💰African Startups Raise $343 Million in April 2025: A Strong Rebound

Today’s Menu ☕️

💰African Startups Raise $343 Million in April 2025: A Strong Rebound in VC Momentum
📬 How NIPOST Is Reinventing Itself with Cashless Operations and Performance-Driven Reforms
💻 Microsoft Unveils Affordable Copilot+ Surface Devices with AI Enhancements
🤖 OpenAI Scales Back Restructuring, Retains Nonprofit Control Amid Legal Scrutiny
🩺 Bokra Provides $3m Revenue-Based Financing to Egypt’s i’SUPPLY for Medtech Expansion

If you haven't subscribed, join over 7,000 people curious about Innovation, New Products, New Technologies in Africa.

💰STARTUP FUNDING

African Startups Raise $343 Million in April 2025: A Strong Rebound in VC Momentum

African startups raised a total of $343 million in April 2025 across 39 publicly disclosed deals, marking a sharp recovery from the sluggish funding seen in previous months. This figure makes April the second-highest April funding month on record, driven by a combination of large-ticket deals, increased debt financing, and expanded sector diversity.

Sector Breakdown

Fintech led the way again in April, continuing its dominance in African startup funding. Companies in payments, digital banking, and remittances attracted substantial capital. South African API payments startup Stitch raised $55 million in a follow-on round, while Egypt’s Islamic finance platform Bokra secured $59 million via a sukuk issuance, underscoring fintech’s enduring investor appeal.

Healthtech saw an unexpected surge, thanks to a $100 million merger deal between South African hearing care company hearX and US-based Eargo. The transaction marks the continent’s first mega-deal of the year and highlights Africa’s growing relevance in global healthcare innovation.

E-commerce and Retail Tech remained active, with Nigeria’s OmniRetail raising $20 million to scale its B2B marketplace for small retailers. The deal reflects ongoing investor interest in platforms digitizing Africa’s vast informal retail sector.

Clean Energy and Mobility also made strides. Ghana-based Kofa raised $8.1 million to expand its battery-swapping network for electric motorcycles. The round, composed of equity, debt, and grants, highlights rising interest in climate-focused startups.

Other sectors like agritech and edtech were less prominent, with no major rounds announced during the month..……continue reading

📬 POSTAL SERVICES

How NIPOST Is Reinventing Itself with Cashless Operations and Performance-Driven Reforms

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is undergoing a sweeping transformation designed to reposition it as a modern, technology-driven institution aligned with Nigeria’s digital economy and global best practices. At the heart of this ambitious agenda is a decisive shift to a fully cashless payment system across all post office counters, set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Announced by Postmaster General and CEO Tola Odeyemi, the reforms are not only about technology upgrades—they are part of a larger vision to restore public trust, improve service delivery, and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Under the theme “Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores,” NIPOST is embracing a performance-driven culture with an emphasis on innovation, accountability, and customer focus.

From July 1st, customers will no longer be able to make cash payments at post office counters. Instead, all transactions will be processed through approved electronic channels. This shift, NIPOST says, will ensure faster, safer, and more transparent services while reducing the risk of theft and human error..…… continue reading

DO YOU KNOW THAT….

Oluwatobi Oyinlola, a Nigerian, currently holds the Guinness World Record for developing the smallest GPS tracking device ever made. The tracking device (prototype) is 22.93 mm x 11.92 mm (0.90 x 0.46 in). It was achieved on 27 April 2025.

💻 LAPTOPS

Microsoft Unveils Affordable Copilot+ Surface Devices with AI Enhancements

Microsoft has expanded its Copilot+ PC lineup with the launch of two new AI-powered Surface devices — the 13-inch Surface Laptop and the 12-inch Surface Pro. Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor with an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) delivering 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS), enabling fast performance, long battery life, and exclusive on-device AI capabilities.

Designed with portability and productivity in mind, the Surface Laptop starts at $899 and features a lightweight aluminum build, up to 23 hours of battery life, and a vibrant touchscreen. The Surface Pro, starting at $799, continues the 2-in-1 legacy with an upgraded detachable keyboard, Surface Slim Pen support, and a 1.5-pound frame ideal for creative and mobile users...……continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

OpenAI Scales Back Restructuring, Retains Nonprofit Control Amid Legal Scrutiny

OpenAI has reversed course on a major restructuring plan, choosing to maintain nonprofit control over its for-profit arm in a move likely to temper CEO Sam Altman’s influence. The decision follows mounting criticism from civil society leaders and legal pressure from co-founder Elon Musk, who filed a high-profile lawsuit earlier this year alleging that OpenAI had deviated from its original mission of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) for the benefit of humanity.

In a blog post, Altman reaffirmed that OpenAI’s nonprofit parent organization will continue to oversee and control the for-profit entity, stating, “That will not change.”

Initially, OpenAI proposed converting its for-profit subsidiary into a public benefit corporation (PBC), a structure intended to balance profit-making with social impact. The aim was to unlock more funding opportunities and reduce the limitations associated with being controlled by a nonprofit. However, the plan raised red flags among stakeholders concerned about whether the nonprofit’s charitable mission would remain central, particularly in the context of increasing commercial pressures. .....continue reading

 🩺 HEALTHTECH

Bokra Provides $3m Revenue-Based Financing to Egypt’s i’SUPPLY for Medtech Expansion

Egyptian B2B medtech platform i’SUPPLY has secured $3 million in Sharia-compliant revenue-based revolving financing from Bokra, the MENA region’s first goal-driven digital investment platform. The deal marks a significant step in scaling i’SUPPLY’s operations and widening access to pharmaceutical and medical supplies across underserved communities in Egypt.

i’SUPPLY operates a digital distribution platform that leverages AI and predictive analytics to streamline procurement, optimize inventory, and address long-standing inefficiencies in the healthcare supply chain. Through this funding, i’SUPPLY plans to deepen its reach across Egypt’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, making access to essential medicines faster and more reliable......continue reading

Do you know you can join and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel?