🚀 Panorama of African Startups: Funding, Acquisitions and Key Developments (June 2025) 🌍
The African tech ecosystem continues to transform rapidly, driven by dynamic innovation and strategic investments. Here are the key developments of the moment:
💸 Major funding:
• BURN raises $80 million for its clean stoves in Africa
• Aruwa Capital: $35 million to support women-led businesses
• KERA (e-health in Senegal): $10 million for AI in healthcare
• Nile, MyNextCar, Octane, PaidHR, Open Access Energy, Salpha Energy and many others have raised between $1M and $11M
• Egypt leads fundraising
📉 A report highlights that African startups remain undervalued due to a lack of storytelling. It's time to better tell the story of African tech.
📊 More on: https://go.ros.cg/dAPqG
🔁 Share this watch to give visibility to the continent's innovations.
#Startups #TechAfrica
The African tech ecosystem continues to transform rapidly, driven by dynamic innovation and strategic investments. Here are the key developments of the moment:
💸 Major funding:
• BURN raises $80 million for its clean stoves in Africa
• Aruwa Capital: $35 million to support women-led businesses
• KERA (e-health in Senegal): $10 million for AI in healthcare
• Nile, MyNextCar, Octane, PaidHR, Open Access Energy, Salpha Energy and many others have raised between $1M and $11M
• Egypt leads fundraising
📉 A report highlights that African startups remain undervalued due to a lack of storytelling. It's time to better tell the story of African tech.
📊 More on: https://go.ros.cg/dAPqG
🔁 Share this watch to give visibility to the continent's innovations.
#Startups #TechAfrica
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Figma moves closer to a blockbuster IPO that could raise $1.5B
Source:
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/figma-moves-closer-to-a-blockbuster-ipo-that-could-raise-1-5b/
Source:
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/figma-moves-closer-to-a-blockbuster-ipo-that-could-raise-1-5b/
TechCrunch
Figma moves closer to a blockbuster IPO that could raise $1.5B | TechCrunch
The financials are impressive and founder CEO Dylan Field already cashed out $20 million worth of shares last year.
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🛸 xAI Raises $10B to Scale Grok and Build a Supercomputer Rival to OpenAI
Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has raised $10 billion—split evenly between debt and equity—to supercharge development of its Grok chatbot and build out “Colossus,” a supercomputer aiming to rival OpenAI and Google DeepMind. Morgan Stanley led the raise, bringing xAI’s total funding to ~$17B just one year after launch.
✅ Inside the round
• $5B in equity from investors including a16z, Sequoia, Fidelity, BlackRock, and Kingdom Holding
• $5B in debt—secured notes and term loans underwritten by Morgan Stanley
• Funds will expand Grok’s model family and build data centers powered by NVIDIA and AMD chips
• Total valuation reportedly approaches $80 billion, with Colossus designed to scale up to 1 million GPUs
xAI isn’t just training a model—it’s building the compute, capital, and channels to challenge AI’s current leaders head-on.
✔️Powered by Technco
Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has raised $10 billion—split evenly between debt and equity—to supercharge development of its Grok chatbot and build out “Colossus,” a supercomputer aiming to rival OpenAI and Google DeepMind. Morgan Stanley led the raise, bringing xAI’s total funding to ~$17B just one year after launch.
✅ Inside the round
• $5B in equity from investors including a16z, Sequoia, Fidelity, BlackRock, and Kingdom Holding
• $5B in debt—secured notes and term loans underwritten by Morgan Stanley
• Funds will expand Grok’s model family and build data centers powered by NVIDIA and AMD chips
• Total valuation reportedly approaches $80 billion, with Colossus designed to scale up to 1 million GPUs
xAI isn’t just training a model—it’s building the compute, capital, and channels to challenge AI’s current leaders head-on.
✔️Powered by Technco
OpenAI tightens the screws on security to keep away prying eyes
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/07/openai-tightens-the-screws-on-security-to-keep-away-prying-eyes/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/07/openai-tightens-the-screws-on-security-to-keep-away-prying-eyes/
TechCrunch
OpenAI tightens the screws on security to keep away prying eyes | TechCrunch
The beefed-up security includes "information tenting" policies that limit staff access to sensitive algorithms and new products.
