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✈️ Zipline $150m for Africa Expansion

✈️ Zipline $150m for Africa Expansion

Plus: 🚗 Uber Rolls Out South Africa’s First EV Fleet

Innovation Village
November 26, 2025

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Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

Forget slow progress—Africa hit the accelerator this week. Two breakthrough stories proved what’s possible when technology stops being theoretical and starts transforming lives.

First, Zipline, the U.S. robotics company redefining medical logistics, secured a $150 million partnership with the U.S. State Department to triple its drone delivery footprint across Africa. That means as many as 15,000 health facilities could soon get blood, vaccines, and essential medicines in under 30 minutes. Slow supply chains? Consider them officially disrupted.

Down south, Uber is flipping the script on mobility. The company just launched its first fleet of electric vehicles in South Africa—70 EVs already live in Johannesburg, scaling to 350 by January. Powered by Valternative’s “swap-and-go” battery network, drivers avoid fuel costs entirely and commuters get cleaner rides without paying extra. It’s green, it’s smart, and it might be one of the most practical EV rollouts on the continent to date.

Zipline is soaring. Uber is electric. Africa is accelerating—and the momentum is unmistakable.

Let’s dive in.👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

✈️ U.S. Backs Zipline with $150M to Expand Medical Drone Delivery in Africa
🚗 Uber Rolls Out South Africa’s First EV Fleet
💼 Nomba expands into DRC
💰AfDB Pumps $15m on Africa’s Rising Entrepreneurs
💵 Chui Ventures Closes $17.3M Fund for African Founders
💵 M-KOPA Smashes $1.6B Credit Milestone in Kenya
📲 Malaysia to ban social media accounts for users under 16 by 2026

✈️ MEDICINE

U.S. Backs Zipline with $150M to Expand Medical Drone Delivery in Africa

The U.S. Department of State has signed a major agreement with Zipline to expand its medical drone delivery network across Africa, committing up to $150 million in performance-based financing. The partnership could grow Zipline’s reach from 5,000 to 15,000 health facilities, giving more than 130 million people faster access to blood, vaccines, and essential medicines in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Zipline, which operates the world’s largest autonomous delivery system, has already flown over 120 million autonomous miles and completed 1.8 million deliveries with zero safety incidents. Its services have reduced stockouts, cut delivery times from days to under 30 minutes, and significantly improved maternal and child health outcomes.

The new model ties funding to government uptake, ensuring sustainability while accelerating modern, tech-driven healthcare across the continent.............…continue reading

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🚗 TRANSPORTATION

Uber Rolls Out South Africa’s First EV Fleet

Uber just kicked off its first-ever electric vehicle fleet in South Africa, starting with 70 EVs in Johannesburg and gearing up to hit 350 by the end of January. The cars — compact Henrey Minicars imported from China — are run in partnership with Valternative Energy, the same company behind SA’s first battery-swap network for electric bikes.

The best part? Drivers don’t need to buy the cars. They can simply rent them, plug into Valternative’s charging network, and skip the daily fuel struggle entirely. Uber says the economics will actually get better than petrol cars as the program grows............…continue reading

💼 BUSINESS

Nomba expands into DRC

Nomba (formerly Kudi) is expanding into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), targeting the country’s massive cash-driven remittance market as its entry point. Over the past year, the Nigerian fintech has quietly built on-ground operations, mapped key corridors from China and Dubai, and begun recruiting local agents to create a trusted cash-collection network in a largely unbanked economy.

With over 80% of the Congolese population outside the formal banking system, Nomba sees remittances as a way to quickly gain transactional trust and lay the groundwork for long-term digital financial services. After establishing its remittance infrastructure, the company plans to roll out payments, savings, and credit products..…...continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

AfDB Pumps $15m on Africa’s Rising Entrepreneurs

The African Development Bank just dropped a major vote of confidence in African entrepreneurs by investing $15 million into the Adenia Entrepreneurial Fund I. This fund is designed to pump growth capital into small- and mid-sized companies across the continent—especially those in sectors that really shape Africa’s economic future, like consumer goods, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and light industry.

Adenia won’t just hand over the cash; they plan to take majority stakes so they can actively help these businesses scale, improve operations, tighten management, and execute solid growth plans. The goal is simple: build stronger companies that can expand across borders and support long-term development..…...continue reading

💵FUNDING

Chui Ventures Closes $17.3M Fund for African Founders

Joyce-Ann Wainaina, General Partner, Chui Ventures

Chui Ventures just wrapped up its debut fund at $17.3 million — blowing past its original $10M target and signaling serious confidence in African-led innovation. The seed-stage VC firm, known for its strong gender-inclusive approach, has already put 60% of the fund to work, backing 18 startups across five countries.

The portfolio is packed with impactful, tech-driven companies like Pricepally, Leta, Uncover, and Flex Finance, all building solutions for everyday African consumers. With big-name supporters like the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Chui Ventures says its mission is clear:
“For Africa, by Africa.”...…...continue reading

💵 FINANCIAL REPORT

M-KOPA Smashes $1.6B Credit Milestone in Kenya

M-KOPA Kenya just crossed a massive milestone — over $1.6 billion in credit extended to customers. Not bad for a company that started out selling solar kits to off-grid homes. Today, it’s one of Kenya’s biggest lenders to low-income earners, helping millions access smartphones, loans, insurance, and digital services for the first time.

Their new impact report shows just how deep that influence runs: 4.8 million customers served, 4.5 million smartphones financed, and 37% of users getting their first-ever loan through M-KOPA. The company is also a major economic engine, paying billions in taxes, assembling phones locally, supporting thousands of jobs, and even financing over 5,000 electric motorbikes.….continue reading