MTN, Airtel ARPU jumps 32% after tariff hike, but consumers bear cost
A 50% hike in telecom tariffs has propelled MTN and Airtel’s earnings in Nigeria, sending their combined average revenue per user (ARPU) up 31.6% in the second quarter of 2025. The gains are unlocking long-delayed network investments, but they are also squeezing consumers already battered by inflation and a collapsing currency. Airtel’s ARPU grew 23.53% to $2.1 in Q2 2025 from $1.7 a year earlier, helping increase revenue by 29.69% year-on-year to $332 million. MTN fared even better, with ARPU rising 37.89% to $3.02 from $2.19, with revenue surging 67.88% to ₦1.32 trillion ($859.83 million). ARPU measures how much telcos earn from each customer, indicating whether revenues are enough to cover operating costs and fund capital investments. For years, it has been under pressure. Despite subscriber growth, dollar revenues stalled as the naira collapsed from ₦471/$ in June 2023 to ₦1,534.93/$ by August 20, 2025. The tariff-driven recovery marks a turning point for Nigeria’s largest operators, who for years cut back on capital spending as naira devaluation made dollar-denominated investments unaffordable. MTN slashed core capex by 28% in the first nine months of 2024, while Airtel reduced spending by 37%, leaving customers with dropped calls and unreliable internet. “Mobile service providers need to generate sufficient revenue to cover their operating costs… If this is not realised, they are likely to cut back on either capital or operating expenditure or both,” GSMA warned about Nigeria in 2024. With new tariffs introduced, MTN and Airtel have turned the corner, with revenue increases in both naira and dollar terms. Airtel Nigeria’s ARPU is now only second to Airtel’s francophone operations in Africa. MTN Nigeria remains one of the Group’s lower-earning markets, ranking 12th among its markets, well behind Ghana’s $5.60, MTN’s highest-earning market. However, Nigeria was a strong contributor to the Group’s 23.19% revenue growth to $5.94 billion in H1, 2025, from $4.82 billion in H1, 2024. “The approval of price adjustments in Nigeria, which were phased in during the period, largely benefiting Q2, boosted MTN Nigeria and the Group’s service revenue expansion,” said Ralph Mupita, Group President and CEO of MTN. This rise in ARPU is encouraging long-overdue investments in telecom infrastructure, following years of underinvestment that limited network expansion and worsened service quality. Airtel’s capex spend rose to $39 million in Q2, 2025, from $38 million in Q2, 2024. MTN’s core capex spend is up 2679.0% to N363.25 billion ($236.66 million) in Q2, 2025. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said January’s approval restored cost-reflective pricing, unlocking over $1 billion in new telecom investments for this year alone. “The mere act of approving the increase has unlocked investment,” said Aminu Maida, NCC’s executive vice chairman. “Cumulatively, this year, we are already seeing over a billion dollars going into core infrastructure. This wasn’t happening in 2022, 2023, or 2024.” However, this ARPU recovery has come at great cost to subscribers. “The hike has imposed untold hardship on many Nigerians already grappling with double-digit inflation,” said Adeolu Ogunbanjo, president of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS). The average cost of 1GB of data has risen to ₦431.25 from ₦287.50. He argued that the only justification for this hardship must be better network services. According to Maida, this may take time, considering the process involved in turning capital into service improvements. Operators are also rolling out upgrades in phases, prioritising areas in dire need before expanding nationwide. Service delivery will improve, Maida assured, but subscribers must be patient as operators invest heavily in their networks. When the NCC approved tariff hikes, operators were well underwater as their core product—connectivity—struggled. Today, they are close to shore and no longer gasping for breath, but the service Nigerians are having to pay more for is yet to catch up. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
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Africa’s agricultural future depends on moving food, not just growing it
Africa’s agricultural potential is enormous. The continent is home to 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and a growing youth population ready to work. In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers produce up to 80% of the food consumed locally. The continent has the resources and traditional knowledge to transform from a net food importer into a global food supplier capable of feeding the world. Africa’s smallholder farming practices, such as crop diversification, soil enrichment, and agroforestry, build healthy soils that boost productivity and sustainability, which can lead to a food systems revolution that reverses the current global food dynamic and secures a sustainable future for all. Yet, Africa still imports over $50 billion in food annually, and 30–50% post-harvest losses cost more than $4 billion each year, enough to feed 1.6 billion people. These losses aren’t just about production or climate but result from how food is moved, stored, and managed after harvest. At the core is a system failure: fragmented, underdeveloped logistics overlooked by policy and investment. To improve food security, logistics must be reimagined as a data-driven system enabling better coordination, decision-making, and visibility across the supply chain. The first and middle miles are the weakest link My path to logistics began in the fields by trading commodities, chasing trucks, and watching entire harvests spoil due to poor storage or delayed pickups. One failed delivery, 100 metric tons of yellow sorghum, lost to rot, cost a farmer his income, cost me my client, and exposed the deeper issue: it wasn’t production holding us back; it was logistics. That moment led to the inception of Haul247. A farmer’s yield is only as valuable as their ability to move it to secure storage or market. In much of Africa, smallholder farmers depend on a patchwork of local hauliers, each covering just one leg of the journey. This fragmentation means frequent handovers, no single point of responsibility, and cumulative delays. A farmer in Kaduna, for example, might hire three different truckers to an aggregation point, then a storage facility, then the market, with each handover adding 6–12 hours, compounding spoilage, loss, and costs. Most operations still rely on disconnected providers for haulage and warehousing, especially in the “first and middle mile” where more than half of Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural losses occur. The result is a silent attrition of value: farmers lose income, traders absorb risk premiums, consumers pay higher prices, and nutrition outcomes suffer. In some countries, these logistical inefficiencies raise the cost of staple food by as much as 75%, undermining both food access and affordability. The data advantage To increase the share of food reaching markets, Africa must recognise logistics as a core development driver, not just physical infrastructure, but digital systems that enhance coordination, visibility, and flexibility. Roads become unreliable across much of the continent in rainy seasons, and over 90% of freight is handled by small-scale, informal truck operators who often lack digital tools. Logistics platforms must be more than high-tech; they need to be context-aware and designed for Africa’s unique challenges. Across African markets, logistics operations must contend with realities such as seasonal flooding, rural road conditions, varied vehicle types, and urban congestion. Route optimisation models that incorporate these variables are proving critical to ensuring reliability in supply chains. The larger shift, however, is occurring upstream, before a truck is dispatched. Predictive analytics enables logistics providers to anticipate demand by analysing order flows, harvest cycles, and weather forecasts. This foresight allows for more efficient allocation of transport and storage capacity, reducing waste, lowering costs, and improving reliability. Crucially, it also expands access to high-value markets for smallholder farmers who have traditionally been excluded from formal supply chains. Haul247 is applying these approaches to the Nigerian context, demonstrating how data-driven logistics can bridge longstanding gaps between production and demand. In one case, a tomato aggregator in Nigeria was contending with spoilage rates exceeding 25%. By improving dispatch coordination, route planning, and access to storage, supported by data visibility, real-time tracking, and digitised delivery records, losses fell to under 8% within three months. This result is not an outlier; it reflects a broader shift already underway. Where data flows, food moves. Where systems are visible, supply chains become investable. As digital logistics platforms like Haul247 become integrated into Africa’s agricultural ecosystems, value chain actors will experience measurable improvements in inventory turnover, credit access, and long-term sustainability. Scaling logistics transformation across Africa requires building connected, tech-driven ecosystems supported by coordinated investment from governments, donors, and the private sector. Midstream infrastructure must integrate digital tools, and platforms like Haul247 should be seen as critical infrastructure. Closing the digital divide and expanding broadband in rural areas is essential. Given the capital intensity of logistics, covering trucks, cold storage units, and software, targeted financing is key. Regulatory harmonisation under AfCFTA is also key to unlocking regional trade and food security. The road ahead By 2050, Africa’s population will double and food demand will triple, making it vital to reduce postharvest losses. Even a 1% cut could yield $40 million annually, directly benefiting smallholder farmers by boosting incomes, lowering food prices, and opening trade opportunities. Sehinde Afolayan is the CEO and Co-founder of Haul247, a pioneering technology-driven logistics and warehousing platform transforming supply chain operations across Africa. With a deep passion for innovation and operational efficiency, he has leveraged cutting-edge technology to optimise asset utilisation, enhance supply chain transparency, and drive sustainable logistics solutions. Mark your calendars! Moonshot by TechCabal is back in Lagos on October 15–16! Join Africa’s top founders, creatives & tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers & future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets now 20% off—don’t snooze! moonshot.techcabal.com
Read MoreDaily cybersecurity tips to keep your devices safe
Table of contents cybersecurity myths you should stop believing 3 steps to build a strong cybersecurity checklist How to take care of your devices and data How to stay safe on social media and public Wi-Fi daily cybersecurity checklist These days, your phone, laptop, and online accounts are part of your daily life. But with that convenience comes risk. Many people feel “safe enough” online because they think hackers only target big companies or that their information isn’t worth stealing. This false sense of security is precisely what cybercriminals rely on. Strong cybersecurity doesn’t start with buying expensive software; it begins with how you think. If you stay alert and question every unexpected email, link, or pop-up, you’ve already taken the first step to protecting yourself. Common cybersecurity myths you should stop believing Before you follow any cybersecurity checklist, it’s essential to clear up some common myths: “Hackers only go after big companies.”Not true. Cybercriminals target anyone, from large corporations to small businesses and individuals. A recent example is the cyberattack that tried to cripple MTN Nigeria. In 2023 alone, social media scams caused over $1.4 billion in losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission. We also reported on how Flutterwave lost ₦11 billion in a security breach. “My data isn’t valuable.”Even your email and password can be worth a lot to hackers. If you reuse the same login across multiple sites, a breach on one account can give criminals access to everything, from your bank to your social media. The cost of data breaches in South Africa alone shows just how expensive these security failures can be. “Apple devices can’t be hacked.”While Apple products have strong security, they’re not bulletproof. Believing they are can make you careless about updates, strong passwords, and safe browsing habits. “I’d know right away if I were hacked.”Most cyberattacks are silent. Hackers often work in the background for weeks or months without you knowing, collecting as much data as possible. Slow devices or strange pop-ups can be signs, but often ignored. The cybercrime threat in South Africa is a reminder that constant vigilance is required. 3 steps to build a strong cybersecurity checklist A strong cybersecurity plan works best when you layer tools and habits together. Think of it like locking your front door, closing the windows, and installing a security camera; you’re much harder to target when you have multiple layers of protection. These are three core steps experts agree should be part of your daily cybersecurity checklist. 1. Use a password manager for all your accounts A password manager is one of the most essential tools you can have. It creates, stores, and remembers long, unique passwords for every account you own. This means you no longer have to remember dozens of different logins or, worse, use the same password everywhere. Using the same password on multiple sites is risky. If one account gets hacked, every other account with the same password is at risk. A password manager fixes this by generating strong passwords that hackers can’t guess. Most password managers are easy to use, with browser extensions or mobile apps that automatically fill in your login details on trusted sites. This keeps your accounts safer while also making your online life simpler. 2. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) Even with strong passwords, you should always add a second layer of protection. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) means you need more than just a password to log in, like a code from your phone, a fingerprint, or a security key. This extra step makes a stolen password useless. If a hacker somehow gets your password, they still can’t get in without your second verification method. Avoid using text messages (SMS) as your only form of MFA. Criminals can use SIM swapping to take over your phone number. Instead, use an authentication app like Google Authenticator, Authy, or a physical security key for better protection. 3. Start using passkeys Passwords have been around for decades, but passkeys are the next step in account security. A passkey lets you log in with your device’s built-in security, like your fingerprint, face scan, or phone PIN, without typing a password at all. Passkeys are harder to steal because they are linked directly to the website or app you’re logging into. They also protect you from phishing scams since they won’t work on fake login pages. Many big platforms now offer passkeys, and they can sync securely between your devices, making them both safe and convenient. How to take care of your devices and data Online safety isn’t just about spotting scams; it’s also about how you manage your devices and protect your information every day. Good habits here can differentiate between staying safe and losing important data. 1. Keep your devices updated One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect yourself is to keep your devices and apps updated. Updates don’t just add new features; they fix security flaws that hackers can exploit. Skipping even one important update can leave you exposed. Turn on automatic updates whenever possible. This is often enabled by default on Windows, but it’s worth checking in your settings. On phones, make sure your apps update automatically from official sources like the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Avoid downloading pirated or “cracked” software; these are common ways for malware to spread. Stick to trusted sources only. 2. Control app permissions and protect your privacy Many apps ask for access to your location, contacts, camera, or microphone, but not all truly need it. This data can be collected, shared, or sold, risking your privacy. The safest approach is to give apps the least access possible. Regularly check which apps you have installed, remove ones you no longer use, and review permissions for the ones you keep. For example, you can set your phone only to share your location while an app is in use, instead of all the time. These small changes can significantly reduce the amount of your data
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South African fintech iKhokha “to run as per normal” after Nedbank’s $93 million acquisition, says CEO
