This Week in African Tech 🌍

Sun King makes $156M funding history ☀️

Author

Maryann Kabiru
August 03, 2025

Hey, Maryann here 👋🏽 

From rebrands to reckonings, it’s been one of those weeks. Sukhiba is now Flowcart with its eye on AI-powered growth, while Treepz is launching in Canada to move more Africans across borders.

Meanwhile, 54gene’s founder is lawyering up, MTN wants more smartphones in more hands, and Sun King just lit up Africa’s energy finance scene with $156M.

But before we get to the roundup…

We Are Planting Something Big

In the time it takes to read this, thousands of farmers across Africa will make decisions that impact global food security.

So why don't we hear their stories?

In August, Tech Safari will launch a new project that connects the dots between drones, data, and dirt to reveal the future of agriculture happening right now.

What if the next agricultural breakthrough is already growing somewhere, just waiting to be discovered?

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Tech Roundup

  • Nigerian fintech Afriex has expanded into China, India, and Pakistan to tap Asia’s biggest remittance corridors. The move targets African traders and diaspora communities sending money back home.

  • A Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria, has blocked the sale of 54gene’s assets, including the biodata of 100,000 Nigerians priced at $3 million. In a petition filed in July 2025, founder Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong also accuses its top investors of orchestrating the company’s collapse.

  • AfriLabs and Kenya’s Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) have signed a strategic partnership to co-create programmes that support startups, grow local capacity, drive knowledge exchange, and unlock investment across and beyond Kenya.

  • Nigerian corporate travel startup Treepz has launched in Canada with a two-year partnership with the African Impact Initiative backed by the University of Toronto. Treepz will power travel for the group as it visits four African countries each year, with participants flying in from Canada and beyond.

  • MTN MoMo South Africa has rolled out a rent-to-own smartphone service, giving customers access to 4G and 5G devices from just R10 ($0.55) per day with no credit checks or paperwork required.

  • Kenya’ conversational commerce and CRM platform Sukhiba has rebranded to Flowcart. The new identity reflects its shift into an AI-powered platform purpose-built for D2C and retail brands growing through WhatsApp.

Deal Roundup

  • Kenyan solar firm Sun King has raised $156 million to bring solar power to 1.4 million off-grid homes and businesses. It's the biggest securitisation deal of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa (outside South Africa).

  • South African VC firm HAVAÍC has closed the second round of its $50 million fund and is backing startups like SAPay, Sportable, NjiaPay, and SwiftVEE. The firm plans to make up to 15 investments in African tech startups with global potential.

Talent Safari - Jobs of the Week

Talent Safari is Tech Safari’s trusted hiring partner. We connect innovative companies and rising professionals through our trusted, quality-first hiring. Here’s who we’re looking for this week:

  1. Talent Safari - Talent Associate - Nairobi preferred

  2. Pezesha - Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Nairobi preferred

  3. Advance Insight - Senior Odoo Engineer - Nairobi preferred

  4. Surge Financial - Country Lead - Kenya

  5. Power Financial Wellness - HR Officer - Nairobi

  6. Mogo - Business Controller - Nairobi

  7. Mogo - Financial Controller - Nairobi

  8. PawaPay - Strategic Account Executive - Remote

  9. PowWater - Sales Leads x5 - Nairobi

  10. Okoa Rescue - Business Development Lead - Nairobi

  11. Upendo Honey - General Manager - Tanzania

  12. Shega - Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - AI & Intelligence - Addis Ababa or Nairobi (preferred)

  13. Shega - Commercial & Strategic Partnerships Lead - Addis Ababa (preferred)

  14. Auto Audit Group - Operations Manager - Nairobi

Other Events and Opportunities

  • Tech Safari and Itana are hosting a webinar to explore how to build infrastructure for the next generation of African founders. On Thursday, August 21, by 11 AM WAT / 1 PM EAT, join Iyin Aboyeji, Nkechi Oguchi and Caleb Maru to explore what Africa’s next wave of founders need. Register here.

  • Jobtech Alliance and Bumpa are hosting an in-person meetup on Thursday, August 14, bringing together founders, operators, and digital work enablers to unpack how jobtech is evolving in the age of AI. Expect a fun icebreaker, live use cases from builders in the space, and solid networking with some of Nigeria’s top jobtech founders. Register here to get the location and save your spot.

  • Reckitt Catalyst is now accepting applications for its global program supporting health and hygiene startups led by women and underrepresented founders. Backed by Reckitt, the Health Innovation Exchange, and Yunus Social Innovation, the initiative offers funding, mentorship, and global exposure—with Serena Williams joining as Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Applications are open here until August 10, 2025.

  • Visa has opened applications for the fifth edition of its Africa Fintech Accelerator. The program offers startups access to tools, mentorship, and industry connections to help scale their solutions. Applications are open here until August 15.

  • The Africa Money & DeFi Summit returns to Accra on September 24–25, bringing together 500+ fintech and Web3 leaders. Applications are open for its Investment Showcase, where selected African startups will pitch to investors for funding and partnerships.

And that's a wrap!

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

Cheers,

The Tech Safari Team

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