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:

Rology

• Investment: Undisclosed amount in a growth funding round.
• Investor(s): Philips Foundation (lead), Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, Sanofi’s Global Health Impact Fund, and MIT’s Solution for the Future Innovation initiative.
• Sector/Focus: Healthtech / AI / Teleradiology. An FDA 510(k)-authorized platform providing rapid, AI-powered diagnostic reports across 12 subspecialties to bridge the gap in radiology access.
• Country of Operation: Egypt (headquarters), with operations across the Middle East and Africa (including Saudi Arabia and Kenya).
• Purpose: To enhance AI reporting capabilities, bridge the diagnostic gap in remote and underserved communities, and expand access to high-quality radiology services across the region.

Zazu

• Investment: $1 million in pre-seed funding.
• Investor(s): Plug and Play Ventures, along with founders and investors from Launch Africa Ventures, AUTO24.africa, Paymentology, Chari, Fiat Republic, Qonto, and Solarisbank.
• Sector/Focus: Fintech / Financial Operating System. A “Mercury-style” digital banking platform for SMEs that rebundles fragmented financial tools (banking, bookkeeping, tax, payroll) into a unified operating system.
• Country of Operation: South Africa and Morocco (with pan-African expansion planned for 2026).
• Purpose: To accelerate its rollout in South Africa and Morocco, address the “missing middle” funding gap for SMEs, and further develop its digital incorporation and financial management tools.

Gigmile

• Investment: Undisclosed Seed round (Total capital raised to date is reported as $21 million in combined debt and equity).
• Investor(s): ENZA Capital (lead), Seedstars International Ventures, and Norrsken Africa Fund.
• Sector/Focus: Mobility Fintech / Asset Financing. A platform enabling gig workers to acquire income-generating vehicles (motorcycles, cars, tricycles) through a lease-to-own model that includes insurance and maintenance.
• Country of Operation: Nigeria and Ghana (operating in 13 cities).
• Purpose: To scale its operations rapidly and deepen its social impact, having already deployed over 10,000 vehicles to gig workers.

BioCODE

• Investment: R7 million (approx. $380,000).
• Investor(s): University Technology Fund (UTF) (contributed R5m) and Stellenbosch University (contributed R2m).
• Sector/Focus: Healthtech / Biotech. Developing a rapid inflammation test that detects molecules like Serum Amyloid A (SAA) in blood to screen for risks associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and long COVID.
• Country of Operation: South Africa.
• Purpose: To fund the final development and commercialization of its rapid inflammation testing technology.