When Nedbank, one of South Africa’s largest banks, announced that it had agreed to acquire iKhokha for about R1.65 billion (over $93 million) on August 13, the news was not just the price tag that drew attention; it was what the deal represented. A thirteen-year-old fintech startup, built in Durban to serve the needs of South Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), was about to be folded into one of the continent’s oldest and most traditional banking institutions. Nedbank’s acquisition of iKhokha is part of the lender’s strategy to strengthen its digital offering and SME banking edge. By combining mobile payment technology from iKhokha with the scale of Nedbank, the deal aims to give small businesses better tools, financial inclusion, and extend Nedbank’s reach. Matthew Putman, co-founder of iKhokha, told TechCabal that the answer to what comes next is growth, not just integration into a big bank. “The business will continue to run as per normal,” he said. “We will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Nedbank, but we will keep our brand, our staff, and our independence. For our merchants, nothing changes, except that now we have a big brother and new opportunities to expand what we offer.” Pricing and product shifts are still off the table until after regulatory approvals are completed, but Putman says the focus is more on expanding services rather than changing existing ones. “The things our merchants love—our ease of onboarding, the products, the level of care—none of that will change,” he said. “If anything, they will gain access to more products and services on the back of Nedbank’s capabilities. This is very much a growth story.” Acquisitions often come with fears of culture clashes, brand erosion, and loss of entrepreneurial edge. In Canal+’s takeover of Multichoice, local creators feared the shifting of African roots and reduced support for African content. But Putman says Nedbank made it clear that they value iKhokha’s unique identity and the brand would remain intact. “The Nedbank leadership team was very clear in communicating that they respect what we have built, our platform, our brand, our way of serving merchants,” he said. “They are not looking to change our successful formula. If anything, they want to invest in the growth story, capitalising on iKhokha’s unique brand positioning in the SME market.” iKhokha will continue to operate under its name, led by the same executive team. Its staff remain in place, as does its diverse merchant base. Informal traders and small shop owners who adopted iKhokha for its simplicity and care will see no disruption, according to Putman. Why Nedbank? iKhokha began in 2012 with a simple but disruptive goal to help informal traders and SMEs accept digital payments. In a country where cash still dominates and SMEs often struggle to access affordable financial tools, iKhokha carved out a niche with low-cost card readers and user-friendly onboarding. Over the years, the company has grown into one of South Africa’s leading digital payments and merchant services platforms for SMEs. Putman noted that iKhokha has, for many years, partnered with Nedbank for payment processing and transactional banking. But beyond that history, the bank’s leadership and the fintech’s founders share a vision of convergence in banking and payments that creates new opportunities when combining the forces of a scaled fintech and a Big Four bank. iKhokha co-founder, Puttman. Image Source: South African Business Integrator. “Having built the business over the last thirteen years, making sure that the home we chose was going to be a good one was very important,” he said. “Through our interactions with the Nedbank team, we have built strong trust and a professional working relationship, which made this partnership a natural step.” What the acquisition brings For iKhokha, the acquisition opens a door to markets it could never have entered alone. “Nedbank brings pieces of the puzzle we did not have, like deep banking knowledge, a strong balance sheet, and complementary distribution channels, while we bring digital innovation and our SME merchant network. Together, we can build one platform that better serves SMEs.” Nedbank, which serves 7.6 million clients in South Africa, brings significant distribution heft with more than 4,100 ATMs, up to 400 branches, and over 110,000 point-of-sale devices. The bank counts 3.2 million retail clients, including 2.8 million on its Money App, where digital transactions jumped 15% in June. Beyond its home market, Nedbank is ramping up investment across the Southern African Development Community and East Africa as it seeks to lift earnings outside South Africa and cement its position in the continent’s emerging markets. For iKhokha, that “distribution in South Africa is complementary for both businesses,” Putman notes. “But another key strategic play is the ability to use Nedbank’s work in other markets across Southern Africa, East Africa, and take iKhokha’s model to SMEs across the continent.” Access to credit has always been a major challenge for small businesses in Africa, with only 20%-30% of these businesses with access to formal credit, according to Finmark Trust. With Nedbank’s balance sheet of total assets of R1.4 trillion (about $75 billion) as of December 2024, behind it, iKhokha could evolve from a payments partner into a full financial services platform for SMEs, helping traders not just to collect money, but to grow. “Banking and payments are starting to merge. By combining Nedbank’s balance sheet and their banking, financial services, and payments licensing and expertise with our tech-driven distribution, we can create a platform that actually meets SMEs where they are, ” Putman said. The acquisition is also a signal to the wider fintech ecosystem. Consolidation is accelerating, fueled by rising fintech competition, digital demand, inclusion pressures, shifting regulations, and the threat of global tech entrants. In January, Stitch, a digital payment fintech, acquired ExiPay and later acquired Efficacy Payments in July to expand its payments offering. As banks grapple with the rise of fintechs, some choose to build in-house, while others, like Nedbank, opt for acquisition. The deal still requires the standard regulatory approvals. But in the
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What do investors mean when they say founders should build for Africa?
Like many early-stage founders seeking capital today, Dipo Ojo, founder of Trippa, a logistics startup, has been inundated with investor advice to “build for Africa.” Since he started fundraising in April, investors have urged him to demonstrate traction, prove scalability, and show that his marketplace model can quickly work across multiple markets. While it is unrealistic to expect every African startup to follow the same blueprint since the continent’s markets are too diverse for a one-size-fits-all model, investors have been consistent in demanding sustainability and global reach, according to the founders I spoke to for this story. “From where I stand, investors talk of building for Africa, but what they often really want to see is a clear path to scale across regions,” Ojo said. “It’s all about solid unit economics now, and they’re paying close attention to how you plan to navigate regulation, because hoping the government plays nice is not a strategy.” Across multiple sectors, investors now expect startups to prove their ability to scale globally, regardless of where they were founded. The irony is that company ideation, formation, product development, and customer relations remain deeply shaped by local contexts. Yet, investors want founders to act locally to solve problems but think globally from the first day. “Founders should focus on building solutions that solve fundamental problems for people who can pay for them – whether that’s in Africa, Europe, or America,” said Uwem Uwemakpan, head of investment at Launch Africa, a pan-African firm with over 133 startups in its portfolio. “What matters most is having a scalable business model with a clear path to expand your customer base over time.” Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe For founders, a scalable business model means accounting not just for the cost of building their product but also the infrastructure it must run on, which is often expensive, underdeveloped infrastructure that startups themselves must create or subsidise. “Your business model must allow you to profitably cover these costs while serving your customer,” said Samuel Frank, an associate at Sahara Impact Ventures, a $30 million fund. “It will show if you are building with operational and cost efficiency in mind when your business model is put under the microscope.” But to “build for Africa” means different things depending on the investor. Venture capital is a highly opinionated business, and preferences diverge. Some investors push startups to expand into multiple markets quickly, while others argue the real prize lies in dominating the home market. The latter points to examples like Interswitch, which still earns over 95% of its revenue from Nigeria despite having expanded beyond the country since 2011. “The problem you’re solving has to be big enough. If your local market is not big enough to build a significant business as your primary market, then I’d ask whether you should even be building. If you have to expand just to make $10 million, then there’s no point,” said Fisayo Durojaiye, a startup investor. One consequence of the building for Africa thinking is that investors across Africa now overwhelmingly back startups that solve immediate problems and generate revenue from day one, citing the continent’s relatively small, price-sensitive consumer base. That bias toward early revenue comes with a cost, widening the funding gap for pre-revenue startups—those still in product development or experimenting with models—that could otherwise mature into category-defining businesses. However, with many
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Using AI, these 5 African startups make assistive tech more accessible
Assistive technology in Africa has long been expensive, hard to maintain, and poorly suited to local needs. Screen readers can cost thousands of dollars, prosthetics, tens of thousands more, and spare parts often have to be shipped from abroad. Local technicians are rarely trained to repair devices, and software struggles with local languages, leaving many tools unusable for the people who need them most. For millions of Africans with disabilities, this has meant exclusion by design. That is starting to change. A new generation of African startups is designing assistive technology from the ground up, using AI to make devices smarter, more adaptive, and easier to use. AI helps improve text-to-speech and translation for local languages, customise prosthetics and mobility aids, and deliver real-time feedback for users. The market, valued at $523 million in 2023 and expected to reach $1.076 billion by 2030, is growing fast. These locally designed solutions are more affordable and often outperform imported devices. This is about more than products. It is about local innovation, economic independence, and reshaping who drives Africa’s technological future. Here are five startups leading the transformation. Cure Bionics (Tunisia) Cure Bionics built the Hannibal Hand—an AI-powered, 3D-printed bionic arm that uses myoelectric sensors to read muscle signals and learns from user behavior. Users train with the prosthetic through a VR app called Myo Link, making the process gamified and accessible. The device delivers tactile feedback and charges via solar panels, crucial for regions with unreliable electricity. Founded in 2018 by Mohamed Dhaouafi, Cure Bionics has recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30, MIT Innovators Under 35, and other major programs. By combining local manufacturing with AI-driven personalisation, they’re bringing prosthetic costs down to around US$8,000, a fraction of traditional alternatives which go for US $50,000. The company has secured over $75,000 in funding through a mix of grants and accelerator programs including the Tony Elumelu Foundation, European Investment Bank, the PHI Science Institute, Investing in Innovation (i3), Qualcomm’s Make in Africa program, and the Remarkable Accelerator. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Vinsighte (Nigeria) Vinsighte (Visis) is a Nigerian EdTech startup giving visually impaired persons access to education through its Visis app, which uses AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to scan text and read it aloud. Unlike conventional screen readers, it is built for African contexts, handling local accents and multiple languages. Founded in 2020 by Oluwatomisin Kolawole and Oyolola Caleb, the company began by deploying 35 units across eight schools, reaching over 5,000 learners. It now says its technology has touched more than 15,000 people in Nigeria. Vinsighte combines hardware with affordable subscriptions, making it accessible to schools that cannot afford costly imports. The startup has drawn support from the ₦1 million Art of Technology grant, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, Orange Corners, MIT Solve [ED], Starta, Gener8tor, and CcHub. It reports generating more than $165,000 in revenue, and in 2023 was featured by the Paris Peace Forum as an impact project showcasing inclusive education technology from Africa. Signvrse (Kenya) Signvrse is a Kenyan startup rethinking how deaf communities access information. Its core product, Terp 360, turns spoken or written words into sign language using AI-driven motion capture and hyper-realistic avatars. The company was founded in 2020 by Elly Savatia, who first took it through Innovate Now, Africa’s assistive-tech accelerator. Since then, Signvrse has picked up a Presidential Innovation Award, joined
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Digital Nomads: From a cushy KPMG role to starting afresh in a new country
As a child, it was not unusual for Wilson Dike’s friends to travel outside the state, moving in and out of the neighbourhood for one reason or another. Separated, they developed a “pen pal” culture, writing letters to one another to stay in touch. But letters took weeks to deliver, and replies came back even slower. Then came the email. He remembers the thrill of sitting in a cybercafé, sending a message to a friend, and seeing their response appear instantly on his screen. That moment, small as it seemed, opened his eyes to what technology could do. He graduated from college with a degree in information technology but went into consulting. “I started as a consultant in one of the top 4 firms [at KPMG] in the world,” said Dike. “I worked at a Lagos office, but I always knew I was going to eventually work in IT.” Even in his early career, he had a clear sense of where the future was headed. He saw how businesses were shifting from owning entire operating systems to subscribing to services. He saw how the cloud was emerging as the next great platform for companies everywhere. “I knew that cloud was going to be a big thing in the future where people had full-on control of their security and access,” he said. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Consulting days Dike spent a little over two years at KPMG, where he worked on tax automations and computations for corporations in Nigeria. His work exposed him to the challenges of multinational companies, mid-sized firms, and indigenous businesses trying to operate across multiple tax regimes. It gave him perspective on how businesses function in different environments. That experience would later prove valuable. In 2015, he quit consulting and joined a software company with operations across Africa as a sales lead. Here, Dike’s consulting experience in multi-legislative contexts became invaluable. Soon, he was on planes across the continent: Ghana, Togo, Benin, Kenya, South Africa. He spent long stretches attending Big Tech events, onboarding clients, running demos, and putting out fires in markets where his company’s products were in use. But consulting knowledge alone could not carry him. Moving into sales meant starting again. He went through company-sponsored training, shadowed senior colleagues, and picked up experience directly in the field. At times, he was sent outside Africa to countries like the UAE and Kuwait, where he assisted with product training and supported local teams. It was at this company that Dike began to find his feet as a tech salesperson. Pulling weight in tech sales After a few years, Dike joined a UK-based cloud infrastructure company, his first role outside Nigeria. The firm was small—barely two years old—and was looking for ways to expand into Africa. Dike understood what they wanted to achieve, and he knew the market well. “Being Nigerian, I had a fair knowledge of the market,” he said. “And I already had relationships that could be leveraged.” He built a sales playbook to capture the strategy. Soon, the company secured its first multi-million-dollar deal in Sub-Saharan Africa. With that, the floodgates opened. Contracts, new clients, and expansion into new markets. Before long, Dike was leading the company’s sales and country expansion across Africa. Yet, as the business grew, he was planning his next move. Get the best African tech newsletters in your
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“You need believers more than résumés”: Day 1-1000 of Pharmarun
I first met Teniola Adedeji, CEO and co-founder of Pharmarun, at a health tech panel discussing the early days of launching Pharmarun. She told the audience that Pharmarun started with one simple observation: no single pharmacy ever had everything a patient needed. “People would wait, substitute, or send relatives across cities just to find medicine,” she says. That pain point became the seed of a platform now connecting 1,000 pharmacies and serving over 115,000 Nigerians. Adedeji is my guest on today’s edition of Day 1–1000. She tells TechCabal how Pharmarun grew from a WhatsApp lifeline during COVID to a nationwide healthcare platform. This is the story of Pharmarun as told to TechCabal. Day 0: A name before its time I’ve always known I wanted to run a pharmacy business. What I didn’t know was how restless I’d feel inside the four walls of a traditional community pharmacy. In 2020, I scribbled a name—Pharmarun—registered it, then tucked it away. I didn’t have a business yet, just a conviction that one day I would reimagine how people in Nigeria accessed medicine. At that time, I had a half-formed dream: something like Jumia, but for pharmacies. It wasn’t grounded in problem-solving yet. It was simply the vision of a different way to practice pharmacy. The problem revealed itself during COVID. Pharmacies rarely had all the medications patients needed. Customers begged for substitutions, waited days for stock to arrive, or sent relatives across cities and villages with shopping lists that felt like lifelines. Because I was in pharmacy networks, I knew where to find even the most elusive items. On WhatsApp, friends would message me: “My dad’s pharmacy is closed. He needs this drug urgently. Can you help?” I could. And soon it wasn’t just one or two people. It was 20. Then 50. That WhatsApp “side service” became the proof point: this wasn’t just a favor. It was a problem worth solving. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe Day 1: Day One with Lola By late 2021, I began to think seriously about scale. My best friend, Lola, was a product manager at MAX, the logistics startup. I would pick her brain endlessly: How do we test this? Can we build a simple site? How do we know if there’s demand? At first, I hesitated to ask her to join me—her career was flourishing, and I didn’t want to drag her into uncertainty. But eventually, it was obvious: we did everything else together; why not this? In 2022, Lola became my co-founder. That was Day One. We launched a Wix website, opened social media pages, and waited. The response was immediate. Strangers—not just friends of friends—were asking us to source their medications. The problem was real, and people were ready to pay for the solution. The first month was chaotic. Most orders still came through WhatsApp, and Lola and I did the legwork ourselves. I’d dash out of the pharmacy to pick up meds, while she juggled logistics and customer updates. We weren’t just running a startup; we were delivery drivers, customer service reps, and pharmacists rolled into one. I remember thinking: If this feels this hard now, maybe we’re onto something real. Day 50: First pitch deck We built our first deck which was very messy. We applied for a fund run by Eloho and Odun. We didn’t understand valuations, problem statements,
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MTN, Airtel bet $400 million on Naira-priced cloud to woo startups
MTN and Airtel are investing nearly $400 million (₦613.81 billion) to expand beyond voice and data to offer core startup infrastructure such as cloud and AI services. Their goal is to become startups’ go-to providers in a market still ruled by AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. By pricing in naira, promising AI-grade compute power, and running accelerator programmes, they hope to keep millions of dollars in tech spending from flowing overseas. AWS already bills in naira, but “there is a difference between charging in naira and being priced in naira,” said Lynda Saint-Nwafor, MTN’s chief enterprise business officer. The move also pits them against rising local providers like Nobus Cloud and Layer3, who gained ground after the naira’s sharp fall in 2023. Unlike MTN and Airtel, these smaller players do not own their infrastructure and rely on open-source platforms like OpenStack. Telcos believe their ownership of the entire stack — from infrastructure to service — gives them a pricing and performance edge. MTN targets startups with affordable cloud storage, local compute power, and naira-based billing. Airtel is betting on AI workloads, investing in hyperscale infrastructure built for massive data processing. Together, they believe they have enough to win over startups. MTN’s cloud ambition When MTN announced in June 2024 that it was building a Tier 4 data centre, its then chief technical officer, Mohammed Rufai, said, “Our facility will provide the space and services needed, enabling companies to digitalise their operations and improve efficiency.” This hinted at how the telco was thinking about its facility, so when MTN’s Saint-Nwafor recently revealed that Nigerian businesses spent $600–$850 million on cloud services in 2024, it became clear that the telco intends to be bullish on cloud services. According to Mordor Intelligence, Nigeria’s cloud computing market will hit $1.03 billion in 2025, reaching $3.28 billion by 2030. Statista expects the public cloud segment alone to generate $1.63 billion in 2025. Most of this becomes capital flight, with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud — which together accounted for 65% of the $90.9 billion spent globally on cloud services in Q1 2025 — claiming the lion’s share. Since the 2023 devaluation, startups have faced growing pressure as naira revenues struggle to match rising dollar costs. The currency has slumped from ₦471/$ to ₦1,534.52/$ ₦1,534.52/$ as of August 14, 2025. “When the dollar devaluation happened, a lot of dollar expenses went up, and most startups’ expenses went up,” said Aaron Sotunde-Adesina, CEO of Quonos. MTN wants to turn this pain into an opportunity by pricing in naira, undercutting global rates by 15–20%, and hosting workloads locally to cut latency and strengthen data sovereignty. So far, it has invested $120 million, with another $135 million planned. “Our cloud is crafted for Nigerian startups, enterprises, and public institutions,” says Ifeanyi Otudor, senior consultant, MTN Enterprise Solutions. Alongside enhanced cybersecurity, the platform supports self-orchestration, allowing customers to provision and scale resources as they would on AWS or Google Cloud. Sotunde-Adesina believes adoption will depend on performance: “If it is cheap and works, people will adopt it. If it doesn’t work or isn’t reliable, it will be a big struggle.” He notes that local providers have historically failed to match foreign reliability. Shifting to a new cloud platform will be a learning curve for startups. “It might not take a while. We have young and new developers coming up. They’ll be native to it,” he added. The telco will still face stiff competition from global giants offering incentives. Google, through its African startup accelerator programme, has provided over $5 million in equity-free funding and cloud credits to startups since 2018. In April 2025, Amazon CTO Werner Vogels visited Lagos, pledging, “Amazon wants to follow where the talent is.” MTN is countering with its accelerator programme, offering up to ₦100 million in grants and incentives for growth-stage startups. “We want Africa’s future to be powered by MTN’s cloud,” said Saint-Nwafor. In 2019, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) introduced a Cloud Computing Policy to encourage public organisations and SMEs to use local providers. Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, reiterated this at the launch of MTN Cloud, saying, “This is an opportunity to show the world we are ready to build sovereign cloud infrastructure.” Abia State is already on MTN Cloud, but the telco’s broader ambition remains startups. Airtel’s AI bet In March 2024, Airtel broke ground on a 38-megawatt hyperscale data centre in Eko Atlantic, currently valued at $120 million and counting. Hyperscale facilities, typically housing at least 5,000 servers, are engineered for massive workloads like generative AI. When completed in 2026, it will be Nigeria’s first hyperscale data centre, and Airtel plans to leverage this advantage. “We are building at a hyperscale level, designed for the new server loads that modern infrastructure demands,” said Ogo Ofomata, director of Airtel Business, at a recent media gathering. CEO Dinesh Balsingh added: “If you want to make transformational change, we are talking about high-capacity data centres, which can take the load of artificial intelligence that Nigeria needs.” Unlike traditional data centres, AI-ready facilities depend on high-performance GPUs instead of CPU servers, offering builders computing power combined with advanced storage, networking, and cooling needed at scale. The facility has already received its first GPUs for AI model training. While the telco may have its heart in the right place, attracting startups will be challenging. “I want to move off AWS, but my CTO and backend engineer favour it as the best for building an AI company,” said Adeboye Idowu, CEO of 3Rings, an AI startup. AI could add $15 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by 2030, yet, according to Oxford Insights, the country’s AI infrastructure index stands at just 42.67. In Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy, stakeholders emphasised that the vision depends on affordable, localised compute infrastructure. “The current era of AI requires modern data centres with accelerated computing, data and model stacks. Consequently, Nigeria’s data centre infrastructure needs to be upgraded and scaled to meet the demands of AI research
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7 African startups rethinking bookings, AI, credits, and commerce to watch
Startups on Our Radar is a bi-weekly column that highlights emerging startups across Africa taking fresh, unconventional approaches, filling fundamental gaps, and creating real value. Know a founder we’d love to feature? Nominate them here. In our previous edition, we featured 10 game-changing startups pioneering ride-hailing, seafarming, and CO₂ reduction. Expect the next dispatch on August 22, 2025. Let’s dive into this week’s picks. 1. Kindlybook — Free, seamless booking & payment software (Booking‑tech, Nigeria) What they do: Launched in 2024 by Charles Dairo, Kindlybook offers a free appointment scheduling platform tailored to service‑based businesses (salons, spas, fitness trainers, consultants), enabling clients to pick slots and pay upfront—complete with SMS/email reminders. Why we’re watching: What sets this company apart is the founder’s background. Before this, they ran an agency that developed bespoke SaaS solutions for businesses, so they know exactly what it takes to ship real products, solve customer pain points, and scale software across different markets. Kindlybook has the potential to become the pan-African leader for appointment scheduling, built natively for the realities of Africa’s informal economy. Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Canton and Enderbury Islands Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos [Keeling] Islands Colombia Comoros Congo – Brazzaville Congo – Kinshasa Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d’Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Dronning Maud Land East Germany Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories French Southern and Antarctic Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Johnston Island Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau SAR China Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Metropolitan France Mexico Micronesia Midway Islands Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar [Burma] Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles Neutral Zone New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Vietnam Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pacific Islands Trust Territory Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Panama Canal Zone Papua New Guinea Paraguay People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé and Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Minor Outlying Islands U.S. Miscellaneous Pacific Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Unknown or Invalid Region Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wake Island Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands ?> Gender Male Female Others TC Daily Events TC Scoop <!– Next Wave –> <!– Entering Tech –> Subscribe 2. Wetrocloud — Plug‑and‑play RAG APIs for AI applications (AI‑infra, Global/Africa) What they do: Founded by Divine Erhomonsele, Michael Aluko, Jeremiah-louis Obobairibhojie, Afolabi Sokeye, and Einstein Ebereonwu in 2024, Wetrocloud is building the AI stack that automation experts use to power the future of AI-driven business workflows. Branded as the “AI Stack for Automations,” Wetrocloud provides a unified set of APIs for data scraping, data extraction, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and more, allowing automation engineers to integrate LLMs and intelligent systems into their business logic with ease. Instead of stitching together fragile scripts or juggling scattered tools, teams now use Wetrocloud to plug AI capabilities directly into the workflows they’re already building, simplifying what used to take weeks into minutes. Why we’re watching: Wetrocloud isn’t trying to be the automation tool; it wants to become the essential toolkit behind all of them. Just as Stripe powers payments and Twilio powers messaging, Wetrocloud is emerging as the go-to infrastructure layer for AI automation. With deep expertise across cloud and artificial intelligence, the founding team is building with the automation experts in mind, someone who doesn’t need another platform UI, but clean, scalable APIs that “just work.” In a world where every business wants AI to power their internal workflows, Wetrocloud is betting big on enabling the automation experts to make it happen, and they might just be right. 3. Storipod — Micro‑blogging “Stori” platform meets creator marketplace (Social‑tech, Nigeria/US) What they do: Storipod is a mobile-first microblogging platform designed for storytelling in short, serial “Stori” formats—think WhatsApp‑status meets Substack. It supports monetization through locked content and creator tools. African content creators often struggle to monetize text-based stories. Storipod integrates audience engagement with paid content access, monetization, and community tools. Why we’re watching: There’s a world where writing platforms finally work for African creators. Storipod is building that world. Just like the way Substack is changing the game for creators globally, Storipod wants to do the same for Africans. With 64,000 users and early Nigerian creator success stories, it’s building a new social‑writing ecosystem. 4. gamp — Device insurtech + repair service (Insurtech, Nigeria) What they do: gamp offers end-to-end insurance protection for phones, laptops, and other consumer electronics in Nigeria—covering accidental damage and repairs. gamp also provides a
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