeast Asia and North America, their journeys highlight the need for local adaptation beyond shared economic similarities.

"Expanding into new markets demands more than just similar dynamics—it requires partnerships with local players who bring critical insights," said Aaron Fu, director of venture investments at DCG.

As Africa’s markets grow more competitive, startups need patient capital, strategic collaborations, and deep market understanding to penetrate international markets and unlock new growth opportunities.

Egyptian fintech startup Bokra has launched a $207,000 fund in partnership with the Canadian International College (CIC) to support entrepreneurial students. Founded in 2023, Bokra offers an app that provides personalized financial planning, leveraging asset-backed securities. The startup, which raised $4.6 million in pre-seed funding earlier this year, aims to empower changemakers through this new fund and Bokra Academy, an initiative bridging academia and industry with practical guidance. With this fund, Bokra seeks to build a more dynamic startup ecosystem and foster innovation among Egypt’s future entrepreneurs.

Ivorian insurtech startup WiASSUR has secured funding from the AXIAN Group to accelerate its expansion. WiASSUR’s digital platform aggregates various insurance products, allowing users to compare prices transparently and get insured within minutes. Through this deal, AXIAN Group, active across 15 countries, becomes WiASSUR’s second-largest shareholder and gains a governance role. WiASSUR aligns with AXIAN’s mission of fostering sustainable growth through accessible insurance solutions that promote risk pooling. This investment reflects AXIAN’s commitment to innovative solutions and expands its presence in the insurance sector, aiming to support economic development across Africa.

👀 This week’s featured investor is LongHash Ventures. 👀 

LongHash Ventures specializes in bootstrapping Web3 ecosystems, focusing on early-stage Web3 protocols through its venture funds. The firm also operates the LongHashX Accelerator, which collaborates with leading Web3 ecosystems and infrastructure protocols to accelerate early-stage founders and build vibrant developer communities.

Founded in 2017 and based in Singapore, LongHash Ventures has established itself as a key player in the Web3 space, aiming to fuel innovation and growth across various sectors, including DeFi, consumer applications, and modular infrastructure.

With a vision of creating robust ecosystems, LongHash Ventures supports its portfolio companies with strategic funding, mentorship, and a strong network in Asia. Their diverse portfolio includes notable projects like zkSync, Polkadot, and Astar, each contributing to the advancement of decentralized technologies.

LongHash Ventures is committed to shaping the future of finance and technology by empowering the next generation of web3 founders. 🌍✨

⟹ 📺️ MEDIA WATCH 📺️  ⟸

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

1. Ivory Coast’s Frame3D launches AI platform that takes smartphone videos 3D - Disrupt Africa

2. Kenyan parliament pushes for Safaricom, M-PESA split - Techcabal

3. Kenya-based music service Mdundo expands reach; projects over $1m royalties for 2025 - Disrupt Africa

4. Chowdeck “looking at” South Africa and Kenya for possible expansion - Techcabal

5. SA’s Peach Payments partners Kenya’s Sukhiba for conversational commerce - 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. See you next week.

Gitonga, the Stoic Founder at StartupHub.Africa 🚀

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