More

    Staff Writer

    Over $500M Lost in Two Years: Eight Graphs That Map the Blind Spots Behind Recent African Startup Collapses

    The period between early 2024 and mid-2026 has been the most unforgiving in the short history of African venture-backed entrepreneurship.

    From an Angry Post to a $50m Ribbon-Cutting: The Land Battle Behind an Egyptian Deeptech Scaleup’s $50m Factory

    Sixteen months later, on a hot July day in 2026, Egypt's finance minister, Ahmed Kouchouk, returned to a company whose public frustration had once laid bare the country's industrial bureaucracy.
    spot_img

    Keep exploring

    Breega Nets $8.5m From AfDB as Development Bank Ramps Up VC Appetite

    Both recent AfDB commitments were structured as first-loss tranches via the European Commission’s Boost Africa programme—a blended finance move designed to shield private capital from initial losses.

    African Startup Deal Tracker — Newest Deals

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

    Bonds to Builders: Ci Gaba Hits $35m First Close to Turn Ghana’s Pensions into Venture LPs

    A policy push in Accra is reshaping who finances growth companies in West Africa.

    SafeBoda Pivots to Corporate Clients as Kampala’s Regulatory Crackdown Threatens Its Ride-Hailing Core

    This latest pivot suggests the company may be approaching the limits of its ability to absorb sustained regulatory pressure.

    FirstRand Doubles Down on AI Lender Optasia as SA Banks Hunt for Fintech Exits

    This acquisition builds upon FirstRand’s initial strategic investment in October 2025, when the bank took a 20.1% stake in the fintech.

    Eskom’s Monopoly Gets a Reprieve as South Africa Stalls Energy Trading, Millions in Limbo

    Venture-backed startups and institutional investors have collectively poured millions into the “energy middle-man” economy.

    Zipline Chases US Scale With Fresh $200M as Sovereign Debt Strains African Network

    Zipline's foundational public health operations in Africa are showing severe strain under the weight of unpaid government contracts.

    The Five Countries Capturing 90% of Africa’s AI Funding

    Analyzing the five markets reveals three cross-cutting insights.

    Egypt’s Telda Abandons the Unbanked to Chase Egypt’s Consumer Credit Boom

    Startup backed by Sequoia Capital abandons original focus on the unbanked to build a vertically integrated financial group.

    South African Fintech Littlefish Secures $9.5M Series A, Moves Past Founder Legal Dispute

    The round was led by global tech investment firm Partech, with participation from development finance institution Proparco.

    The $267bn Crown: Wave Edges Closer to Dethroning Orange in West Africa

    The BCEAO’s instant payments platform launched in late 2025 to link banks and mobile wallets across eight countries. Months later, top players Wave and Orange Money have yet to fully join — latest data suggests they have little urgency.

    Latest articles

    Over $500M Lost in Two Years: Eight Graphs That Map the Blind Spots Behind Recent African Startup Collapses

    The period between early 2024 and mid-2026 has been the most unforgiving in the short history of African venture-backed entrepreneurship.

    From an Angry Post to a $50m Ribbon-Cutting: The Land Battle Behind an Egyptian Deeptech Scaleup’s $50m Factory

    Sixteen months later, on a hot July day in 2026, Egypt's finance minister, Ahmed Kouchouk, returned to a company whose public frustration had once laid bare the country's industrial bureaucracy.

    Why Kenya’s Crypto Clampdown Is a Fortress for Banks

    The new virtual asset rules demand high capital, local custody, and bank-held reserves - creating a moat that traditional lenders are perfectly positioned to fill.

    Near Zero Equity Deals in H1: What Happened to Tunisia’s Startup Ecosystem?

    Data compiled by Launch Base Africa tells the story starkly.