Stories1

Segun Cole (co-Founder & CEO, Maasai) Reacting to the closure of fintech company, OKRA, Segun Cole (prominent Nigerian entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder), best known as the co‑founder & CEO of Maasai Technologies, an M&A marketplace helping African tech startups prepare for and execute exits – shares his thoughts: “When a portfolio company signals it’s time to fold, the immediate reflex is often to scramble for follow-on investors or, unfortunately, to prepare for a write-off.But what if there’s a more strategic, less painful alternative that could still deliver value? I’m talking about asset acquisition.Instead of solely focusing on a full…

In a powerful move to bring transparency and fairness to the U.S. healthcare system, Angel Onuoha and the team at Avelis Health have secured $500,000 in funding from Y Combinator. With medical debt crippling over 100 million Americans, Avelis is harnessing AI to audit bills, eliminate costly errors, and negotiate better outcomes for patients and self-insured employers. Their latest tool, Payment Integrity, promises to save companies millions—while protecting employees from the hidden costs of flawed healthcare billing. Says Onuoha: Over 100m Americans have medical debt, and it’s the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.These are devastating outcomes for both patients and…

Shop Treo founders – George Uteh and Emmanuel Jacobs Rebel Seed Capital is excited to back Shoptreo!Aba-based Shoptreo is unlocking value in informal markets and underserved production ecosystems like the Aba Artisanal Leather Cluster—one of Africa’s largest hubs for handcrafted leather goods—by equipping artisans with digital storefronts, integrated logistics, payments, and inventory tools to efficiently meet global demand. In summary, Shoptreo is: 🔧 Digitising informal artisans with end-to-end tools By offering digital storefronts integrated with inventory management, payments, and logistics, Shoptreo empowers Aba-based artisans to run professional, scalable online operations—no more relying only on physical markets 🌍 Bridging local producers…

Seun Alley – Founder, Fez Delivery Fez Delivery Nigeria recently launched LockerDash, a game-changing campaign designed to eliminate delivery headaches for both businesses and individuals. From June 01 to June 30, 2025 Fez is offering free locker deliveries across Lagos and Abuja. Clients’ packages can be shipped to secure Fez Safe Lockers—located in high-traffic spots like malls, bus terminals, offices, and residential areas—with no delivery fee. And after June, customers enjoy Free Fridays (every Friday through December 27, 2025). Interstate shipping to these lockers costs a flat ₦2,000 during the promo. 📦 How it works Send a package to a…

Moustapha Cissé – Founder & CEO, KERA Health Platforms Senegal-based digital health startup KERA Health Platforms has secured $10 million in funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. The investment will support the scaling of KERA’s AI-driven platform that connects healthcare providers with patients while digitising and analysing health data to drive more efficient, accessible care. Founded in 2023 by Senegalese-born Moustapha Cissé, KERA is focused on bridging healthcare gaps for underserved populations in West Africa—particularly informal workers and women—by lowering patient costs and enhancing service delivery through faster payments and…

BURN, Africa’s leading manufacturer of clean cookstoves and a pioneer in carbon project development, has secured a US $5 million investment from ElectriFI—an EU-funded initiative managed by EDFI Management Company. The funding will fast-track the rollout of BURN’s ECOA Induction Cooker to over 100,000 Kenyan households. Equipped with IoT technology and a Pay-As-You-Cook payment model, the ECOA cooker offers a smart, affordable alternative to charcoal and LPG. Designed with low-income households in mind, the appliance allows users to pay in small, flexible installments via mobile money, enabling full ownership within a year. The model dramatically lowers household energy costs while promoting…

AURA founders – Warren Myers, Ryan Green, and Adam Pantanowitz AURA, the South African-founded emergency response technology company, has raised €13.5 million (US $15.1 million) in a Series B funding round to drive its U.S. expansion and further its mission to create a global emergency response “clearing house.” The round was co-led by Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund (CAIF) and Partech, both prominent backers in the African tech ecosystem. Founded in 2017 by Warren Myers, Ryan Green, and Adam Pantanowitz, AURA operates a smart marketplace that connects users—via mobile apps or connected devices—to the closest vetted public or private emergency response units,…

Joe Kinvi – Founder, HoaQ (ex-Stripe, ex-Paystack) 📝A note from Joe Kinvi “When we started HoaQ five years ago, I wondered why it was so difficult to find other collectives to join. We weren’t the first, but finding the others was quite challenging. There wasn’t a place where you could go and connect with other collectives. Over time, we realised that the infrastructure for the African Diaspora to co-invest didn’t exist, so we decided to build it.”For two years, we’ve been building, testing, iterating, and gathering feedback to ensure this infrastructure exists, initially for the African Diaspora to easily invest…

Applications for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship are now open!Starting in November 2025, the CSF is a six-month programme designed to fuel high-potential startups from across eligible Commonwealth countries and move them closer to commercial reality. With a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, plus ongoing online support with business coaching, expert-led sessions, and valuable peer connections. If you’re a startup with early-stage traction and want to gain essential skills and build a global network, then apply now!The Fellowship includes:💷 £35,000 Fellows Fund🎓 Fully funded 2-week intensive bootcamp in Accra, Ghana💻 Online workshops and coaching💡 Build a global network of fellow entrepreneurs💰…

The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition 2025 is now accepting applications from African entrepreneurs eager to scale their ventures and amplify their impact. This flagship initiative by the Jack Ma Foundation offers a transformative platform combining funding, mentorship, and global exposure. Why Apply? Grant Funding: A total of $1.5 million in grant funds is distributed among the top 10 finalists. The grand prize winner receives $300,000, the first and second runners-up receive $250,000 and $150,000 respectively, while the remaining seven finalists each receive $100,000. An additional $100,000 is allocated for global immersion training. Mentorship & Training: Finalists gain access…