Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

The Switzerland-based SECO Startup Fund (SSF), a long-standing initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship in developing regions, is entering a new chapter. Now co-managed by Seedstars, the fund is preparing to deploy CHF 5 million (approximately US$6.3 million) into high-potential startups across emerging economies, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern…

Roqqu, a Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the acquisition of Flitaa, a Kenya-based crypto startup, marking a significant step in its strategic expansion into East Africa. This acquisition provides Roqqu with immediate access to Kenya’s growing fintech ecosystem and represents its first operational footprint in the region. Founded in 2019, Flitaa has built…

Leta, a fast-growing Kenyan startup specializing in logistics software, has officially launched operations in Ghana, marking its seventh market expansion across Africa. This milestone follows a successful $5 million seed funding round in March 2025, underscoring the company’s ambition to become a leading logistics technology provider on the continent. Founded…

Development Partners International (DPI), a premier pan-African investment firm, together with a consortium of its co-investors, has entered into a definitive agreement to invest $190 million in Alameda Healthcare Group, one of Egypt’s foremost private healthcare providers. The investment will be structured as a minority equity stake and will primarily…

Global investment firm Carlyle has entered into a definitive agreement to divest its portfolio company, Safety SA, to Centre Testing International (CTI), a leading global provider of testing, inspection, certification, and training (TICT) services. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to be…

In a significant regulatory reversal, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has conditionally approved Vodacom’s R13.2 billion acquisition of a minority stake in Maziv, the parent company of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel. The deal, previously blocked in 2024 due to competition concerns, will now proceed under a stringent set of behavioural and investment-related conditions designed to safeguard market…

South African fintech startup Stitch has announced the acquisition of Efficacy Payments, a licensed digital payments company, in a move that significantly strengthens its position in the country’s financial infrastructure landscape. This marks Stitch’s second strategic acquisition in six months, following its January 2025 purchase of ExiPay, and positions the company as one of…

Kholo Capital Mezzanine Debt Fund I has committed R200 million (approximately $11.2 million) in mezzanine growth funding to Bayport South Africa, a leading provider of financial wellness solutions. The investment will support the expansion of Bayport SA’s Financial Wellness Solutions Programme, a transformative initiative aimed at tackling the country’s widespread issue of employee over-indebtedness. Bayport…

In a significant boost to Africa’s clean transportation sector, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank FMO has approved a loan of up to $1 million to Zembo Motorcycles, a Ugandan-based electric mobility company. The funding is aimed at accelerating the company’s mission to provide sustainable, affordable, and efficient transport solutions in East Africa. Founded with a…

Following the success of its inaugural cohort, the RevUp Women Initiative has officially launched its Nigeria Edition, reaffirming its commitment to empowering women-led businesses across Africa. This expansion aims to provide targeted support to 150 women entrepreneurs in Lagos, Abuja, and Abia, with a strategic focus on agribusiness and e-commerce—two sectors with high potential for scalable…

Swypex, an Egyptian fintech startup offering an all-in-one financial management platform, has unveiled a groundbreaking product: Egypt’s first approval-based limits card. This innovative solution is designed to modernize how businesses manage and control corporate spending, offering a new level of precision, transparency, and operational efficiency. Founded by Ahmad Mokhtar, Tarek Mokhtar, and Sasan Hezarkhani,…

Knife Capital, a leading South African venture capital firm, has marked its 15th anniversary by announcing new Series A investments in two high-growth South African startups: Sticitt, a fintech innovator in school payments, and Optique, a disruptor in the optometry space. Founded in 2010, Knife Capital is a pan-African VC firm with a mission to accelerate the…

Enko Capital, a pan-African investment firm specializing in frontier and emerging markets, has secured a major commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its newly launched Enko Impact Credit Fund (EICF)—the firm’s first private credit vehicle. The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has pledged to invest up to $25 million, or 20% of…

Yikodeen, a Nigerian manufacturer specializing in safety footwear, has secured a $1.5 million investment from Aruwa Capital Management, a gender-lens private equity firm focused on West Africa. The funding, drawn from Aruwa Capital Fund II, will be used to significantly expand Yikodeen’s production capacity and deepen its market presence across Nigeria and the broader…

BuuPass, a Kenyan mobility technology startup, has secured a strategic investment from Yango Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of global ride-hailing and tech conglomerate Yango Group. This investment marks one of the first deployments from Yango Ventures’ newly launched $20 million fund, which is focused on supporting early-stage startups across Sub-Saharan Africa.…

Globeleq, a leading independent power producer focused on Africa, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 51% equity stake in Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Company (LHPC), a Zambian renewable energy company. The stake is being sold by Agua Imara, a subsidiary of Norfund, the Norwegian investment fund for developing countries. LHPC, headquartered in Kabwe, Central…

Swedfund, Sweden’s development finance institution, has announced a $10 million commitment to Africa People + Planet Fund III (NVIII), a venture capital fund managed by Novastar Ventures. The fund targets early-stage, high-impact businesses across Africa that are tackling climate change while improving livelihoods for underserved populations. This investment is part of Swedfund’s broader mission…

British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, has announced a $5 million investment in ARC Ride, a Nairobi-based electric mobility company. The funding is aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric motorbikes, commonly known as boda bodas, across Kenya and the broader East African region. This strategic investment will enable ARC Ride to…

Mediterrania Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in growth investments across the African continent, has announced the final close of its latest fund, Mediterrania Capital IV Mid Cap (MC IV), with total commitments reaching €600 million. This marks a major milestone for both the firm and the broader private equity landscape…

Zero Carbon Charge, a pioneering South African startup focused on sustainable mobility, has secured a major equity investment of R100 million (approximately US$5.6 million) from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). This funding marks a significant step forward in the company’s mission to roll out a nationwide network of ultra-fast, solar-powered electric vehicle…