UAE proptech Huspy raises $59M to scale in Europe
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/07/uae-proptech-huspy-raises-59m-to-scale-in-europe/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/07/uae-proptech-huspy-raises-59m-to-scale-in-europe/
TechCrunch
UAE proptech Huspy raises $59M to scale in Europe | TechCrunch
Huspy closes $59 million Series B to double down on operations across the Middle East and Europe, backed by Balderton Capital and Peak XV.
Frontier is helping Arbor build a “vegetarian rocket engine” to power data centers
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/frontier-is-helping-arbor-build-a-vegetarian-rocket-engine-to-power-data-centers/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/frontier-is-helping-arbor-build-a-vegetarian-rocket-engine-to-power-data-centers/
TechCrunch
Frontier is helping Arbor build a 'vegetarian rocket engine' to power data centers | TechCrunch
Arbor Energy's carbon-removing power plant is inspired by SpaceX's rocket engines.
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Rivian spinoff Also raises another $200M to build e-bikes and more
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/rivian-spinoff-also-raises-another-200m-to-build-e-bikes-and-more/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/rivian-spinoff-also-raises-another-200m-to-build-e-bikes-and-more/
TechCrunch
Rivian spinoff Also raises another $200M to build e-bikes and more | TechCrunch
Now established as its own company, Also plans to make micro-EVs of all shapes and sizes and is supposed to reveal the first designs at some point later this year.
Paymenow Bags $22.4M to Expand On-Demand Salary Services Across Africa
South African fintech startup Paymenow has secured a R400 million ($22.4 million) working capital facility from the Standard Bank Group, providing the company with fresh runway to scale its earned wage access (EWA) services across Africa.
The funding, structured under a sustainable finance format, is one of the largest institutional bets to date on the…
https://techbuild.africa/paymenow-22-4m-demand-salary-across-africa/
South African fintech startup Paymenow has secured a R400 million ($22.4 million) working capital facility from the Standard Bank Group, providing the company with fresh runway to scale its earned wage access (EWA) services across Africa.
The funding, structured under a sustainable finance format, is one of the largest institutional bets to date on the…
https://techbuild.africa/paymenow-22-4m-demand-salary-across-africa/
Bfree Attracts $3M in Fresh Funding from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund
Verdant Capital is pleased to announce that its Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund (the “Fund”) has completed a USD 3 million investment loan in Bfree.
This investment will be used for distressed loan portfolio financing whereby Bfree will be purchasing distressed loan portfolios from inclusive financial institutions in Africa. Bfree will benefit from initiatives supported by…
https://techbuild.africa/bfree-3m-funding-verdant-capital-hybrid-fund/
Verdant Capital is pleased to announce that its Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund (the “Fund”) has completed a USD 3 million investment loan in Bfree.
This investment will be used for distressed loan portfolio financing whereby Bfree will be purchasing distressed loan portfolios from inclusive financial institutions in Africa. Bfree will benefit from initiatives supported by…
https://techbuild.africa/bfree-3m-funding-verdant-capital-hybrid-fund/
Samsung Pushes Smartphone Boundaries with Unveiling of Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 Series
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced Galaxy Z Fold7, a device that brings together the best of Galaxy design, camera functionality and AI innovation in the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold series to date.
It delivers the premium performance and experience of an ultra-smartphone, while unlocking new levels of efficiency and productivity with a…
https://techbuild.africa/samsung-smartphone-galaxy-z-fold7-flip7-series/
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced Galaxy Z Fold7, a device that brings together the best of Galaxy design, camera functionality and AI innovation in the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold series to date.
It delivers the premium performance and experience of an ultra-smartphone, while unlocking new levels of efficiency and productivity with a…
https://techbuild.africa/samsung-smartphone-galaxy-z-fold7-flip7-series/
European VC breaks taboo by investing in pure defense tech from Ukraine’s war zones
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/european-vc-breaks-taboo-by-investing-in-pure-defense-tech-from-ukraines-war-zones/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/european-vc-breaks-taboo-by-investing-in-pure-defense-tech-from-ukraines-war-zones/
TechCrunch
European VC breaks taboo by investing in pure defense tech from Ukraine's war zones | TechCrunch
With a fundraising target of €25 million, Darkstar’s goal is to help startups bring battle-tested products to military customers both in Ukraine and throughout Europe.
