While the spotlight often shines on headline-grabbing mega-rounds, the bedrock of Africa’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem lies in the consistent flow of smaller (or missed bigger rounds), yet equally vital, investments. This month’s edition of the African Startup Deal Tracker delves into these under-the-radar transactions, encompassing pre-seed funding, angel investments, and strategic acquisitions that collectively paint a picture of sustained growth and investor confidence across the continent. These deals, spanning diverse sectors from agri-tech to legal tech, highlight the ingenuity of African startup founders and the breadth of opportunities being seized.

Here’s a closer look at the notable under-the-radar investment activity we’re tracking this month:

3C Coding School | $3M Seed Round

• Target: 3C Coding School (Egypt)
• Sector: EdTech / AI & Coding Education
• Funding: $3 million Seed
• Investors: MRG Economic Group (Lead), Amr Saad, and strategic angel investors
• Founders: Hossam Hosny, Ahmed Khallaf
• Key Details: Founded in 2015, the platform delivers STEM and software development curricula (web/mobile, data science, AI, game dev, cybersecurity) to youth, serving over 120,000 students.
• Use of Funds: Regional expansion into Saudi Arabia and acceleration of an AI-powered adaptive learning platform.

ChipMango | $1.9M Seed Round

• Target: ChipMango (US / Nigeria)
• Sector: Semiconductors / DeepTech / AI Hardware Infrastructure
• Funding: $1.9 million Seed
• Investors: Atlantica Ventures (Lead), DFS Labs, Kaleo Ventures, Madica, Trilinear Technologies, Malta Ventures
• Founders: Ola Fadiran (CEO), Jovan Andjelich
• Key Details: Founded in 2022, ChipMango operates a cloud-enabled semiconductor design/verification service alongside a browser-based engineering workforce platform (an official Arm Approved Training Partner). Reached ~$200k ARR in 2025 at its Lagos design hub.
• Use of Funds: Expand chip design capacity, establish a European design hub in Malta, launch ecosystem/skills initiatives in Kigali (Rwanda), and scale edge-AI and intelligent sensor IP development.

Village Capital (Africa Ecosystem Catalysts Facility) | $450K Deployment

• Deployer: Village Capital (supported by FMO and RVO; sourcing via Africa Fintech Foundry)
• Capital Deployed: $450,000 across two Nigerian startups (part of a $4M total facility)
• Portfolio Companies:
• Trade Lenda: SME digital financing and embedded lending platform (CEO: Adeshina Adewumi). The backing enabled the company to secure an additional $2 million in local debt facilities.
• AirSmat: Climate-tech firm converting agricultural waste into biochar-based fertiliser (CEO: Soji Sanyaolu). Funds will support the completion and commissioning of its commercial production facility.

Nomba | $3M Debt Facility

• Target: Nomba (Nigeria)
• Sector: Fintech / B2B Cross-Border Payments
• Instrument: $3 million Debt Facility
• Funder: CardinalStone Finance Company Limited
• Leadership: Yinka Adewale (CEO)
• Key Details: Nomba currently processes over $480 million in monthly cross-border transactions across Central Africa and its Canadian-licensed MSB operations.
• Use of Funds: Bolster USD liquidity for Asia–Central Africa corridors (specifically connecting the DRC with trade hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China). The company targets raising an additional $20M–$50M in debt to reach $1 billion in monthly settlement volume.

Camco REPP 2 SCSp | $40M Proposed IFC Senior Debt

• Borrower: Camco REPP 2 SCSp (Luxembourg SFDR Article 9 Debt Fund)
• Sector: Clean Energy / Off-Grid Solar / Renewable C&I Financing
• Proposed Investment: Up to $40 million Senior Debt (10-year door-to-door, 5-year grace)
• Investor: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Key Details: REPP 2 targets $2M–$15M ticket sizes for sub-Saharan African solar mini-grids, isolated grids, and commercial/industrial projects aligned with the Mission 300 (M300) energy access initiative.
• Credit Enhancements: 50% minimum structural subordination at the senior level plus an up to $35 million portfolio guarantee provided by Nordic governments.

Near Secure S.A. 

• Target: Near Secure S.A. (Morocco)
• Sector: Cybersecurity / Information Security Advisory & Audit
• Funding / Deal Structure: Joint Control Equity Investment (34.5% acquired by Build Up Fund; 12.8% acquired by AfricInvest Small Cap Fund LLC)
• Investors / Acquirers: Build Up Fund (managed by Private Equity Initiatives SA) and AfricInvest Small Cap Fund LLC (AfricInvest)
• Key Details: Founded in 2017 in Rabat, Near Secure is an IT security service provider specializing in information security auditing and consulting. The growth equity investments grant the two funds joint control alongside the existing historical shareholders.

Unmarkets | $7.5M First Close 

• Target: Unmarkets (Africa / Kenya)
• Sector: Agribusiness / Consumer Food Brands / Agri-Venture Platform
• Funding: $7.5 million First Close (out of a $15 million target for Capital Vehicle 1)
• Investors & Backers: Shell Foundation (catalytic grant), Small Foundation (structuring grant), Oasia (Vadera family office capital), alongside capital vehicle investors
• Leadership: Milan Samani (CEO), Rohit Samani (Operating Partner, ex-CEO of Tilda Rice), Adam Jones (Board Chair, ex-CFO of Pret)
• Key Details: Unmarkets identifies global food trends, partners with African family-owned businesses and smallholder farmers, and invests in vertically integrated, high-value consumer food brands built for export and global markets. The platform currently maintains a pipeline of 6 businesses at various stages.
• Use of Funds: Build out a portfolio of end-to-end food businesses, expand supply chain integration with smallholder farmers, and scale operations across high-growth consumer categories.