Startups on Our Radar is a bi-weekly column that spotlights new startups across Africa taking unconventional approaches, filling fundamental gaps, and creating value in a way that feels fresh, focused, and meaningful. Know a startup we should feature next? Please nominate here. In our debut, we featured 10 startups from Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Egypt, spanning e-commerce, logistics, SaaS, fintech, EV, AI, and social commerce. If you missed it, catch up here. Expect the next dispatch on May 29, 2025. Let’s get into today’s picks. Mystocks.africa wants to put every African stock market in your pocket (Fintech, Botswana) I first met Humphrey Mwamba, founder of Mystocks.africa, at Accelerate Africa’s demo day on Friday, May 2, 2025. Twice, I watched him pitch, and both times, I was genuinely impressed. Launched in 2024, Mystocks.africa is an AI-powered investment platform that enables Africans to invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs, and funds across major African exchanges, regardless of location. The platform addresses the long-standing challenge of fragmented and inaccessible African stock markets for retail investors. With thousands already on the waitlist, Mystocks.africa is among the first to offer seamless, cross-border stock trading for Africa’s retail investors. Key features include AI-driven analytics, real-time market data, customisable charting tools, and a mobile-friendly interface. Users can also access a demo trading account, educational resources, and 24/7 support. Pricing is accessible, with both free and $5/month pro plans. Why we’re watching: Mystocks.africa is a first-mover making Africa’s capital markets accessible to everyday investors. Humphrey’s finance background (he helped build the East African Commodity Exchange) gives this startup serious credibility. 2. ZOOMe wants to keep electric delivery bikes moving with three-minute battery swaps (EV, Nigeria) EV adoption in Africa is accelerating. Launched in 2023 by Adedayo Odunlami, ZOOMe is a Nigerian startup that offers a network of battery swap stations and electric motorcycles for logistics firms and fleet operators. ZOOMe addresses two of the most significant barriers to EV adoption in Africa: range anxiety and operational downtime. Their battery swap technology allows riders to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones in under three minutes at any of their nine stations, ensuring fleets stay on the road with zero waiting time. ZOOMe’s infrastructure-first approach is complemented by after-sales and maintenance support, a digital monitoring app for real-time fleet management, and partnerships with leading players like Spiro to further scale battery-swapping access and drive sustainable logistics. In just over a year, ZOOMe has completed over 19,000 battery swaps, enabled 1.4 million kilometres of emission-free travel, and helped avoid over 140 tons of CO₂ emissions. Why we’re watching: EV adoption is accelerating across Africa, and ZOOMe’s infrastructure-first model is precisely what’s needed to make electric vehicles viable for businesses on the continent. Nigeria’s EV market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2025 to 2031. With over 27 million motorcycles already on African roads and two- and three-wheelers expected to account for over 50% of new sales by 2040, ZOOMe is well-positioned to capture a significant share of a market worth billions as electrification accelerates. 3. Reasy wants to make paying and vetting overseas suppliers as easy as mobile money (Fintech, Cameroon) I met Brice Mba, co-founder of Reasy, at a lively mixer during the just concluded Africa’s Venture Capital Week. Within minutes, I was drawing parallels from his business model to Middleman in Nigeria. Launched in 2023, Reasy offers supplier verification, rapid cross-border payments, escrow, and logistics support, making it easier and safer for local businesses to source internationally. Through a recent partnership with Savana, a leading microfinance institution, Reasy now enables merchants to pay Chinese suppliers directly from any Savana branch in Cameroon, bridging the gap between traditional finance and modern trade needs. Why we’re watching: Reasy is equipping Cameroonian importers with the tools they need to trade confidently and efficiently across one of Africa’s largest commercial corridors. Reasy is helping local businesses overcome fraud risks, payment delays, and shipping hassles, unlocking new growth opportunities in a $295 billion trade ecosystem. 4. Konnect Networks wants to let North African freelancers get paid online like it’s 2025 (Fintech, Tunisia) I first heard about Konnect Networks, founded by Amin Ben Abderrahman, from an Egyptian investor who couldn’t stop raving about their impact. Konnect is building the “Stripe for North Africa,” making it easier for businesses and freelancers to get paid online despite a conservative banking sector. With over 27,500 users and $478,000 in revenue in its first two years (2023, 2024), Konnect recently raised $1.5 million to scale its payment gateway across North Africa. Why we’re watching: Konnect is solving a critical problem in North Africa’s conservative banking sector. The startup’s rapid growth and recent investment from VISA signal that global players are finally paying attention to North Africa’s fintech scene. 5. MazaoHub wants to boost smallholder yields with AI soil tests and on-site support (Agritech, Tanzania) I first read about MazaoHub in a “why we invested” blog post by Mercy Corps Ventures. Co-founded by Geophrey Tenganamba and Adelard Josephat Urassa, MazaoHub empowers smallholder farmers with AI-driven recommendations, climate data, and a Farm ERP platform. The company blends advanced technology like real-time soil analytics, AI-driven crop and fertiliser recommendations, and a full-featured Farm ERP with on-the-ground support through a network of extension officers and Farmer Excellence Centres. This “Tech and Touch” approach ensures farmers receive actionable insights and the hands-on help needed to adopt new practices. MazaoHub’s platform covers the entire farming cycle: soil testing and input optimisation to pest scouting, weather risk intelligence, supply chain management, and financial record-keeping. Farmers use the mobile-accessible system to plan, track, and analyse their operations, access credit, and connect directly with buyers, boosting yields, reducing costs, and improving market access. MazaoHub has helped over 14,000 farmers increase yields by an average of 150%, cut fertiliser expenses by 30%, and boost organic manure use by 500%. Why we’re watching: MazaoHub is closing the productivity gap for Africa’s 33 million smallholder farmers by making
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