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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Africa, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌍

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📰 Important News

• Fincra secured a South African payments license to boost fast, compliant cross-border transactions across African markets.

• Blockchain.com opened an office in Nigeria, expanding into Africa as crypto adoption and regulation clarity attracted long-term investment.

• Heroshe is facing a shutdown after 8 months of failed deliveries, causing customer losses, business closures, and growing distrust in Nigeria.

• GITEX announced its first Kenyan edition for 2026, aiming to drive East Africa’s digital transformation with AI and innovation.

• Paymob and Bit68 partnered to offer AI-driven e-commerce solutions and payments, helping MENA businesses securely scale across borders.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Zero Carbon Charge secured $5.5 million to roll out solar-powered off-grid EV charging stations every 150km across South Africa’s national highways.

• Cutstruct raised $1.5 million to scale its construction procurement platform and expand logistics services across Nigeria's building sector.

• Sycamore tapped $628,000 in local debt to expand its loan book, meeting Nigeria’s credit demand without equity dilution amid FX risks.

• Beemi landed seed funding to gamify mobile livestreaming in Africa by adding interactive games on platforms like TikTok LIVE.

• TooMuchWifi received major funding to expand low-cost internet access in underserved South African areas and bridge the digital divide.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Egypt’s leading fintech Valu is preparing to list on EGX via share distribution from EFG Holding, supporting its growth and regional expansion plans.

🏦 About Investors

• DisrupTech announced a $70 million fund to boost fintech and AI across MENA and Africa, focusing on inclusion, innovation, and partnerships.

• COREangels launched a $10 million fund for early-stage MEA startups, backing five fintechs from over 1,000 applicants.

• Oui Capital published a report urging fintech investors to focus on infrastructure to unlock $10 billion in value from Africa’s cross-border payments market.

• Kosmos Innovation Center and Mastercard Foundation invested $200,000 in 22 agritech startups via the 2025 AgriTech Pro accelerator.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Zero Carbon Charge

Zero Carbon Charge, a South African clean energy startup founded in 2021 by Andries Malherbe and Joubert Roux, is building a nationwide network of off-grid, ultra-fast EV charging stations powered by solar and battery storage. The company secured a $5.5 million equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to accelerate its rollout, placing stations every 150km along national highways. The model also supports rural economic development through local job creation and revenue-sharing with landowners, aligning clean transport with inclusive growth.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

DisrupTech

DisrupTech, an Egypt-based early-stage venture capital firm co-founded by Mohamed El Sayed Okasha, Yehia Abouelwafa, and Malek Sultan, is preparing to launch a $70 million second fund focused on fintech, AI, and sector-specific technologies across MENA and Africa. Building on the success of its $36 million first fund, which backed 21 startups in 12 markets and generated over $450 million in portfolio revenue and 50,000+ jobs, the firm is doubling down on inclusive, tech-driven innovation. With a strong track record in financial infrastructure and digital services—backing companies like MNT-Halan, WideBot, and Mozare3—DisrupTech aims to scale impact, foster regional expansion, and drive strategic exits beginning in 2027.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards

Apply to the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards by 2 p.m. CEST, June 24, 2025, and gain access to funding, global visibility, and a transformative fellowship experience. Open to impact entrepreneurs from around the world, this opportunity includes regional awards across nine global regions and a Science & Technology Pioneer Award for women driving breakthrough innovations. Selected fellows receive tailored support to grow their business and leadership skills. If you're a mission-driven founder leveraging business as a force for good, don’t miss this chance to join a powerful community of changemakers. Start your application today.