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After raising over $3M, popular VC-backed beauty brand Ami Colé is shuttering
Ami Colé creates makeup for those with darker skin colors, as those consumers often struggle to find makeup that matches their skin tone. It launched in 2021, sold through Sephora, and became a celeb favorite among the likes of singer Kelly Rowland and actress Mindy Kaling. But the 4-year-old company will now officially shutter in September. Read Entire Article
Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, one of the first among the small number of Black women to raise more than $1 million in venture capital, announced on Thursday the closure of her award-winning beauty startup Ami Colé.
Ami Colé creates makeup for those with darker skin colors, as those consumers often struggle to find makeup that matches their skin tone. It launched in 2021, sold through Sephora, and became a celeb favorite among the likes of singer Kelly Rowland and actress Mindy Kaling. But the 4-year-old company will now officially shutter in September. Read Entire Article
Xara wants to make banking in Nigeria as easy as chatting
Xara, a multi-modal, artificial intelligence banking bot launched in June by Nigerian payments technology specialist Sulaiman Adewale, allows users to manage their money in real time, pay bills, and analyze their spending while texting a friend. The bot is based entirely on WhatsApp, which is used by 95% of Nigeria's 31.6 million social media users.
Read the full article https://nlab.cg/bxHAW
Xara, a multi-modal, artificial intelligence banking bot launched in June by Nigerian payments technology specialist Sulaiman Adewale, allows users to manage their money in real time, pay bills, and analyze their spending while texting a friend. The bot is based entirely on WhatsApp, which is used by 95% of Nigeria's 31.6 million social media users.
Read the full article https://nlab.cg/bxHAW
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Figma’s Dylan Field will cash out about $60M in IPO, with Index, Kleiner, Greylock, Sequoia all selling, too
https://news.nzokolab.com/figma-s-dylan-field-will-cash-out-about-60m-in-ipo-with-index-kleiner-greylock-sequoia-all-selling-t-2346.html
https://news.nzokolab.com/figma-s-dylan-field-will-cash-out-about-60m-in-ipo-with-index-kleiner-greylock-sequoia-all-selling-t-2346.html
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ChatGPT users send 2.5 billion prompts a day
https://news.nzoko.com/chatgpt-users-send-2-5-billion-prompts-a-day-2409.html
https://news.nzoko.com/chatgpt-users-send-2-5-billion-prompts-a-day-2409.html
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Etsy faces user boycott over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ branded products
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/etsy-faces-user-boycott-over-alligator-alcatraz-branded-products/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/etsy-faces-user-boycott-over-alligator-alcatraz-branded-products/
TechCrunch
Etsy faces user boycott over 'Alligator Alcatraz'-branded products | TechCrunch
Etsy users are boycotting the site over its "Alligator Alcatraz" merchandise.
Amazon acquires Bee, the AI wearable that records everything you say
https://news.nzokolab.com/amazon-acquires-bee-the-ai-wearable-that-records-everything-you-say-2598.html
https://news.nzokolab.com/amazon-acquires-bee-the-ai-wearable-that-records-everything-you-say-2598.html
OpenAI agreed to pay Oracle $30B a year for data center services
https://news.nzokolab.com/openai-agreed-to-pay-oracle-30b-a-year-for-data-center-services-2596.html
https://news.nzokolab.com/openai-agreed-to-pay-oracle-30b-a-year-for-data-center-services-2596.html
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Threads adds improved content performance metrics for creators
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/threads-adds-improved-content-performance-metrics-for-creators/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/22/threads-adds-improved-content-performance-metrics-for-creators/
TechCrunch
Threads adds improved content performance metrics for creators | TechCrunch
The Meta-owned platform says the updates are focused on helping creators build audiences.
Google Chrome adds AI-powered store summaries to help US shoppers
https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/28/google-chrome-adds-ai-powered-store-summaries-to-help-u-s-shoppers/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/28/google-chrome-adds-ai-powered-store-summaries-to-help-u-s-shoppers/
TechCrunch
Google Chrome adds AI-powered store summaries to help US shoppers | TechCrunch
The feature will display a pop-up that informs consumers about the store's reputation for things like product quality, shopping, pricing, customer service, and returns.
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