This Week in African Tech 🌍

Hey 👋🏽, 

Nvidia just dropped new AI chips, a robotics model called Groot (yes, really), and a fresh AI framework. It’s going all in on self-driving cars and AI-powered PCs, making sure the future runs on Nvidia.

And in African tech, Decagon is switching lanes, Nigeria is betting on startups, Plentify just bagged an energy award, and Leta secured $5 million to shake up logistics.

We’ll get to the roundup in a sec.

But before we do, we have an announcement.

Now, on to this week’s roundup….

Tech Roundup

• South African energy startup Plentify has won the EEP Africa Project of the Year 2024 for its efforts in tackling energy challenges on the continent.

• Adetunji ‘TeeJay’ Opayele, Co-founder and CTO of Nigerian retail startup Bumpa, sadly passed away on March 5, 2025, following a car accident. To honor his impact, Bumpa will develop an AI assistant named Teejay to support businesses on its platform.

• Nigerian tech training institute Decagon is pivoting from software engineering education to helping learners secure admission to master’s programs abroad.

• Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder of Mysten Labs, and his wife, Gloria Abiodun, have launched a $1.3 million fund to support African software engineers. The five-year fund will provide student loans for aspiring engineers in Semicolon Africa’s Techpreneurship program.

• AltSchool Africa has partnered with Bybit to sponsor 1,000 young Africans. Selected candidates will enroll in AltSchool’s Diploma program, gaining skills in software engineering, data analytics, and product management.

• Egyptian fintech Valu plans to list up to 25% of its shares on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) within a year. The IPO aims to strengthen its capital, expand its market reach, and support growth.

• E-mobility company Roam has teamed up with 4G Capital to make electric motorcycles more affordable, with support from the Mastercard Foundation. Riders can get a Roam Air electric motorcycle with an 80km-range battery by paying a $190 deposit.

Deal Roundup

• Senegalese healthtech startup Eyone has won the latest Africa’s Business Heroes competition, securing $300,000 in prize money. The company helps doctors and patients access medical records in real time.

• Kenyan logistics startup Leta has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Speedinvest. The funds will help improve its product and strengthen its position as a leading logistics tech platform in Africa. Leta also plans to expand into new markets like Rwanda and Mauritius.

• UAE-based fintech NymCard has raised $33 million in a Series B round led by QED Investors. The company plans to expand across more than 10 MENA markets and improve its payment infrastructure.

• Egyptian healthtech Grinta has raised an undisclosed amount in a round led by Beltone Venture Capital and Raed Ventures. The startup has also acquired Citi Clinic, gaining access to over 150,000 patients and expanding into the care sector.

• Nigeria has launched a $40 million fund to back early-stage tech startups, reducing reliance on private investors. Half of the funding comes from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) matching the rest.

• UAE-based fintech ClearGrid has raised $10 million in pre-seed and seed funding. Backed by Raed Ventures, Beco Capital, and Nuwa Capital, the startup plans to use AI to improve debt collection and credit risk systems as it expands across MENA.

• Yango Group has launched Yango Ventures, a $20 million fund to support startups in LATAM, Sub-Saharan Africa, and MENAP. It will invest in early-stage companies in fintech, online-to-offline services, and business software.

Other Events and Opportunities

• ALX Ethiopia, through ALX Ventures, is building a new wave of entrepreneurs by providing hands-on training, mentorship, and startup incubation. Its Founder Academy equips early-stage founders with the skills to refine their ideas, build MVPs, and launch ventures. So far, over 1,700 entrepreneurs have been trained, with 50+ startups incubated. Learn more here.

• Thinking of expanding to Africa? Itana is hosting a Business Exploration Trip to Nigeria from April 29 to May 4. Meet government leaders, top investors, and tech founders while touring key hubs like Flutterwave HQ, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Lagos Business School, and Dangote Refinery. Oh, and there’s a Lagos-style party too. Only 15 spots available. Apply here.

• Applications are open for the Startup 360 Connect Programme, which helps startups from Kenya and East Africa scale globally while leveraging innovation ecosystems in Kenya and the UK. The programme connects founders with investors, mentors, and resources, offering support in investment readiness, UK market entry, VC matchmaking, and strategic networking. It targets startups tackling challenges in fintech, agri-tech, cybersecurity, climate-tech, e-health, and other high-impact sectors. Apply here.

• Applications are now open for the 15th Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East, which supports social innovation and entrepreneurship. Since 2011, OSVP has backed startups using technology to drive impact in education, healthcare, e-commerce, agriculture, and the environment. Apply here before May 18^th.

And that's a wrap!

That’s it for this week. See you on Wednesday 😃 

Cheers,

The Tech Safari Team

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