Author: Samuel Suru

Google Hustle Academy has opened the application window for its new continent-wide initiative titled the AfCFTA Digital Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Programme, or ADIEP. This major training effort is specifically designed to enhance the competitive edge and scalability of African small businesses within the modern, technology-driven marketplace. The entire programme is offered completely free of charge to participants and aims to deliver essential digital skills training to a total of 7,500 small and medium-sized enterprises across the African continent. This initiative directly supports the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The entire curriculum is delivered through a convenient online…

A recent Richfield Information Technology Honours graduate, 25-year-old Nhlanhla Mabena, has successfully launched a new digital hiring platform named FlexWork. The platform went live at the end of September 2025 and is specifically designed to make the recruitment process more structured, transparent, and significantly more affordable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across South Africa. FlexWork is built as a self-service hiring engine, offering a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for smaller businesses, including centralized job posting, applicant tracking, streamlined communication features, and effective candidate filtering, all within a single user-friendly interface. The platform aims to replace fragmented and often…

The Harvard Africa Business Club has officially launched the final application round for its prestigious Harvard New Venture Competition. This highly anticipated contest is open exclusively to African startups that have been operating for fewer than five years. The competition culminates in the awarding of significant prizes totaling up to $55,000, which will be distributed to the winning ventures during the annual Africa Business Conference. This major event is scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 27-28, 2026. Beyond the crucial financial backing, the competition offers valuable capacity building opportunities. The thirty highest-ranked applicants will receive intensive one-on-one…

African electric mobility companies are facing a challenging funding landscape where traditional venture capital (VC) firms are largely absent, leaving the field dominated by patient, state-backed development banks and climate funds. The money trail for these hardware-heavy startups leads away from global VC hubs and directly to development finance institutions (DFIs), suggesting that the e-mobility sector in Africa is fundamentally an infrastructure play rather than a rapid technology venture. In 2025, African e-mobility companies collectively raised over $158 million from more than 25 distinct sources, including debt, equity, and grants. However, a close examination of the capital structure reveals a…

The MTN Innovation Lab in Cotonou, Benin, launched the Africa HealthTech Export 2025 Bootcamp on Monday, November 17, convening an important gathering of early-stage companies, seasoned capital providers, and regulatory bodies from regional countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Togo. The event is a joint effort, successfully organized in partnership with the local innovation center, Phi Hub. Having been established earlier this year specifically to nurture the growing startup ecosystem within Benin, the MTN Innovation Lab is now providing intensive masterclasses. These sessions are being led by local market experts and international leaders, offering comprehensive instruction on core business competencies.…

The Plateau State Government is stepping up efforts to combat unemployment by proposing a supplementary budget of ₦2 billion to expand its flagship Plateau Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition (PLAYESA) for Wealth initiative. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Musa Achom, announced the plan during the launch of a new training cycle at the National Youth Centre, Shere Hills, Jos. The programme, delivered in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is equipping young people with practical skills in ICT, fashion design, and leatherworks. Achom explained that once the budget is approved by the State House of Assembly, the funds will significantly…

Morocco has successfully finalized a significant partnership agreement with Keiretsu Forum MENA, a major global private investor network that boasts strong historical ties to Silicon Valley. The signing took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, marking a cornerstone action in the nation’s ambitious strategy to drastically increase investment in its startup sector. This move is projected to channel 2 billion Moroccan dirhams, equivalent to approximately $215.5 million, into startups by the year 2026, with an escalated target of 7 billion dirhams, or $754 million, by the end of the decade, aligning perfectly with the overarching goals of the country’s Digital…

While global electric vehicle giants battle over Western markets, a different kind of EV race is quietly accelerating in Africa. Chinese manufacturers, facing rising trade barriers in the United States and Europe, are aggressively turning to the continent as a new frontier, positioning themselves as the dominant players in Africa’s early-stage electric transition. This move sees Chinese companies deploying a multi-pronged approach, from selling affordable cars to South Africa’s middle class to partnering with local startups that are building the ecosystem for electric buses and motorcycles. With tariffs on Chinese EVs in the US reaching 154% and the European Union…

Global technology groups Naspers and Prosus have officially launched the Tech FoundHER Africa Challenge, a targeted program specifically designed to identify and support women-led technology and tech-enabled startups across the African continent. This crucial initiative follows a successful pilot program that was first rolled out in India earlier this year. The Challenge explicitly underscores the companies’ strategic commitment to empowering talented female founders and actively addressing the significant, documented gender gap in technology entrepreneurship and investment across Africa. Research indicates a severe imbalance: while women comprise 26% of Africa’s overall entrepreneurs, female-led startups collectively receive less than 3% of the…

While the public attention frequently focuses on high-value, headline-grabbing mega-rounds, the enduring vitality and foundational strength of Africa’s growing startup ecosystem are clearly demonstrated by a consistent and varied stream of smaller, crucial investments. This month’s African Startup Deal Tracker highlights these under-the-radar transactions, encompassing strategic pre-seed rounds, targeted venture debt facilities, and significant growth equity, all painting a clear picture of sustained investor confidence and burgeoning opportunities across the continent. These deals span a wide range of sectors, from logistics tech and deep green energy to specialized fintech and travel tech, showcasing the market-driven ingenuity of African founders. Key…