The Flip

What is Africa's comparative advantage?

With over $18 million in equity, and debt deals. African startups raised about 11% less last week. Here’s the funding tracker for Week 39 (September 23rd - 29th, 2024): 5. KWIKS Kwiks connects companies with top freelance headhunters through its AI-driven recruitment platform. - Amount raised: $827,000 - Lead investor: Azur Innovation Management (AIM) - Location: Morocco - Type of investment: Equity funding 4. RDG Collective RDG Collective provides pay-as-you-go off-grid solar solutions to underserved households in Zambia. - Amount raised: $1.25M - Lead investor: Acumen's H2R initiative.  - Location: Zambia - Type of investment: Debt funding 3. Yellow Yellow Malawi distributes off-grid solar home systems to expand energy access across Malawi. - Amount raised: $2M - Lead investor: Acumen's H2R initiative - Location: Malawi - Type of investment: Debt funding 2. Kofa Kofa Technologies provides affordable and reliable clean energy through portable battery solutions in Ghana. - Amount raised: $5M - Lead investor: Shell Foundation - Location: Ghana - Type of investment: Debt funding 1. Zeno Zeno aims to transform Africa’s energy and transport landscape with swappable battery technology for electric motorbikes. Amount raised: $9.5M Lead investor: Lowercarbon Capital Location: East Africa Type of investment: Equity funding Additionally, Tespire LLC recently raised an undisclosed amount of pre-seed funding to accelerate its growth and expand the adoption of its data-driven educational solutions. This investment will support the startup in acquiring more schools and enhancing access to quality education for young learners across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. --- Want more insights and stories from entrepreneurs around the continent to help make building easier? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dFw3dXe

Can Africa’s youth solve its own problems? In Africa, 60% of the population is under the age of 25. And for generations, poor economic policies and governance have failed to meet the needs of African youth. So the prevailing sentiment is, “even if it's not working at the government level, we will solve our own problems.” What changes would you like to see at the government level across Africa to help create a brighter future for its young population?

Can Africa’s youth solve its own problems? In Africa, 60% of the population is under the age of 25. And for generations, poor economic policies and governance have failed to meet the needs of African youth. So the prevailing sentiment is, “even if it's not working at the government level, we will solve our own problems.” What changes would you like to see at the government level across Africa to help create a brighter future for its young population?

"Africa will solve its problem when it starts producing in Africa" — Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. In this episode, we had a wide-ranging discussion with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Coronation Capital and former Group MD and CEO of Access Bank Plc, during the 2023 UN General Assembly in New York. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dZQHvf8M

"We need to infuse credit scores into everything we do." - Chijioke Dozie Do you agree?  -- In this episode, we explored why lending in Africa is so hard, with Carbon's Chijioke Dozie & Smile ID's Mark Straub. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dKPd3diF

The best indicator if someone is going to pay back a loan is... -- In this episode, we explored why lending in Africa is so hard, with Carbon's Chijioke Dozie & Smile ID's Mark Straub. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dVVtCm6g

African startups raised $20.9 million last week. A 69% decline from the previous week, despite a 33% rise in startups announcing funding (from 6 to 8). Here’s the funding tracker for Week 38 (16th - 22nd, Sept 2024): 8. Farid Farid delivers innovative educational solutions that enhance children's well-being and develop essential life skills. ∙ Amount raised: $ 250k ∙ Lead investor: Amal bint Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan ∙ Location: Egypt  ∙ Type of investment: Equity financing 7. Foodpreneurs Hub Foodpreneurs Hub provides innovative foodtech solutions to combat food insecurity across Africa. ∙ Amount raised: $500k ∙ Lead investor: Not disclosed ∙ Location: Nigeria ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 6. Regfyl Regfyl simplifies anti-money laundering (AML) compliance for fintechs and banks across Africa. ∙ Amount raised: $1.1M ∙ Lead investor: Techstars ∙ Location: Nigeria ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 5. HAPPYPAY Happy Pay offers interest-free, deposit-free Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions to consumers across South Africa. ∙ Amount raised: $1.8M ∙ Lead investor: E4E Africa ∙ Location: South Africa ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 4. Settle SETTLE provides real-time financial insights and automates B2B payment workflows for CFOs and business owners. ∙ Amount raised: $2M ∙ Lead investor: Shorooq Partners ∙ Location: Egypt ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 3. Userguest Userguest helps hotels optimize direct revenue through personalized messages and intelligent incentives for website visitors. ∙ Amount raised: $2.4M ∙ Lead investor: Al Mada Ventures ∙ Location: Morocco ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 2. LabLabee LabLabee provides hands-on training in telecom networks and related technologies. ∙ Amount raised: $3.4M ∙ Lead investor: Reach Capital ∙ Location: Algeria ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding 1. TymeBank TymeBank is a digital bank that provides accessible banking services to underprivileged and economically marginalized groups. ∙ Amount raised: $9.5M ∙ Lead investor: African Rainbow Capital (ARC) ∙ Location: South Africa ∙ Type of investment: Equity funding Want more insights and stories from entrepreneurs around the continent to help make building easier? Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dFw3dXe

Onyeka Akumah on the importance of VCs providing value beyond just money:

This female-led startup recently raised $1.4 million. But in their early days, no VC wanted to invest in them. Here’s how Sneha Mehta, CFA, Jade Oyateru, MBA and Catherine Lee grew Uncover into one of Africa’s top skincare brands: